Nantes, France February 14th 1794

To think that what started as a glorious, sunny day would end in absolute terror.

Just that morning two neighboring families gathered at the breakfast table in high spirits.

A friendly atmosphere filled with witty banter, laughter and mirth. 

Melisandre couldn't stand still beside her mother as they greeted their guests and welcomed them into their lovely home.

Excitement in the air was contagious as her mother Millicent Belmont was getting married again.

It was an arranged marriage but the prospective groom wasn't a complete stranger.

They were in fact neighbors and their adjoining properties were finally going to be combined to the delight of everyone.

Especially Lord Durand whose coffers were almost empty.

His properties were rundown and heavily mortgaged while next door the Belmont estates prospered and flourished.

Lord Durand had always been envious of the wealth of the Belmont's and was very eager for this arranged marriage.

Finally the mourning period was over and Lord Durand had been visiting every day without fail to plead the advantages.

Overwhelmed by grief and concern for her daughter, she allowed Lord Durand to coax her into marrying his son.

Millicent wanted to provide her daughter with a sense of peace and security through marriage.

Melisandre missed her father but she was glad he had a swift death and did not suffer much pain, hopefully he was in a better place. 

Her mom's eyes twinkled with good humor, she acted like she was so happy but her daughter knew it was just a facade.

When she thought her daughter wasn't looking her mother still grieved the untimely passing of her husband who died recently in a tragic accident.

In her daughter's eyes her mother was beautiful, not just for outward appearance but for inner strength.

To persevere when outsiders coveted the family lands especially without her husband around to protect them, they were fair game for all types of vultures.

What was supposed to be a happy occasion to unite two wealthy families soured in an instant. 

The father of the prospective groom made the shocking announcement of his son's upcoming nuptials at the breakfast table, instantly ruining everyone's appetite in poor taste.

Clearly the father had not told Laurence beforehand and his son's face was momentarily crestfallen before it became twisted with outrage.

"I thought I was marrying the daughter!" shouted Laurence Durand in frustrated anger. 

"Melisandre is already promised to the youngest son of the Hurst family," said Elder Durand placatingly. 

He didn't see what the problem was. 

Lady Belmont was still shapely and beautiful, her daughter would surely outshine the mother someday.

If only he wasn't still married he would have gladly taken his son's place. 

"When the young Hurst returns from the military the pair will get married according to her father's wishes. I did check with the young Hurst and he intends to honor the marriage arrangement my hands are tied son. We need this alliance you will do as I say or be disinherited," retorted his father angrily.

His father's double chins shook in tandem with his huge gut as his face turned beet red with anger at being humiliated by his only worthless son, so unfilial.

Laurence shouted, "Do you think I want to marry a widow! Old hag, even though they claim your menses are still flowing, your skin is all wrinkled and deathly pale."

Millicent went over to Laurence's side to try and soothe the young man's ruffled feathers.

She had intended for it to be a marriage in name only.

Since she still loved her husband she had no intentions of sharing the marital bed with the young man.

He could like his father to have as many mistresses as he wanted, just as long as Laurence was discreet about it. 

Her thought was that if Laurence felt so strongly against the marriage she would have to look elsewhere and call the engagement off.

Laurence was so hot headed, he didn't want to hear what Millicent had to say.

Not even his own parents could intercede whenever he flew into a rage.

He didn't even give Millicent a chance to set things straight between them before he yelled at her.

"Face it! You are nothing but a dried out old prune. Get away from me!"

The petulant young man pushed her mother away from him with so much force!

Millicent collided with the old mahogany china cabinet which opened from the sudden impact.

Lady Durand who had been quiet the whole time let out an ear shattering scream.

She was used to the beatings from her husband but she never thought the son she spoiled rotten would follow in his father's footsteps. 

Expensive dinner plates that were part of a collection of precious family heirlooms.

Passed down through the generations were threatening to spill out from the open doors of the china cabinet.

One particularly delicate looking glass plate fell on top of her mother's head.

The impact caused a deep gash that bled profusely.

In disbelief her mother was slow to react to her fiancé's unfounded anger.

Blood poured out of the open wound and Millicent's already fragile mind reeled in shock from the betrayal.

Unconsciously her hands moved off its own violation to touch the open wound.

So much blood, Millicent looked down at her hands in disbelief. 

No one expected her to pass out at the sight of her blood covered palms. 

Laurence spat to no one in particular, "I would rather marry your daughter but she was already promised to that despicable Hurst family. If I can't have Melisandre then no one else can."

Everything about the Hurst clan Laurence despised since he was always compared to them.

Laurence wasn't as tall, as muscular, as charming or intelligent as the Hurst brothers.

He walked towards the door and pointed in the direction of the young girl who had already rushed over to her unconscious mother's side.

"Take those rebels away. I didn't kill that Belmont bastard for nothing. No need to sully our noble lineage with the blood of traitorous neighbors. All we have to do is wait until some time has passed and then we can claim those abandoned lands as our own, father."

Soldiers poured into the dining room and grabbed the two young women.

Lifted them up as if they weighed nothing and tossed them into the back of a wagon with the other condemned victims heading straight to prison.