Time went by faster than expected. It was their graduation from eight grade, everyone of them was sad. They sat down staring at each other without a word. Three amongst them were leaving pattison for good, and they were not sure of seeing themselves ever again. "can everyone just calm down? Why are you all staring at me like that?" Treasure finally spoke up breaking the silence. They diverted their gaze quickly, and Lexi shedding silent tears spoke first. "You are leaving us to some other City and you are not even perturbed by it. Won't you miss us?" she asked. Treasure was already missing them, she had tried so much to hide her feelings, but Lexi's words were already making her loose it. "Look at Jake, his parents are relocating to the united states soon, that means he won't be coming back to pattison either..." she complained, this time it took Treasure so much effort not to burst into tears.
"Vanessa is leaving too, she's going to live with her aunt in Newyork and she won't be coming back either. Just tell me,...tell me Treasure why shouldn't I be sad?" she asked admits tears. Treasure held her hands.
"but Romane will be here with you, you two can..."
"It doesn't change the fact that I will miss the three of you does it?" She asked interrupting Treasure.
"Why are you acting like you are not hurt by this? You are my best friend Treasure" She said and burst into tears. Treasure drew her into her arms and hugged her tightly holding back her own tears.
"I'mm very sorry Lexi, I wish I could take you with me, but I promise, I will come back after my college... But that's so far...Lexi complained, and Treasure couldn't find anymore excuses. She stared at the rest of her friends above Lexi's shoulder, and seeing Jake crying, she finally let hers out. They hugged eachother crying profusely.
"Take absolute care of my Lexi, don't let that French cat, Claude, say mean things to her."Treasure said to Romane and looking at Jake and Vanessa, she grinned
"it seems you both are destined to be together. First the painting class, now in the same country... As she spoke, Jake kept on shedding tears.The whole departure stuff seemed to have affected him the most. He couldn't even look Treasure in the eye and when he felt he couldn't take it anymore, he got up and walked out. Treasure handed Lexi her parting gift. It was a small, but very expensive music box with a tiny ballerina on it.
"I hope this ballerina reminds you of me" she said. The others watched in admiration as Lexi caressed the music box. "I shall play the tones for you with my violin when I see you again. By then, I would have mastered it all." She replied with a smile.
"Here's mine Treasure." She said handing Treasure a diary. Treasure took it with a surprised look on her face. She lacked nothing but a diary, since she had never saw the importance of having one, but now that Lexi had gifted her one, she saw the need to put down all the lovely moments she had spent with her in it. "Thank you Lexi, I really appreciate this, thank you." Treasure joy.
"Put down all of your experiences in Bristol in it, that way you won't be lonely" Vanessa and Romane handed her their own gifts of a picture frame and a best mate hand bangle.
"I've got something for you both too" Treasure said.
she gave Vanessa her expensive set of crayons and handed Romane her favourite balle shoes. They both loved it and while they were busy admiring their gifts, Treasure left to find Jake.
He was sitting on the desk in an empty classroom with his head buried in his palms. Treasure took a deep breath and approached him.
"Hem hem" she cleared her throat and sat beside him.
"Don't you think you are overreacting?" she spoke
"I mean, I'm not going to hell am I? And you are leaving too aren't you?" she asked
"I'm sorry but, there are some other things bothering me besides your departure" He said
"what other things?" Treasure asked listening keenly. Jake stared at her lost for words.
"What is it Jake? We have only but today to sit and talk like this but you are bent on keeping your secrets to yourself." Treasure said but he kept mute rubbing his palms on his thigh in nervousness. Treasure grew impatient.
"Does it relate to you and Vanessa's row the last time?"
"Is it something I should know?she asked again, but he said nothing"
"Fine!" she said frustrated.
"Here..." Treasure said presenting him with a painting palette. Jake stared at her for a while without taking the gift.
"Take it..." she said
"its my parting gift to you"
"I'm not parting with you so you can keep it"he said
Treasure stood dumbstruck.
"why can't you keep it?" Treasure finally spoke "
"I want to meet you again" he said
"then, l believe I'd have the courage to tell you what bothers me so much" he said.
"we must meet again Treasure, it's really important that we do"
Treasure stared after him as he walked out of the class, too surprised for words.
Back at home, Mrs Daisy wasn't finding Treasure's departure funny at all. Ever since Treasure reached grade eight, Mrs Daisy had become very restless, she knew it was going to be difficult to let her daughter live very far away from her for more than two years, but she was determined to allow Treasure get the best of education.
Treasure met her mom drinking at the bar section of the mansion.
"Mom what is it?" she asked as she sat beside her mom on a stool.
"Why are you drinking alcohol at this time of the day?" she asked again.
"Are you worried about something?" Mrs Daisy struggled to keep her eyes open. "Nothing is wrong my child" she said.
"I'm just being childish right now. I want you to go to Bristol but I'm going to miss you a lot" she said.
"I'm trying to get myself together you know, so I can watch you leave. Don't worry about me dear, I will be fine. I will call you everyday and when I get the chance to, I will visit you. Yes, you don't have to worry about security or house chores" she said.
"I have contacted the bodyguards, and the maids of the house. Pamela, will be going with you too, but she will be taking the next flight back here...and..."
she tried to speak but she burst into tears instead. Treasure hugged her without saying a word. She knew whatever she was going to say won't necessarily console her mom in this state.
Her visa ready, her admission into Clifton high school secured, her house in Bristol cleaned out and her servants and butler waiting over there, she was ready to leave.
"mom, enough! I will miss my flight!" Treasure complained but Mrs Daisy still held on to her.
"You will never understand Treasure dear" she replied releasing her.
As Treasure turned to get into the car, Mrs Sophia ran to her and squeezed an envelope into her hands.
"Its from my son, please accept it." She said with a bow. Treasure looked behind Sophia and spotted Enzo, he looked very sad but he was still forced a smile at Treasure. Treasure waved at him and entered the car.
"Goodbye mom" she said to Mrs Daisy.
"take care of Treasure." Mrs Daisy said to pamela before they zoomed off. In the car, Treasure read the letter Enzo had written her.
"Dear Treasure,
I'm sorry I couldn't say goodbye to you properly, I was so hurt when I heard about your voyage from my mom. I couldn't find the time to talk to you, and since you stopped inviting me over for your balle practices, I felt you were mad at me. But I understand now, and I wish you a happy stay in Bristol. I hope you don't forget me though. Check the envelope properly, you'd see my parting gift to you. Its small, but please accept it. I know I will see you again, but bye for now.
Your friend,
Enzo Sophia.
Treasure brought out a very beautiful hair clip from the envelope and smiling, she said to herself.
"its beautiful Enzo, thank you"
*******************************************
It was a first class plane, but by the time they arrived at Bristol airport, Treasure already had jet lag. They were a bit confused on where to go, but just as they turned around to find an empty seat at the lobby, someone called out, "Treasure! Treasure!!" They turned just in time to see a middle aged woman and two young men running towards them. They stood still, determined to hear them out.
"Oh dear, I got a call yesterday from your mom, she told me you'd be arriving today, so I have been waiting here for you." she said as she struggled to catch her breath.
"I'm glad you had a safe trip, I'm Mrs Tessy Smith, your god mother, and I'm really happy to meet you again." she said with a broad smile on her face. Pointing at the two men beside her, she said. "this was your father's trusted butler, Mr Williams, and this was his body guard, Mr Lancely, we will make sure your stay here is a lovely and peaceful one my dear." she said again. Treasure looked at the three of them in awe. The woman was pretty, with bright blue eyes and a blond hair packed into a bun. She was chubby and had a birthmark under her right eye. Mr Williams was a slender white man with a bald head. He had a smiley face naturally so you couldn't tell when he was upset. Mr Lancely however was a dark skinned man with a sturdy body and a mean face. He wore a dark shades over his eyes even though it wasn't sunny at the airport.
"its nice to meet you" Treasure said with a smile, then gesturing towards Pamela, she said,
"This is Pamela, my mother's personal maidservant, please take care of her, and make sure she gets the next available flight back to Coventry." Treasure said
"Of course, I will do just that, but I suggest she comes home with us and rest for a while." Mrs Smith replied. The two men bowed as Mrs Smith signalled them to take the trolley from Treasure. "We also came with a driver, his name is Mr Thomas, and he's waiting outside for us." She said again, but Treasure nodded absent mindedly, walking on. Her mother had never mentioned the fact that she had a god mother to her, and seeing Mrs Smith pop out of nowhere to claim the title was a little surprising for her.
"I will talk to mom about this later" she told herself.
As they drove, Treasure looked back and saw two other cars in which the butler and the bodyguard rode in.
"I'm glad you didn't bring a paparazzi with you" Treasure said sarcastically. Mrs Smith laughed.
"You are worth it darling, but why do you say so?" She asked still laughing. Treasure looked back at the car.
"why did they bother coming if they knew they won't want to ride in the same car with me?" she asked as she admired her nails.
"Do I take it that they are both too FAT to fit into this one?" she asked as she stared Mrs Smith's in her eye. Her face had gone pale in fear.
"well...umm...I...wanted you to...umm...meet them you know...intro...intro..." she struggled for words
"you mean introduction right?" Treasure asked and Mrs Smith nodded. Treasure smiled quite aware that Mrs Smith had not answered her question.
"I don't want anyone to notice my affluence even before I can properly introduce myself." she said as she stared out the window.
"As you know, I'm here to study, not to show off. god mother, my mom has put me in your care, so you must help her take good care of me and that includes keeping me away from the public eye." Treasure held Mrs Smith's hands and faking a smile, she said.
"you do understand right?" Mrs Smith swallowed her anger and nodded her head. When Mrs Daisy had called to inform her of Treasure, she thought it a perfect opportunity to squander money as she liked in the guise that she was taking care of Treasure, but she did not foresee such an intelligent and sensitive girl.
"This is a huge problem." she muttered to herself
"this little girl is smarter than I thought."
"Huh, did you say something?" Treasure asked in a mockingly, but Mrs Smith quickly shook her head in negative. She wore a long face until they got to Lord Marcus' mansion, while Mr Thomas kept smiling to himself very pleased that Mrs Smith was upset. Ever since Marcus' death, Mrs Smith had been treating them poorly, claiming ownership of the house and everything in it. But now that Treasure was here, he was sure she was going to stamp out those unnecessary bossy attitudes from her.
The mansion was two times bigger and more beautiful than that of Mrs Daisy.
"Wow!" Treasure exclaimed as Mr Thomas struggled to pack the car beside the fleet of cars that designed the whole premises with their colours and sizes.
"This is awesome" she muttered to herself as she got out of the car. In front of the house stood six really beautiful women, most of them looked above forty while the others looked even younger. They genuflected in unison saluting Mrs Smith, Treasure, and Pamela, who waved in return. Mrs smith introduced Treasure and Pamela, and quickly, their countenances brightened. "Welcome ma'am, welcome Lady Pamela." they said simultaneously while genuflecting. Treasure smiled staring at them, while Pamela waved again. Now more than ever, Treasure missed her maidservants in Coventry.
"These are ladies Ginevra and her twin sister, Minerva, Anthonia, Pauline, Georgia, and my absolute favourite, Sydney. You will like her, I promise, because unlike the others, she's committed to duty, instructions, and to the one who gives it." Mrs Smith said smiling from cheek to cheek. Treasure looked up at Sydney and forced a smile. "You are welcome ma'am, please feel relaxed, I will treat you well." She said. Treasure looked at the other maidservants and noticed their sad faces. She turned to Sydney saying
"I'm already feeling relaxed" Treaure said.
"but I have a question for you Sydney" she said The rest of the maidservants stared at Treasure skeptically.
"Yes little mistress, I'm all ears" Sydney replied
"Are you treating the people around you well?"she asked Mrs Smith and the rest of the maidservants were taken aback by Treasure's question but Sydney replied,
"yes little mistress." she replied.
"if you truly treat the people around you well, then you won't be comfortable if anyone of them is sad will you?" Treasure asked folding her hands.
"No little mistress, I won't be happy at all" she replied a bit confused. Treasure nodded and stepping very close to her, she said,
"I'm sorry, but your answer well contradicts what is happening before my eyes." Treasure looked from Mrs Smith to Sydney and continued.
"well, Lady Sydney, you shouldn't have allowed yourself to be someone's favourite. you should have struggled to make your fellow maidservants as good as you. you've suceeded in making them feel incompetent and less of themselves. That isn't treating them right is it?" Treasure asked raising a brow. Sydney buried her head in shame, while the rest of the maidservants blushed unknowingly. Treasure ran her hands through her hair.
"I shouldn't put all the blame you much anyways, my very own god mother is at fault too." She said turning her head to stare at Mrs Smith who forced a smile and turned her face away in shame. "From today Mrs smith, there will be no more favourites among my maidservants or anyone else, agreed?" She asked with a plain expression, and Mrs Smith nodded grudgingly. Treasure didn't seem to notice, as she walked into the house.
"This silly girl is not only smart but a pain in the butt!" Mrs Smith muttered to herself.
The living room was decorated with pink curtains and white furry couches and daybeds. There was a gold statue of the blessed virgin Mary and her baby Jesus, wrapped in her arms on a shelf behind one of the couches. Treasure smiled at it and ran her eyes through the books on the shelf.
"Dad really loved to read" she said to herself picking out one of the books. She read the words on the front cover, "How to make a perfect family" she smirked muttering to herself,
"I don't think he paid much attention to this." She dropped it and focused her attention on a picture frame on the wall. It was her mom in a wedding dress, holding her husband, lord Marcus and laughing uncontrollably. Treasure's countenance fell, her mom had never laughed so much, and even if she had, Treasure knew it would have been fake. "Why did she ever leave? She was happy." she thought to herself. Mrs Smith watched her for a while before she spoke.
"your father begged her" she said,
"he was so sorry, he even sent me over to Coventry to bring her back, but your mom wouldn't give in. I gave up on her but he never did." She walked closer to Treasure and placing a hand on her shoulder she said,
"one of the reasons your father decided to move to Coventry was to see your mother. He gave the excuse of work, but I know it was to see you and your mother anytime he had the opportunity to. Your father must have died missing your mom." she said.
"But some things are just meant to happen don't you think so too Treasure?" She asked grinning.
"You were three years old when your mom left here." She said staring at a corner of the house. Treasure smiled sadly and walked to the bar section. "Mom would have loved this, though I don't really encourage it" Mrs Smith leaned on the counter.
"you are your mom's daughter, one day this place will be your favourite part of the house" Treasure looked at her with disgust.
"why do you say so?" She asked and Mrs Smith quickly spoke.
"when you become an adult, you are prone to suffer much more emotional traumas you know" she said smiling slyly.
"Your father did, as you know, he had so many girlfriends before he finally settled down with your mom, and that union didn't last anyways," she laughed and muttered to herself.
"he was haunted by his past" Treasure heard her well but walked away trying not to explode in anger. She walked towards the stairs and found one of the maidservants, Ginerva.
"Could you show me my room please" she asked politely.
"Of course little mistress, Ginevra replied. She had already developed likeness for Treasure ever since she stroked Lady Sydney and Mrs Smith. She walked up the stairs, past an empty corridor on the left. Treasure looked at it as she walked past, and finally, she was forced to ask.
"have you been working here?" The woman turned around to fix her gaze at Treasure,
"yes little mistress" she replied. Treasure nodded her head and asked again, "sorry, but for how long?" Ginevra answered,
"fourteen years ma'am" Treasure's eyes widened in amazement.
"that's pretty long..." she said, but Ginevra didn't say a word.
"why is that corridor empty?" she asked again.
"What should have been there?" she asked again.
"Nothing? " she asked staring closely at Ginevra.
"Well, there's a door at the end of it, leading to another living room. There, Lord Marcus usually have his private meetings with his clients and other important men" Ginerva said trying to sound normal.
"I see, so its his office?" Treasure asked with her hands on her waist. "No ma'am, his office is two rooms after yours" Ginevra replied pointing ahead.
"Ok then, let's see this office" she replied walking ahead of Ginevra, but she quickly stood in front of Treasure, blocking her path.
"No ma'am, you must be tired from your journey" you should take your bath, eat and sleep, then we can show you around the house, and you can check out any room you want to, please ma'am" she pleaded.
Treasure's room was richly furnished and decorated with flowers of different colours and sizes. The magnificent bed was decorated with teddy bears and her dressing table was furnished with figurines of princesses. Above her bed, on the wall, was an enlarged portrait of princess Aurora, smiling as though she was aware of Treasure's presence. Treasure walked into the closet, and what she saw amazed her. The wardrobe was full of really beautiful clothes that Treasure did not even come with. She adjusted herself at the magnificent mirror and turned around to look at the beautiful tiaras that designed the cupboard with their glowing colours. "Tiaras? But I'm not a princess" Treasure said looking very surprised. Ginevra smiled and adorning Treasure's hair with one of the them, she said,
"Lord Marcus always saw you as one. From the day of your birth, he called you a princess and was determined to make it that way. He asked us to shop for all these expensive tiaras, and asked us to always adorn you with it." Treasure felt a bit strange, like she wanted to cry, but she forced a smile instead, and pulling the tiara off her head, she said,
"dad was honestly a very funny man" Ginevra kept the tiara and led Treasure to the jewelry section of the cupboard. "He made us buy all these to match the tiaras too, although you must have outgrown some of the clothes in the wardrobe, but I personally picked out these jewelries to suite you at anytime." Treasure was a bit confused.
"Does it mean all these are fourteen years old?" She asked but Ginevra smiled shaking her head.
"No ma'am, we had them changed every three years." Treasure was taken aback. "Mrs Smith told me my mom took me out of here when I was three years old, how come all of these were still purchased?" She asked tapping her index finger on her chin.
"Lord Marcus had hoped you will return one day. He told us he didn't want you to lack anything when the time came. He made us clean your room everyday, and even when he travelled to Coventry, he made sure to call us everyday at 6 am to remind us of the cleaning. He sent us money every three years to change the clothes in your closet as well as the jewelries and just everything in here. We bought the clothes according to how old you were, or would be. The last time he sent us money was when you were nine years old. He was supposed to send us money last year, but died even before you turned twelve. So ma'am, the clothes and other things decorating this room is for a nine years old child, but please bear with us, we will have them restocked immediately." Treasure kept mute. She sat on a stool, burying her head in her palms.
"So all this time I have been thinking that dad was too busy with work, he actually dedicated himself to me." Treasure said as a year rolled down her cheeks. Ginevra patted her back gently,
"don't blame yourself or your mom for anything, rather, you should be glad that you finally came here and got to see all of these." Treasure suddenly remembered something,
"was that the reason he gave me this mansion? So I could find out just how much he cared for me?" She asked no one in particular, but Ginevra was shocked to hear that Treasure now owned the house and not Mrs Smith. She stared a bit dumbfounded before Treasure got up and left the dressing room, and she walked briskly after her to the magnificent room. When Treasure had made herself comfortable on one of the cushions in the room, she said,
"Put my new clothes in the closet and prepare the bathroom for me. I also need a good night dress, and please make dinner happen in thirty minutes." she said.
"I'm allergic to garlic, and please don't ever add more than enough onion in any of my dishes. I drink only deionized water, and I don't drink milkshakes, I'm on a diet" Treasure said as she touched her belly.
"this is a list of my brand of perfumes, soap and creams, as well as hair care that I will be needing." Treasure said handing her a sheet of paper. Ginevra took it with both hands and began to memorize the names on it, but Treasure continued,
"I need a room cleaned out for my ballet practices and I will be needing extra ballet shoes." Treasure looked up at Ginevra and handing her Mrs Daisy's credit card, she said,
"make it happen tomorrow, and please inform Mrs Smith that I will be going to school for my admission processes next week, so she must prepare herself." Ginevra was lost for words as she took the credit card from Treasure. She was shocked at Treasure's bold and authoritative personality.
"I love this child, she is just like her father" she said to herself as she turned to leave the room.
"Sorry, one more thing um...Ginevra" came Treasure.
"I need the number of the maid quarters written down, you know, just in case I need anything else, okay?" Treasure asked walking to the balcony at the far end of the room. Ginevra copied out the number and kept it on the side table next to Treasure's bed, and left.
Looking down at the enormous compound and the expensive cars that littered it, Treasure spotted the pool right under where she stood.
"Oh no!" She exclaimed as her grip on the railings of the balcony tightened. Treasure had never learnt to swim so she never got the chance to overcome her fear of water, (aquaphobia). She stood still, glued to the ground unable to move. She thought she was going to spend the rest of the night standing there like a statue until she heard someone walk into her room.
"Little mistress! Little mistress?!!" Sydney called
"I'm over here!" she replied quickly.
"...at the balcony, please come quickly" Sydney ran there alarmed but was taken aback when she saw that nothing was wrong with Treasure.
"Um...little mistress, I have prepared..." she tried to speak thinking nothing was wrong with Treasure.
"Get me out of here!!" Treasure yelled trying not to look back at Sydney. "Ye...yes ma'am" Sydney replied and ran to her.
"Take...take my hand..." Treasure said still holding on to the railings. Sydney gently removed one of Treasure's hand from the railings and led her away. Treasure quickly ran into the room shivering badly from fear.
"Are...are you alright ma'am?" Sydney asked looking worriedly at Treasure. "Ye...yes.." Treasure managed to speak and rested her head on her table. Sydney observed her for a while before saying
"I...I have prepared your bath ma'am, shall I help you to the bathroom?" She asked a bit excited that Treasure was feeling awful. After she was stroked that evening, she developed a little hatred for Treasure and felt good seeing her in fear, but she was not very sure what the reason was.
"Is it a bathtub?" Treasure asked and Sydney was quiet.
"Little mistress, are you scared of water?... Do you by chance suffer from aquaphobia?" She asked curiously, but Treasure got irritated,
"was this why Mrs Smith called you her favourite maid?" Treasure asked.
"you find it really difficult to mind your own business, how is it that Mrs Smith advertises you to a person that adheres to instructions...leave my room." Treasure snapped and quickly, Sydney apologized and left. Treasure walked into the bathroom. Fortunately, it wasn't a bathtub but a shower.
"Oh! Bless my soul" she muttered to herself as she took off her clothes to bathe.
later that night, after eating dinner, Treasure called her mom to tell her she arrived Bristol safely and had settled in.