Stolen by the Crown

Meeting Ms George

Ten Years Later

Twenty-one-year-old Xavier Anthony watched the lovely panorama straight on the saddle at the top of the hill, slightly smiling. Young women from Mirabel's boarding school whirled their parasols of soft pink, yellow, and blue like vibrant dandelion puffs across his father's grass at Falmouth Abbey. From far away, he identified Mirabel; she led the biggest group on a tour of the grounds.There were things about England he adored even if he never thought it possible. Johnson, his friends, his sisters, his horses, even his stepmother—poor woman? He was very happy for each and everyone as they had made his exile pleasant. He noticed a young woman strolling arm in arm with Mirabel, staring curiously at her friend. One of the slaves rushed up the hill towards him; he had been seen. Pulling his present for Mirabel from the saddlebags, he turned over the reins and headed down towards the gardens. The young woman with Mirabel turned up towards him as he approached. He came to a stop . Xavier had seen more lovely women than this one. Above medium height, with a little waist and big bust. Golden skin shining under a broad-brimmed helmet. Dark lashes framed cornflower blue eyes. Thick, blond hair the colour of ripe wheat, curled in a bun at the base of her neck. She was flawless. Following her friend's eye, Mirabel shouted, "Xavier!" She opened her arms and hurried towards him, embraced him, smiled, and cried at once. I missed you. And you, my darling, here. Hugging her tightly, he valued her for the times they had spent. "While I was up at Oxford, I searched for exactly the right gift for your eighteenth birthday and I found it. Here." He showed her the level silk sack. She untangled the cords and removed the Shari shawl, its colours softly shining in harmony, brilliance, and depth. She muttered, "Oh... Mirabel," rubbing her palm over the cloth. This is lovely, particularly to me. " Thank you." He took it from her, shook it out, and put it around her shoulders, then extended his arm to her."Shall we welcome your guests?" Her hand rested on his, and as they turned her face came alive. " Amby, this is Xavier Anthony, my brother. Amby blinked as though she were shocked. "Your brother?," asked and she sank into a curtsy. "Mr. Xavier, an honour," "Xavier,Miss Amby George , my dearest friend. "Amby and I met at school and she is an absolute dear of a soul,"Mirabel said. You do me too much honour, Mirabel. Amby lowered her eyes and said, "for you are so sweet it's easy to be kind." She is indeed. Looking up, he heard a yell from across the lawn and sawAnne and Lorraine running down on him as Martha and Eileen trailed more slowly. "Excuse me, girls." He walked towards his two younger sisters, flashing broadly. Anne, with her blue eyes and blond hair, was sixteen today. She presented herself as an angel. Xavier was aware she was not.With her dark hair and eyes, Lorraine, fifteen, the tallest of the sisters. Following a series of kisses and hugs, he met the two oldest girls. Mirabel joined them now, and all of his sisters stood together staring at him, giggling with the delight of having him home. Gathering his sisters close, he herded them towards Mirabel's greatest pal. She was not as well-dressed as the other girls at the party. Her gown had been turned around and rebuilt with dark marks down the seams. Her bonnet was nice, and the brim shaded her light face, but the style was five years ago and the straw drooped as though it were tired. Laughing, they surrounded her and pulled her into the family centre. Given his enormous respect for his sisters and their judgement, they liked her, it was clear, and that was interesting. After all, they had grown up in his father's house, where sharp awareness of temperament made the difference between getting Falmouth 's attention and being overlooked. Neglect was widely sought after. Amby, on the other hand, treated her sisters with caution, as if she had not dared trust their companionship, as if throughout her life she had stood by herself, on the outside looking in. Bleakly delighted at his insight—or was he just presuming she was the same as him?—he grinned broadly at Amby. She stepped back on purpose. Without words, the two of them had a really good conversation. And nobody else understood they were hardly speaking at all. "We ought to get ready for the ball tonight." Mirabel held Amby's arm. Come on, Amby; it will be great! Xavier watched Amby hesitate for the first time. She seemed not to agree, yet her features started to show a forlorn yearning.Surrounded by the other girls, they left Xavier except Eileen, who dropped by his side to lay her hand on his arm. He placed his hand over Eileen's and they walked following the hurriedly speaking girls. Mirabel and his other sisters had been the cushion that had lessened the shocks of his life; in turn, he had tried to cushion them as well. Falmouth 's concentration had been on him, the son; yet, with a father like theirs, the girls had been neglected, humiliated, and subjected to cruelty. Falmouth left traces of his negligent scorn for his daughters based on nothing more than their gender. Their mother had done what she could, but during Xavier's stay in England, she had suffered at least two miscarriages as well as a stillbirth, all males. The strong, attractive, contemptuous aristocrat he had first encountered had become a thin, depressed mother wracked with loss for her dead sons. As the eldest, Eileen had been in charge of looking for her younger sisters and, when she could, Xavier. She tutored and cared for her younger siblings. Though he questioned her ability to stand giving so much of her young life for her family, he nevertheless valued her goodness. Now Eileen stated, "Mirabel persuaded Miss George to let the girls dress her in one of Lorraine's yet-unseen gowns. They are the same height, and Miss George will be charming tonight with a few tweaks for her figure and more maturity. Do you agree? She will indeed do this. But does she not own any gowns? She does, and they are all in a terrible state. Her stepfather grudges every dollar spent on her. "She chose school over clothes when given a decision between them. She is learning to make her living by attending the Distinguished Academy of Governesses. She has a great will, a wonderful sensibility, and a real talent for languages, and I think she will have a successful service life. Indeed. I believe her mother, a poor creature fairly cowed by the stepfather, stood up and urged Miss George to go instead of staying home and looking after her siblings."Why, my darling Eileen, are you sharing with me?” "I wanted you to know she has nothing to look forward to and you could perhaps stop your peacock posturing." With a giggle, he turned to her. "Is that how I have been acting?" Eileen did not chuckle in reply. "Miss George is quite beautiful, but she has a reputation that needs to remain polished beyond question." He was aware of her caution. Though he found it objectionable, he understood it. Indeed. I would not conceive of ruining her with my holy speeches "Modesty will suit you, King Salem." "You mock me with the title, but it is sweet to hear my true name again." She tugged him to stop, her already austere expression darkening. "Mirabel says you will be leaving us shortly to get back to Erduian." You will soon be claiming your reign. "That is not as simple as it seems. The newspaper stories confirm that the Gallum are solidly in command, although I am not sure what remains of the opposition. And my family? Since the letter declaring my mother dead, I have not heard from anyone else. That is not to suggest Falmouth neglected the letters I sent, though. Eileen's mouth turned in contempt even at the mention of her father's name. "I would almost say that was a certainty. Only in its merciless simplicity is his intention to cut any links between you and Erudian "I hope not to hurt you, but in Erudian could there be no resistance left? Given your family is dispersed? Her wide eyes suggested anxiety. That is what I worry about. Then he did. Throughout the long years in England, he had fretted, hoped, and sought to find a means of looking at the families in Erudian without drawing the attention of the Gallum ,the usurpers of his throne. He limited his research to interrogating guests returning from Eriduian, and this had produced absolutely nothing. "What one man can do against these beasts holding all the power?" She felt his arm under her. I admit, I worry for you.Don't panic. I will locate my family. Should it be required, I will bring them back; but, my family is really strong. They are aware of the mountainous and woodland hidden sites. Recalling his early years in those areas, he grinned. "I trust that somewhere they are still alive. "Your family has fruitfully battled every year to reclaim the kingdom; you have said for two hundred years since Gallum killed King Ferdinand, that they destroyed the traces of his line. Why should your return be different? Eileen was in her own right forceful, driven to let him know the difficulties ahead. "There was never a chance for my family with no money or support; but, all that will have changed when I get back." He turned to smile at her. "Have I not succeeded in applying the education Father chose for me in all the best ways possible?” "You've made your fortune?" For me, horses have been fantastic. I know which ones will be successful, and with my profits, I know how to buy and propagate. Indeed, I have become really rich. I'm glad. "Wonderful. You thus intend to come back and either be killed or win your throne? "There's always a chance I'll be killed; but, among the Erduians, there's a legend that the ghost of Ferdinand rides foretelling the return of the one real king." "Is the Ferdinand ghost riding??" "No, but I haven't yet come back." Grinning, she gave him an arm embrace. "I wish you wouldn't go; but, I know you won't be whole until you return to your native country." "And what about you, darling sister? What is your future? She was way too somber for him to feel natural. "I am going to be married. I shall have kids. Young widower, I will spend my life in peace. "You hope to be widowed and you're not even married?" She drew his watch from its pocket. "Aren't you meant to be meeting with Father? "You are changing the topic." You would be better off rushing. "There will be time later to talk.." Promise me you will stay for Mirabel's party no matter how bad your interview with Father is.” Xavier knew very well that he would be in a frigid fury when his father received the news Xavier meant to deliver. "Your leaving would destroy this party for her, and she's had little enough joy in her life." I'll stay. And bid us farewell before you walk off permanently. That I would not fail to do. "I have no interest in what the rumour says about you. You are a good man; remember—we girls adore you very much wherever you go. He grabbed her hand and delicately planted a kiss on her fingertips. If I am a good man, you and my sisters deserve credit. "I think not. The goodness is at the bedrock of your being, built there by your character.