The Adopted Debutante

She hardly remembered what happened that day. Everything was a blur, like a dream that begins beautifully, then slowly descends into darkness. The adoption was supposed to be a wonderful thing. Everyone had been so happy about it...who could have known this would have happened? They carried in her parents. Her mother's dress was torn and bleeding, her father's chest covered in blood. She could only stare in shock. The looks on the attendants faces told her everything.  Red...red...what a terrible color it was. She heard voices near the door, rushed, urgent, grieving. "Miss Gordon..." She turned to the nobleman who called her. He stood solemnly, holding the hand of his fallen friend. But Eloise saw neither the noblemen nor her fatally wounded new grandfather.  A little boy lay on the opposite couch. His unbloody form like a little drop of white amongst all the red. With a scream, she flew to his side. "Edward?! Edward, no! Wake up! Wake up!" "Miss Gordon...Eloise...we couldn't help him..." "No! Edward, please! For your big sister! Please!" she shook the lifeless body, then crumpled against the seat, sobbing. Ages seemed to pass in those moments. At last the gentle voice of Sir Carroll broke through her tears. "Eloise, your grandfather..." She could barely stand. They helped her to his side. He clearly did not have long to live. His frail body had suffered tremendously from the accident. She heard voices whispering a wild animal had attacked, others wondered if part of the ground had given way and they all had fallen. She had little time to listen, for her grandfather's eyes opened and he tried to tell her something. "Edward...Edward..." "He'll be alright, Grandfather," she whispered, her heart dying inside. "Don't worry...you just need to rest more and you'll be al--" "Edward...Edwards...Cl--Cli--" his words failed him and he slumped against the armrest, unconscious. The doctor was sent for at once, while the coroner came to inspect the bodies. Eloise spent much of that day crying against her governess, Libby. By the end of the night, the truth could not be denied any longer, and Sir Carroll was the one to tell the bereaved girl.  Mr. and Mrs. Percival Gordon had perished, as well as their only son, Edward. The parents died from injuries from a wild animal in the woods, while Edward seemed to have passed from heart failure. As for Lord Arthur Trellis, his days left were few.  "If he lasts the night, we have him for another week," the nobleman said, "but no longer." Eloise clutched her heart, "I'll be alone..." "No, I shall make certain you are well taken care of. You will not be abandoned in your hour of need, Miss Gordon." "Trellis," she said, "Eloise Trellis." "Eloise..." "My parents wanted to be a part of his family," Eloise said with determination, tears slipping down her face, "I won't let their dreams die...nor his." She dried her tears, smoothed her dress, and curtsied before the nobleman.  "Eloise Trellis, at your service, Sir Carroll," the strength in her voice softened as she asked,"...please take me to my grandfather..." He took her hand, a proud smile on his face, and led her through the door.  The last thing she could remember were the doors to the drawing room closing behind her. She had entered the room as Eloise Gordon. She ascended the stairs Eloise Trellis.