Brittan 1854
"Oh Father, you forgot your hat" I dashed over to the small coffee table and grab the black, brimmed hat and handed it to Father.
"Thank you my dear" He takes the Hat from me and suddenly starts having a coughing fit. At first, I was startled, I didn't know what was happening. He usually has coughing fits but not like this, not when he's lying helplessly on the floor holding his stomach and coughing up blood. I kneel down next to my father, blooding my blue satin dress.
"Phillis! Phillis call the doctor, and get some towels!" Phillis was our maid, she scurried over to the phone and dialled the numbers. It took her a few tries to get it right, her hands were trembling. When the doctor picked up Phillis was practically sobbing into the phone.
"Father" His eyes had closed and his breathing had become shaky, I could barely hear it.
"Father, look at me" He turned his head ever so slightly. I could feel the tears swelling up in my eyes and the sobs I was holding back.
"You're going to be okay, I promise" He gave me a small nod and closed his eyes and started coughing, blood filling up his mouth turning his lips and teeth red, I had to stop myself from throwing up. I held Father's hand until the doctor arrived. I heard the sound of horse trotting along the road and then suddenly there was a knock on the door, the doctor was wearing a mask, it looked as if he were a bird.
"Anne, go to your room," Phillis said.
"But, he needs me!" I protested tears had started rolling down my cheeks, my nose was running and my dress was covered in blood.
"Anne, sweetheart" It was Mother, she was holding her hand out toward me. She wore a long yellow dress, with a big white bonnet wrapped tightly around her head. Her honey eyes staring down at me with sympathy and sadness, I knew what was happening, I knew what she was doing, what she didn't want me to see.
"But Mother, he needs me" I sobbed
"Sweetheart, please come with me" She walked slowly towards me. She stopped in front of me, stroking the side of my cheek wiping away the tears that had fallen. She gently cuffed her hand around my chin and kissed me on my forehead.
"Anne Kay Wembley, please, you can see him after" Mother smiled down at me as if I was going to believe that lie.
"There isn't going to be an after!" Mother looked taken back but soon she was also on her knees sobbing, holding my hand rubbing her thumb back and forth on my palm whispering
"I know darling, I know, I just don't want you to see it" She looked up at me, people said we looked like sisters, we had the same light brown hair, honey-coloured eyes, small button nose and rounded face. Mothers eyes were red and puffy, her dress was now also covered in blood. As the doctor came around to where Mother and I were kneeling we stood behind him, watching. Mother had her arm around me know, one hand on my right shoulder the other on my left arm.
"I'm sorry Mrs Wembley, there is nothing I can do" Mother gave him a slight nod and out the door, he left. Phillis had started putting all the bloody towels into the washing basket and knelt down with Mother and me, waiting for it all to be over, waiting for Father to be gone, gone forever and never to return.
Brittan 1858
"Anne honey!"
"Yes Mother" I ran down the stairs and found Mother in the kitchen talking with Phillis and a strange man. The man was wearing a black suit with a striped red tie, he looked very interested in Mother. I was happy to see Mother was going out again, it's been a long four years since Father passed away, but I'm glad Mother isn't hurting anymore.
"I just wanted you to meet this lovely fellow" Mother smiled up at the man, he had big blue eyes, a crooked nose and a stubble jaw. he wasn't too bad looking.
"Anne Wembley, nice to meet you" I stuck out my hand and he gripped mine firmly and kissed it.
"And it's a pleaser to meet you too, I'm William" I smiled up at William and walked over toward where Phillis was standing and sat down on the small wooden chair next to her. Phillis put a hand to my shoulder, I tilted my head up to read her expression, she was also very pleased to see Mother going out and meeting new people. Phillis handed me some jam and toast and went off to do whatever maids did. Mother and William stood in the kitchen babbling about work, family and oddly enough children, William also had a child, a small girl at the age of six. I flicked my head toward where my name was being called. William had asked me a question.
"I beg your pardon, I'm sorry I wasn't listening"
"That's alright, I asked how old are you"
"Oh, how old am I? Well, I'll be sixteen in a month" I smiled, grabbed my empty plate and put it in the sink and dashed back upstairs and to my room. Thankfully I didn't have school today, it was the Christmas holidays, so I didn't have to go anywhere, I could just read my book in the front yard. I grabbed a plain white dress out of the cupboard and a red ribbon for my hair. As I reached the front door I could hear Mother and William making plans for later tonight, they both sounded very happy and joyous. I followed William out the front door and said my goodbyes and chose a nice place in the sun on the grass. The sun felt warm on my face, it made my eyelids feel heavy and my head felt hot. I tried to concentrate on reading but I couldn't stop my eyes from drooping.
I awoke to a young boy poking my shoulder. I sat up and faced him. He had dark hair that was up to the tips of his ears, tanned skin and had deep brown eyes.
"What on earth are you doing!? And who the hell are you!?" I screamed. He stared at me, his face motionless, eyes filled with humour. He sat in front of me, cross-legged.
"The polite way to ask someone 'what is your name' is 'Afternoon, would you be so kind and tell me your name?' That's the proper way to ask someone not 'Who the hell are you' " Suddenly the strange boy burst out laughing. His arms flayed in the air.
"It's not funny, you startled me" I tilted my head and stuck out my lip like a child.
"Oh, darling-"
"Darling? I don't even know you and you're calling me darling?" Who does he think he is? Calling a girl you've just met darling like you've been happily wedded for years.
"Sorry, it's out of habit" He blushed and pulled the hair away from his eyes.
"Out of habit, huh, sounds like you've got your hands full" I crossed my arms and turned away from him.
"I really don't, you see, I tend to spend my days inside, reading a book or listen to my parents fight, its the greatest don't you think, and I've recently come out of a-" He paused as if he were too scared to say he came out of a relationship, maybe she hurt him.
"A relationship" I replied.
"yes, that, and so I got used to calling the only girl I ever saw darling so the first girl I meet after a few months-"
"A few months? You said you 'recently' came out of a relationship-" The boy gleamed at me, his eyes shone like diamonds. He let out a sigh and shook his head.
"sorry, carry on" I muttered I looked down, embarrassed at my rudeness. The boy rolled his eyes and smiled, his teeth were perfect, not even a crooked or chipped tooth.
"Thank you, as I was saying, the first girl I meet after a few months my brain goes ballistic and I call the girl darling, but usually people swoon as they see me in the streets but you, you just screamed at me"
"So you expect me to swoon now?" I stared at him in disbelief, he expected me to swoon over him? What kind of gentleman says that to a lady? He ran his hand through his hair and put a finger under my chin and stared directly into my eyes. He gave me a small devilish smile and whispered in my ear.
"Of course I do darling" The boy looked around on the street and paused. I could see Mrs Flinch walking down the road with freshly picked apples in a basket. The boy sighed and looked at me at again, his finger still under my chin.
"I must go before anyone sees me but, I will see you tonight" He drew away from my face and winked and as quickly as he appeared he was gone. I stared back at the place he had been sitting, it felt unreal, as if it were a dream. I drew my attention to the sound of footsteps coming from behind me. It was Mother, she was dressed in a red flowy dress with a pink ribbon tied in her hair.
"Hello Mother," I said, smiling up at her. She looked tired, she must've fallen asleep on the couch again. There were large bags under my Mothers eyes, there always were but somehow she was still bursting with energy and looked lovely doing it. Sometimes if I look closely enough at Mother, I feel as if I were staring into a mirror.
"Sweetheart, how does dinner with William sound tonight?" She looked doubtful, of course, she hadn't read my expression earlier this morning, she was to wrapped up in her own world with William.
"Mother" I grabbed her hand and gently brought her to the ground until she was sitting next to me.
"Dinner with William sounds lovely" I smiled, there was no lie, only the truth yet, Mother still looked doubtful.
"Are you sure? I can call William and-" I put a finger to her lips and kissed her on the forehead and slowly stood up.
"Mother, I am very sure" I grinned and quickly dashed off inside to have a bath and to prepare for later tonight.
I quickly stumbled down the stairs as soon as I heard a knock on the door. I had beaten Mother to the door, oh how happy she looked it just filled me with joy and excitement. Before I opened the door mum put her hand on mine and looked me in the eyes.
"You don't have to do this just for me, if you're uncomfortable with it, I can tell him to leave, he will understand" At the thought of that Mother looked sad, obviously she had grown fond of William and wished he would come into our home and never leave her side.
"Mother I have already told you, I'm completely ok with it"
"Ok sweetheart" Mother smiled and then opened the dark oak door. Behind it stood William, he was dressed in a white button-up shirt, a black tie and a brown overcoat. Next to William stood a small girl, this must be his daughter. William's daughter wore a bright yellow dress with a white boy wrapped neatly around her waist. Mother and William embraced each other with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Hello there, I'm Anne, Anne Wembley" I stuck out my hand but instead the small child rammed into my leg and wrapped herself around it tightly and smiled up at me.
"Hello, I'm Matilda," She said in a squeaky voice. I patted Matilda's head and smiled back.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you Matilda" As I walk awkwardly toward the living room with the small child still clutching to my leg. I sit down on the brown leather couch. As I take a seat Matilda lets go of my leg and decides to sit in my lap.
"Now now Matilda, don't you think you should ask to sit in her lap first?" William scolds. As he walks to his seat he gives his daughter a gentle tap on the nose.
"Sorry" Matilda drops her head and moves off of my lap and sits beside me. I give her a comforting look and a pat on the back. She was quite adorable.
"It's ok, you can sit on my lap if you want" Matilda's eyes lit up and a big grin spread across her face as she jumps back into my lap. We sat and talked in the living room for a while until Phillis called us for dinner. For dinner, we had roast lamb and vegetables and of course as all five-year-olds are, Matilda was very fussy about what was served. Mother and William looked very much in love, how long had they been keeping this a secret from me? Oh, it didn't matter they were happy together, anyone could see that, but to be fair, I was curious.
"So Mother, how long have you and William been in a relationship?" As soon as the words came out of my mouth I cringed but Mother just smiled and gave Williams hand a tight squeeze.
"Not long sweetheart, not long" She looked at William, she looked at him like she used to look at Father, she was definitely in love. I looked up at the clock on the wall, it was already 8 O'clock, what time did William and Matilda get here? As if reading my mind William spoke up.
"My oh my, Matilda honey you should've been in bed one hour ago, I'm so sorry" William stood up from his seat and quickly grabbed Matilda from hers and cradled the small child.
"I'm very sorry to leave in a hurry but it is past Matilda's bedtime, I will see you another time, goodbye" And with that William and Matilda were gone. I got up from my seat and collected the dishes and brought them to the sink. Mother was humming a joyous tune and Phillis was humming along with her, they both had lovely voices.
"I'm going to bed Mother"
"Ok sweetheart, goodnight"
"I love you" I smiled and ran toward her and wrapped my arms around Mother. She kissed the top of my head and whispered back.
"I love you too"
It was very in the morning and Mother and Phillis were sound asleep, unlike me I couldn't sleep at all. My mind was racing, that boy, I couldn't stop thinking of the no named boy. I remembered the way he had spoken to me, calm and collective, the way his hair blew softly in the wind, his eyes staring into my soul and his voice, how strong his accent was but yet how gentle it sounded. Suddenly my window slides open and the boy jumps through. I sat up immediately, covering my chest with he blanket, it had been a hot night. I pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
"Hello darling"