CHAPTER THREE; Beyond the walls(part one)
750 Words
Sleep never returned.
Long after the sun had climbed into the sky, Luna still found herself replaying the morning's breakfast in her mind.
"If they refuse... they will eventually understand why refusing this family has never ended well."
Her father's words lingered far longer than she wanted them to.
She sighed as she closed the book resting on her lap.
Reading usually helped.
Today, the words blurred together until they no longer made sense.
"You've only turned two pages in nearly an hour."
Luna looked up to find Clara standing in the library doorway, a knowing smile on her face.
"I didn't realize you were counting."
"I wasn't."
Clara stepped inside, carrying a small tray with tea and freshly baked biscuits.
"I was simply observing."
Luna smiled, accepting the warm cup.
"Thank you."
The older woman nodded before placing the tray on the table.
"You've been unusually quiet today."
"I suppose I'm just thinking."
"About this morning?"
Luna hesitated.
"Father..."
She paused, searching for the right words.
"...does everyone fear him?"
Clara's smile faded.
For a brief moment, the question seemed to catch her off guard.
"Your father is respected."
"That's not what I asked."
Silence settled between them.
Finally, Clara lowered her eyes.
"Sometimes respect and fear look very similar."
Before Luna could ask anything else, Clara gently changed the subject.
"Your riding lesson begins in twenty minutes."
Luna groaned dramatically.
"Must I?"
"I'm afraid so."
"They're dreadfully boring."
"You've been saying that since you were thirteen."
"And I've been right since I was thirteen."
The older woman laughed.
"There are some things even I can't save you from."
The afternoon passed exactly as Luna expected.
Horse riding.
Etiquette.
History.
A meeting with the family's financial adviser that she barely listened to.
Every hour of her day had been planned before she had even opened her eyes that morning.
By sunset, she felt exhausted.
Not physically.
Mentally.
She wandered onto one of the mansion's many balconies, resting her arms against the stone railing.
The town stretched peacefully below.
From this distance, people looked so...
Free.
They laughed.
Argued.
Ran through the streets.
Made mistakes.
No one seemed to care.
No one expected perfection.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Miss Luna?"
One of the younger maids stood nervously behind her.
"Your evening gown has been prepared."
"I'll be down shortly."
The maid bowed and hurried away.
Luna looked back toward the town.
"I wonder what it's like..."
The words escaped before she realized she'd spoken them aloud.
"What, Miss?"
Clara had quietly joined her.
"Living without everyone telling you where to go."
The older woman looked toward the town.
"It has its own hardships."
"I know."
Luna smiled sadly.
"But at least those hardships belong to them."
Dinner came and went.
Her father was still away.
Several of her siblings discussed business over dessert.
Others talked excitedly about tomorrow evening's dinner with the Ashcroft family.
"The heir is finally returning from abroad," Adrian remarked.
"He'll make a fine husband," another sister teased.
Luna barely looked up from her plate.
"I'm sure he will."
"You don't sound excited."
"Should I be?"
Her siblings exchanged amused smiles.
Adrian chuckled.
"You've been promised to him since you were children."
"I know."
"And?"
Luna shrugged.
"It doesn't really matter."
To her, it never had.
She barely remembered the boy.
Their marriage had always felt like one more decision someone else had made for her.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
By the time dinner ended, the mansion had fallen into its familiar nighttime silence.
One by one, servants extinguished the lights along the grand hallways.
Doors closed.
Footsteps faded.
The Calipps estate slowly drifted to sleep.
Luna, however...
Was wide awake.
She closed her bedroom door behind her before walking toward the enormous antique wardrobe standing against the far wall.
For several moments, she simply stared at it.
Then...
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"Just for tonight."
She pushed the wardrobe aside with surprising ease.
Hidden behind it was a narrow wooden door almost impossible to notice unless someone knew exactly where to look.
Luna reached beneath a loose floorboard and retrieved an old brass key.
It had become her favorite secret.
She slipped the key into the lock.
The door creaked open.
Cold air drifted out from the darkness beyond.
Picking up a small lantern, Luna took one last glance toward her bedroom.
Then she stepped inside.
The door quietly closed behind her.
And for the first time all day...
She felt free.
- Writer
