Perfect Harmony

Chapter 2

Prisca's POV

I took fast steps and reached my home within ten minutes. Suddenly, I understood I was literally running here. I entered the living room where my mama was waiting for me. My papa was talking with a thin, pale-looking man who has an anchor-shaped beard. His clothing shows that he is not a general postman, but a special messenger who carries an urgent mail. Perhaps he is a private messenger from a household or a noble group. I could see he was carrying a small brown coloured bag on one of his shoulders.

“Excuse me,” I interrupt people who are waiting in the living room. Everyone looked at me promptly. I entered quickly after papa nodded his head.

“You are here, Prisca.” Mama came forward and held my hand. She takes me to a couch and sits beside me without letting go of me. Well, she is making me scared now. What is happening here!

“What is the matter, mother? Father?” I gulped, trying to hold the shiver that running through my backbone. They shared a gaze, and papa slightly nodded his head.

“Prisca, this messenger is coming from Howland church. Mr McNeil has sent him regarding must knowing news about… about,” papa struggled to find words. He swallowed saliva, and start rubbing his forehead. What is troubling him?.

“About what pa… father?” I also tried to find words.

“Must know an urgent message about the Baron Lennox household,” finally he finished what he was struggling to say.

I felt my body stiffen suddenly. Mama firmly tapped on my palms. Why am I still feeling gloomy and devastated whenever I heard about Lennox’s name! You are not this pathetic Prisca; you have nothing to do with them anymore. My brain started nagging me. I closed my eyes for a moment and gathered my thoughts.

“Please give me the letter, mister. Are you expecting a dire reply?” I inquired politely from the messenger.

“If you do, Mr McNeil would appreciate it, miss. I will wait outside till the further arrangements,” said the man, and bowed to us. Papa asked our maid to escort him to the kitchen area and give him something to eat until we write a reply message.

I opened the letter with trembling hands. Mama and Papa sat in front of me, giving me the space that I need to see the letter. There was another small letter attached to the main letter. I read Mr McNeil’s letter first.

Dear Miss Priscilla Fallon,

First, I ask you to forgive me for addressing a letter without proper manners and writing ethics. I have been asked to write a letter to you by your sister, Rhosyn Marilla Lennox. Sadly, I have to inform you that your beloved sister; Miss Rhosyn is suffering from a high fever. She has had a weak body and lungs with the other grim symptoms for a long time. I am afraid she has not much time left with us.

She is expecting you, of course, if you are kind enough to visit her. She asked me not to pressure you. My opinion is she will be glad to see you, and your presence will help to ease her both, body and soul.

Would you be kind enough to inform me whether you are going to come to Howland? It will be helpful for further arrangements. God may show you the right path!

Fr. D. McNeil

25th August 1814

While trying to hold my tears, I opened the second letter, the small letter. It contained my sister’s handwriting. I haven’t seen her handwriting for five or six years as far as I remember, but I can recognize her handwriting without a second glance.

Dear sweet Prisca,

I cannot write much. I am very sorry to trouble you because of my helpless nature since we were children. Doctors think I won’t be able to… I don’t know anymore. My only concern is my son Theodore now.

Please, I need your help, Sister. Theodore (I call him Theo) is looking forward to seeing you.

Rhosyn.

A teardrop started to run across my left cheek. I didn’t bother to wipe it. I saw my hands are resting on my lap like I could not move my hand muscles. My aimless gaze lands on the papa’s face. He slowly rose to his feet and took the letters from my hand, while mama came to me and embraced me. I let out a soft cry, leaning into mama’s embrace. Papa started reading the letters with a serious expression. Wrinkles appeared on his forehead. I don’t know how long I was there as a senseless person, but papa’s voice made me come out of the numb feeling, and I wiped my cheeks while trying to come to the proper posture.

“Prisca, my daughter, what do you want to do?” papa asked me. His compassionate eyes rest on my face, consoling me.

“I am going to Howland, Papa. She needs me.” I let out a sigh. I worried my papa would get angry after hearing my decision, but instead of shouting at me, he nodded. As always, he is one of the best persons in this world who understands and values other people’s feelings.

“Very well, then. I will send a reply that you are hoping to visit Howland,” said father. He patted my head and left to office room to write the reply letter. I heard mama’s heavy sigh next to me.

…………………………………………………......

“Prisca, my dear, are you certain about this decision? I am still very worried about you.” mama whispered, sitting on my bed. I turned around and looked at her. She looks quite exhausted during the past few hours.

“Mama… I am certain. Don’t worry about me. I will be here when you blink your eyes,” I smiled, hoping to ease her burden.

“Hmm, I still think me or your papa should accompany you. After all, those commotions and unpleasant incidents happened in Howland… I know it was twelve years ago, but I am not happy to send you there by yourself,” mama’s broken voice reached to me. I braced her hand.

“Mama, we have to think about it practically. You or papa can’t accompany me. Papa can’t travel a long distance because of his injury. His leg injury causes lower back pains severely if he exercises his body too much. He should rest here. Papa needs you for his daily treatments, so you must stay here too.” I sighed after reasoning with her. Mama looks into my eyes for some time and then nodded reluctantly.

“I forgot to tell you, Martha will accompany you,” mama mumbled. Her lips curved beautifully.

“What? Martha? I can travel alone,” I protested.

“A young maiden can’t travel alone. Lady Sheridan worries about your safety, so she asked Martha to accompany you… which set my mind at ease.” long sigh came out from mama.

“Viscountess Sheridan? Did she ask Martha to accompany me? I am certain Rowena involves in this,”

“There is nothing wrong with someone accompanying you. Martha is like a mother to you and Lady Rowena. She will look after you. Lady Sheridan knows it well too,” mama narrowed her eyes at me. I shrugged, knowing that I am helpless against overprotective mamas.

“My Prisca! Please be careful darling,” she kissed my forehead.

“I will mama. Arsen will accompany me until Mondaze, you don’t have to worry, mama. His people will be there to protect your daughter,” I giggled, sticking my tongue out.

“Prisca…, how long I have to tell you, don’t casually address to Marquess of Stalbridge. Especially, considering now he is the lord of the Marquess family.” mama scolds me. Here it comes again!

“Mama, he is Arsen. I have known him for almost my entire life. Even Rowena won’t complain about how I address him. Brother Lucian also doesn’t mind. Why are you shouting?” I shrugged my shoulders playfully.

“This child!!! Young lady Sherian will not complain, because she considers you as her own sister, but don’t take her kindness for granted. Also, give proper respect to Lord Sheridan. He is the heir to Viscounty. Why am I even talking to this child??”

She shook her head a little.

“Now, sleep. You have a long journey tomorrow.” Mama roared to me and left the room while talking something to herself. There is no doubt she is scolding me… haha… I let out a sigh and try to sleep.

I couldn’t sleep much that night. The very painful old wound reopened again. I went back to twelve years ago in my mind while I was rolling on the bed. Ten years old Priscilla Lennox; the neglected first daughter of Baron Lennox’s household, and the second child of Baron Lennox’s household. I remember she was a fragile and small girl back then, yet she always put on a brave face to hide her pain and suffering.

My biological mother; Baroness Lennox is a greedy woman who puts money above everything. She is not a woman who is satisfied with anything easily. Her extreme love for materialistic things and her over-demanding habit made everyone uncomfortable. The worst nightmare for Baroness Lennox was not being born into a noble family and not being beautiful. She used to brag about her noble birth while torturing and condemning every person who was born to lower classes in the social hierarchy. On the other hand, my biological father; Baron Lennox was an irresponsible person. He gambled a lot, till he only left with the baron title he inherited from his father. His debt was increasing and increasing every day, yet he didn’t stop gambling. He didn’t care about household affairs at all. He never bothers to interact with his children or his wife.

Matthias Lennox is four years older than me. He did not differ from Baron and Baroness Lennox. He didn’t bother about others’ feelings, and never shared a bit of a thing with anyone. Matthias loved to put other people down. Now I think about it, he just followed and believes what his parents showed him. Rhosyn was one year younger than me. The girl was kind and innocent. She and I get along well, and I used to look after her because of her helpless, yet kind nature. She was the only person who talks with me in the entire household. Mairin is three years younger than me and Verena is five years younger than me. Those two girls are the youngest in the Lennox family. I had a brief interaction with them because they used to neglect me like I am invisible. Baroness made certain to keep them away from me, just because I used to be the ugly duckling of the family.

I was different from the rest of the Lennox family members. Matthias and the girls inherited light golden brown hair and enchanting eyes containing the colour of the sky from the parents. Indeed, beautiful.

The ugly duckling; I inherited dark brown hair almost look like the colour of otter fur, and honey eyes from nowhere. (Later on, mama told me I inherited most of my features from my paternal grandmother, but back then I didn’t know). I was skinny and pale compared to a normal ten years old girl back then, and it made me even more unattractive and less agreeable. Baroness always looked at me like she was witnessing a disgusting creature. She, herself, several times told me she couldn’t believe she gave birth to a curse like me who is disgracing the Lennox family name, so I must be grateful for the foods they are giving me. She demanded that not show my face to family members if there is not a deathly issue. Baron Lennox never bothered about me, anyway. As a child, I often wondered whether he knew he has a child name, Prisca.

Endless mental torture wounded me more than physical wounds. My mama and papa, whom I used to call aunt Evelina Fallon and uncle Edmund Fallon back then, made my world colourful as always. The only escape I found from mental torture was their kind visit that happened in the summer times. My mama; Evelina is the older sister of my biological father. Since she is the older sister of Baron Lennox, she used to visit Howland. Baroness Lennox never had a pleasant relationship with my mama because mama married a person who is coming from a humble background.

In, the baron Lennox household there was another invisible child like me. His condition was worse than mine. Kenneth; my five years old half brother. Even though his mother was a maid who worked in the Lennox household, he was all alone since he was a baby. I and Rhosyn used to take of him from time to time. Most of the time, I looked after him, because other people have neglected both of us. Even servants ignored us like we are not worth their attention. Whenever Rhosyn escapes from Baroness’s embrace, she visited Kenneth with everything her small hands can grab.

Kenneth was indeed a unique child. Even though I fumed over every unfair situation and fight for justice back then, he used to smile and endure the ill-treatment he often received not only from the Baroness but also from Matthias, Mairin, and Verena. He had his own way of facing problems. They treated him more poorly than an animal in the Lennox household. That foolish child smiled and hid his tears every time.

I still can feel the warmth I felt when he held my hands with his small hands. Those hands were always warm in that deadly household.

During one cold winter, Kenneth was suffering from a high fever for several days. He had to complete some daily errands before he caught up with that devilish fever. I took care of him without sleeping. How can a child take care of another child? Day by day, his condition got worse. Every day, I begged and asked Baroness Lennox to bring a doctor for Kenneth. That woman neglected me, saying that she has no money for a bastard child. When I came to my limit as a child, I went out for searching of a doctor in heavy snowfall. Rhosyn secretly agreed to look after Kenneth till I come with the doctor.

That was my worst winter. It was cold, devastated, and suffocating. I was crying and running desperately through the dark pathways. My toes and fingers were frozen because of the unbearable snowfall. When I found the doctor and came back with him, it was already late. Kenneth left this cruel world without even saying a proper goodbye. I failed to protect him; a lovely human being.

After a month passed after Kenneth’s death, I finally agreed to go with aunt Evelina and uncle Edmund to their home. They have asked me to come with them a few times previously, suggesting they will look after me like their own daughter since they love me so much. Baroness only told me one sentence before she closed the door to me. Her face revealed she was more than happy to throw me out.

“The doors of Lennox Household will not be open to you ever again. The disagreeable and unfortunate thing,"

“I will not take a single step inside this inhuman place ever again,” I yelled as a response.

…….

I found I have soaked my head pillow with tears. Just then, I realized I had been silently crying because of my miserable childhood memories.