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Chapter 4 - The Higgins

The two ladies walked up the stairs with Madam Clara leading the way. She told her all she needed to know about The Higgins.

 "Miss Elora, Lord Higgins is a notable merchant in this town and far wide. He's also one of the richest amongst successful merchants."

 "Wow! Nice. That's explains the entire splendor in this mansion." She replied.

 "Yes indeed. Lord Charles learnt and inherited the business from his late father Lord Benjamin Higgins. It's a family business. He was the late merchant's only son." She explained further.

 "Oh! I see." She exclaimed

 "Lord Charles has done his very best in keeping his father's trademark as one of the best merchants. Ten years ago, Lord Charles met and fell in love with the love of his life, Lady Rosie Dennis. The two youngsters loved each other so much, they got married six months after they met each other." She continued.

 "Wow. That's lovely. Love is indeed something beautiful and one must cherish for a lifetime."

 "Indeed. Rosie brought so much light into Charles' life. She's the one person who always gave him so much hope and a reason to live. He always says the best gift he ever got in life was her." 

 "Aww. So lovely indeed." 

 "Yes dear. The following year, they had their baby girl, Chloe. Their joy became fullest with the birth of Chloe."

 "She must indeed be the apple of their eyes." 

 "Well, I'll say yes she was and still is. Although Lord Higgins has been so busy with business neglecting her. That's why he got you."

 "Oh!" Madam Clara paused the moment they got to the door of the room.

 "Sadly, their joy got shattered the moment Lady Rosie discovered she had cancer and had just 6 months left to live."

 "What!? Lady Rosie had cancer. That's really bad." 

 "Indeed. Lord Charles was heartbroken with the discovery. Lady Rosie had hidden it from him for 2 years after the birth of their daughter when she was told there was no cure. She opened up when she discovered just 6 months to live."

 "That must have been the most toughest moments of his life. Discovering the one person you love is about to be taken away from you by fate is quite painful. I know how he must have felt."

 "You're right." She opened the door and they stepped in. 

 "This is your room Miss Elora. Your stuffs have been arranged neatly for your usage. I do hope you'll enjoy your stay here." She said to her.

 "Thank you Madam Clara. Please could you continue with Lord Higgins story." She smiled and replied.

 "Sure." The two ladies sat on the bed as Elora intently listened to her.

 "The six months with the love of his life was one of the happiest and saddest moments of his life. The family spent the time together building memories to last for a long time. But death is something inevitable. Lady Rosie died after six months later. Chloe was just four years old when her mother died. She doesn't really remember much of her. She only does with the help of old portraits and a few stories I told her about her mother. Ever since Charles lost Rosie, he became a mess. The once cheerful Lord Charles became a cold, bitter and sad one."

 "Oh my God! It's not easy being a widower. I can tell how unhappy he is." She stated.

 "The relationship between Lord Charles and his daughter Chloe got strained ever since her mom died." 

 "What? Why? That doesn't sound good."

 "I know but it's true. He rarely spends time with her. He doesn't even have any idea how she grew to this level. He rarely stays home. Anytime he does, he spends it indoors, locking himself up in his room relishing the moments he had with Rosie. Asides that, he spends weeks away on business trips, most times, a week or two or even a month. He rarely stays home. He has even missed Chloe's birthday thrice. Their relationship is strained. Whatever you saw minutes ago, was just staged Elora. Chloe expresses most of her bitterness to me because I'm the only one she can relate to. She's a loner. I keep assuring her Lord Higgins is her father because she doubts of he is."

 "Oh my goodness! The little girl must be going through a lot. She should be enjoying her childhood in the best way with or without her mother in the picture. It's not her fault fate took her mom so soon."

 "I don't blame her for the way she is now. She never really got someone to stand for her and teach her. Her father just recently discovered she hasn't really been composed as the young lady he expected her to be. And that's why he looked for a governess. But Chloe is used to freedom, so she feels having a governess is like restricting her from having the freedom she has learnt to embrace. That's why she frustrated the past ones. To get her freedom and trust me, she's also plotting the same for you."

 "Woah that must be really serious."

 "Please Elora, seeing you gives me the hope that Chloe will have a better life to live. Promise me, you'll be patient with her no matter how much she tries to frustrate your effort. If you don't do this for her, Chloe may never get the chance to have a happy childhood and she'll just live life, a sad child. Please, promise me you will do this for her." Madam Clara pleaded with her. Elora was touched by the woman's pleads and had so much empathy in her. 

 "I promise Madam Clara. I will do my best to give Chloe the best childhood she deserves. I will no matter how difficult she makes it." She promised from her heart.

 "Thank you Elora." She hugged her. 

 "You're welcome Madam Clara. I'm doing it for Chloe and Rosie. I will bring the light back into this family." She assured. Madam Clara gave a satisfactory smile at her. 

 "I should leave now. You need to freshen up. Dinner will be ready soon and I need to check up on the maids to ensure they are doing a great job with the meals." She stated.

 "Alright."

 "See you soon." She took her leave.

Elora suddenly felt the will to put things right in the family if this was one thing that she would live doing and satisfied with, she would do it with everything within her. She pledge to herself to handle Chloe not just as a governess but as her late mother would. She was ready and determined to do this. It seemed fate had brought her to The Higgins for a reason and if this was it, she was ready to take up the responsibility.