Chapter 5

"Well, he certainly was handsome, was he not?" Jane noted as she pulled out the chair from a writing desk that was positioned in a corner of the room.

"Quite," Laurelle conceded coolly. "But his manners left a little to be desired," she muttered.

"Don't be such a snob, Lore. How would you like to come home to discover two strangers there? Besides, he was probably exhausted, poor soul."

Laurelle nodded her head in agreement. This is indeed his house, Laurelle thought. And perhaps he did look a little weary. He looked many things – unsmiling, brooding, arrogant, and unfairly handsome.

"Jane, I'm going to go for a walk in the gardens. The sun has come out and I wish to enjoy it before the chance of rain."

"An excellent idea, though I shall remain here if that is fine by you. I wish to write a letter back to Greysmere that the servants may confirm my parents' departure." She repositioned her chair closer towards the writing table and nervously shifted in it. "I'm actually beginning to fear for their well-being, Laurelle. What if they were attacked on the road like we were?" she said chewing on her lower lip.

"I'm certain they are fine." Laurelle put a hand on her shoulder. "But I understand your cause to worry. If anything were wrong, they are well connected enough to find assistance and send word to Chalfant Hall," Laurelle stated matter-of-factly. Jane did not look appeased.

Laurelle sighed and moved toward the door. Opening it, she paused to look at Jane scribbling away. "I will walk down the way and see if it is yet unlocked. Perhaps some of the other servants arrived by now. If not, I will ask for a horse to ride to the inn tonight and ask if there is any word."

Jane turned and smiled up at her. "Oh thank you, Lore," she said reaching for her hand. "You are better than any sister I could ever wish to have."

Laurelle gently squeezed her friend's hand and wished that they had been born sisters. They were indeed alike in many respects save for appearance and age. Jane was two years her senior with soft blonde curls and dark brown eyes while she had wavy auburn hair that fell to the middle of her back and big blue eyes. However their personalities were similar – they were both adventurous and free-spirited. They both had a hunger for knowledge and truth and had silent passion for changing the world. This was encouraged by Mr. Avalon who loved both girls equally and indulged them. Mr. Avalon came from a large family that now dwelled in America and managed a profitable business in real estate. No one had even heard of the Avalons until they became neuve riche. This caused Mr. Avalon to not be overly fond of the ton, with their arrogance and old traditions. Even though he was proper in all the ways that were expected, he was a forward-thinking man and an avid learner of advances in science and an enthusiast for new inventions. He made several attempts in contribution to science with no success. He wanted to be famous for something he did, rather than something he was. People rarely ever took him seriously. Except his girls.

His wife, Jane's mother, had come from one of the traditional elite families of England and was provided with great wealth and connections. Mrs. Avalon, then known as Miss Bardwell of Jenaworth, was the daughter every family wished for…on the outside. Inside, she was spoiled, frivolous, and vain. When Sir Bardwell served in a war with Mr. Avalon's father, they became friends and the two contrived their children should wed. Neither family could have suspected the result.

Mr. and Mrs. Avalon were very handsome people, so attraction wasn't a problem. But the combination of boisterous and talkative personalities, where one loves to spoil and the other loves to be spoiled, the result was two people who were nonstop party-goers and who love to travel and be the center of everyone's attention – Mrs. Avalon for her looks, Mr. Avalon for his intellect. But they did adore each other even if Mrs. Avalon did not attend too often to Jane's needs. Mr. Avalon was always right there to make sure nothing was amiss.

They acted like sisters then. They talked, they danced, they fought, and they loved. Sharing secrets with each other and spying on the local boys. Laurelle accompanied Jane when she was introduced into society six years ago, and though Laurelle did not enjoy socializing as much as Jane did, they always attended balls and other events together, arm in arm. While Laurelle accompanied these events with Jane, she was not permitted to dance with any young men, though there were plenty who desired to. Society viewed her solely as Jane's companion and chaperone, hardly better than a servant, thus she could not be allowed to be seen as available by the kind of suitors that were present at these events. Still she had fun watching the couples and the opulent splendor of the environment. It was all so picturesque and fairytale-like. If only they could go back to those days when they pretended they were sisters. Back to the days when their biggest problems where what to wear to the next ball or how to style their ribbons in accordance with the latest fashion or having nothing to do when lessons were cancelled. If those days returned, then maybe she wouldn't feel so alone in this world. Of course Jane and she continued to spend time together, however, it wasn't as much as it used to be and Laurelle feared that soon the Avalon's would no longer need her since Jane was sure to be married within the next year or two. Where would Laurelle go then?

The sun felt warm on her back as she walked among the trees and bushes. Spring was in evidence everywhere. There were pink and white blossoms appearing on the fruit trees, and the gardens bore the emergence of color beneath the warm sunshine and an almost clear blue sky. A few dark clouds hovered in the distance and there was a slight breeze that rustled the branches reminding them that winter had not fully released its grasp. Out here Laurelle felt free. In nature it was about instinct, not propriety. The birds did not care about your name and the sun shines on everyone no matter how much money one possessed. Indeed, all the money in the world could not buy this.

This was the one ever present difference between Laurelle and Jane. Jane was rich. Though she was a woman, her money would make people listen to whatever she desired to say. Laurelle had an independent will and a mind of her own that often led her to places she could not ever go. Thus she would be forced to sit in quiet resignation and do what was appropriate of a woman of her station or else be shunned from society. She had no real choice about how to live her life.

As she walked along a pebbled path in the garden, she noticed something glimmer through the branches of a row of tall bushes. Wandering from the path she pushed her way through the shrubbery and approached it. It was beautiful – a statue of fine marble in the shape of a woman. She was wearing a long flowing gown and stood with a gentle disposition. Her arms were stretched out before her as if to receive something or embrace someone.