When beauty met beast

Chapter 1- The Belmont household. “During the late 1800s, the city of England thrived too…”. She paused and sucked her teeth as the words ran short in her mouth. “Ugh..”. She lamented and threw the paper aside. She was leaving the town of Charleston, England for the Belmont household, in New Orleans. It was a peaceful place, quiet and thriving with business opportunities in the area. But this was her home, where she grew up and was forced to leave because of her contract marriage into the family. She hasn’t left the twins since. No one knew what it was like up there, on the hillhouse. The town before was cozy, and the cold always gave trouble at night. The memories of raining late for class in the rain or twin festival was all gone. She had a plan to be a teacher, but with this marriage she might not get that chance, ever. The carriage ride felt like a great experience at first, but it was starting to lose its price. The town felt far away now as she looked one final peek, seeing the small boys and girls of the playground waving at her goodbye. She had promised to visit occasionally, but that felt uncertain. This was her first carriage ride, and it was to New Orleans, the town in the whole of England. She felt a rush of thrill, suspense and fear. Would the family like her or not? Would the Lord’s son even look at her? Was she pretty enough? What if…! She drowned her mind in a sea of thoughts and imaginations, sinking her body in the soft comfort of the leather-made seats. She sighed and cracked a chuckle as she remembered the night before she left the city. Her grandmother bought her some sweets, a necklace and blessed her. She remembered the look on her friends' faces, she told them she was engaged to the Belmont. The shock on the town people when the royal family carriage rolled down the hill to come pick her up. The beautiful writing of the letter… “We, the Belmont family, humbly request your daughter, Sapphire’s hand in marriage with our son, Lord…”. The carriage hits a bump on the road, and it throws her off balance, losing her seat and falling over. The noise she made at the back, forcing the rider to check in on her. “Madame Sapphire, are you alright? My sincere apologies…I clearly didn’t see the bump and- “Nah! It’s fine… I am alright”. Sapphire cuts in, getting her body back in the leather seats. “Oh…oh okay. May we resume the journey then”. The rider asked and she nodded. “Of course”. They resumed, moving up the hill, slow yet steady. Sapphire goes on to re-enact the reactions of her family members' face and words, when they get the message of her request for marriage. She begins to wonder if he is cute enough for her or perhaps interested in her. She remembered the golden seal and gifts that were sent to her alongside the message. Among them was this lovely red gown which she was wearing, a black jacket, a few heels and jewelers. She smiled to herself as she felt a queen had arrived, assured of going there to leave a better life. The carriage made it along a small wooden-constructed bridge over a small lake and through a series of tall thick woods. Finally, it stopped and she took a peek out the window. She gasped as the house was huge and looked like an overwhelming being from afar. They halted at a tall slender-looking gate. The beauty of the design caught Sapphire staring for long. “Who is it?! A man said over a door communicator. It was a panel mounted on the door to convey messages from the outside, with this the man outside could state his business before stepping in. “It’s Victor. The bride has arrived”, the rider replied, and the buzzer went silent. Suddenly, the gate cracked open and the carriage rode in. Naturally, the bride’s face wasn’t expected to be seen by anyone expecting the middle-lady before the wedding, neither was the husband meant to be seen by her. The lawn, pavement and road were well cleared, grass trimmed and embedded in roses and sunshine. Sapphire peeped through the wall window, hiding behind the curtains as she glared in awe at the beauty of the place. There was a fountain at the city, springing to life with water. The status looks related and freshly painted. Their carriage abruptly stopped and Sapphire lost her footing. She fell back a bit and got a grip of herself. She was there, at the Belmont household. She immediately dabbed her face with sweets with a handkerchief and applied some lip gloss to get light red lips. She covered her face with a huge long cloak, which she placed over her head. The dress was practically like a net material ,which allowed gave room for respiratory processes and vision. She was assisted off the carriage by the rider, who assisted her with the luggage. She stood there in the front pavement admiring the beauty of the magnificently built house. As she stood there, while the man struggled with her bags, she heard a thud of approaching footsteps. “You must be Sapphire. Am Sonia, maid of the Lord”. She said and bowed before her. Sapphire felt another rush of thrill, but felt the need to ask a question. “The lord? I thought I was going to the Belmont family house”. “Incorrect. You see, the master has a house of his own. The original Belmont house is only used for meetings and family get together”. Sonia replied and smiled. “How intriguing. He had a house of his own. So that means what father said was true, he was a rich one”. Sapphire thought and faint a smile. “Please madam I suggest we get inside, the sun is too hot”. Sonia suggested and Sapphire obeyed. Inside the house was just a piece to adore. Looking so unique from the other noblemen houses. Beautifully furnished chairs, dining table and well painted. It felt like the house of a prince. Originally the Belmont’s are noblemen and women. Their name is crafted in gold as the best the town has to offer. Politics, religious and social answer to them. They are beyond wealthy and beyond powerful. Even the queen knows about them, as they helped a lot in the war with the Americans. Sapphire made it inside the house and was requested a brief tour around the mansion. The kitchen was huge and stacked. There were about multiple layers to the house; two living rooms, two dinner tables, a balcony, and four bedrooms, with king sized beds. Garden at the back, a hot tub invention in the bathroom and huge paints, artifacts and guns on the wall. This showed he was a collector of everything; swords, paints, autograph signing and even sculptures of the dead. There was a*****e room for wine and the live stock house was closer to the stable. A golf course created by green freshly mulled grasses and tall scary looking trees. “Mi lady? Sonia called out with a feint smile on her face. “Yes”. An excited Sapphire replied, turning her back to her as she admired the view of her big room upstairs. “Yes! You are the Lord’s lady, but I must cautioned you, that there are places in this mansion that your legs must not step on…else”. She paused and pulled up a cold face, forcing Sapphire to get scared. “Death” . She whispered and Sapphire shrieked in fear, pulling backward she started to feel dizzy from all the heat and fell to the ground. Her visions were blurry but she caught the glimpse of the maid standing next to her, with most cripple smile on her face. “Who…are…you? She stuttered and tried to raise her hands up at the entrance of the rider, but he wasn’t looking her way. She apparently gave up and got her eyes to shut. Her body felt weak and looked feeble. “Mi lady. I told you the sun was hot and you have been in the sun for too long. The heat here is always leading to people fainting…”. Sonia said and stared at an unconscious Sapphire. “Has she gone lights out already? The rider asked and looked at Sonia, who was still smiling. “Yes! She nodded. “Damn. So fast…she is even easier than the last one”. The ride chuckled. “Indeed. She didn’t even know when I pinched her with the needle. Such a shame. But we have to get her geared up for tomorrow”. Sonia said and looked at the ride ushering him to drop the luggage and leave. The rider got the signal and turned to leave, pausing at the door and flashing his gaze back at the sleeping beauty, Sapphire. He sucked his teeth and muttered “Alright then…it’s all up to you now, mi Lady”.