Title: Our Lullaby
Author: Marie J.W.
Chapter: CHAPTER SEVEN
Rated: PG
Email:
URL: www.clik.to/mariejwchan
Summary:
It all started on a rainy night in June when Lady Serenity ReCinny of the House of Chesterfield ran away from her home, her rich life and the ones that she dearly loved… And all for what? …A baby.
This story is about a woman who sacrifices everything: her family, her best friend and her joy of life all for one little infant who doesn't even know her own mother.
AN: This is an alternate reality that takes place in the early 1800's.
This is a Serena/Darien fan fic.
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…Memory…
The large ballroom was dark, the curtain drawn, putting the room in utter darkness. Young voices could be heard whispering back and forth as soft feet padded across the room.
"Do you know where you're going?" Serenity frowned in the dark, her tiny hands gripping the back of Endymion's shirt.
"Of course I know where I'm going. Just stop bumping into me."
"Then stop stopping you meanie!" Serenity pouted.
Darien rolled his eyes and continued slowly across the ballroom. They had done this many times before but they at the least had the curtains open to let moonlight into the room.
"This would be a lot easier if your Uncle Tom wasn't up drinking in the study," Endymion whispered.
Serenity silently nodded. There were only two ways into the kitchen and that was past the study and through the ball-
room. Unfortunately father always had Uncle Tom watch over her when he was gone, leaving the only safe way through the ball-
room. Endymion was staying the night because his parents were out of town, something Serenity always liked. That way they could play a lot more and it was always nice to have someone to sneak into the kitchen with.
Suddenly Serenity bumped nose first into Endymion's back.
Growling, she stepped back and rubbed her nose, "Why'd you stop for?"
Clearing his throat, embarrassed, Darien informed, "I found the door."
Serenity giggled. They opened the door and crept through and into the hallway. Just two steps down and they were at the kitchen door. Opening that as carefully as possible, they stepped in and immediately went looking for sweet apple candies; something the cook was famous for making.
"Oh here they are!" Serenity pulled the box out of the cupboard and set them on the polished counter top. Darien grinned and quickly joined her. Both of them dug into the box, pulling out several dried sugar coated apple slices. They sat down on the floor sucking and munching their candies to their hearts content.
"I wish we could do this every night," Serenity giggled.
Darien sucked nosily on his candy apple in response.
Serenity smiled at Darien, "Obviously you think so to."
Grinning, Darien replied, "We couldn't do this every night. We'd get sick."
"Would not,"
"Would too and you know it. Remember that time you ate all those liquorish sticks and you ended up throwing up all over your father."
Blushing, Serenity scrunched her nose, "Don't remind me."
Minutes passed by and soon they had both eaten handfuls of candy. Serenity sighed and leaned her head on Endymion's shoulder, "I wish you could stay here forever. You're my best friend in the whole world."
Darien shifted. He wasn't sure whether he liked her getting all mushy on him. Deciding he better do something, he patted her head and tried not to let her get too close, "Yeah… Ah, you too…"
…End of Memory…
The carriage rumbled beneath us and that only served to heighten my anxiety. He can't be following us! What am I going to tell him?
"Mina, what are we going to say?" My eyes were wide with fright. When Darien was mad, you really didn't want to deal with him until he cooled off!
"Hmm?" Mina curiously asked.
"Mina, what are we going to tell him?!" I panicked, "We can't exactly tell him that we're looking for my daughter, now can we?"
Mina's face dropped, "Oh," she grinned sheepishly, "I hadn't thought of that."
I quickly looked out the window to find the carriage nearly upon us and it wasn't slowing down.
I whirled around, "Mina!"
"I know, I know, I'm thinking!" Mina rubbed her temples with her fingers while I sat watching her with my heart beating a thousand miles per minute. My brain ran from one lie to another but none of them were very plausible.
Suddenly Mina sprang up and quickly jumped to my side of the carriage, "I know!"
"Alright, what is it?" I grabbed her hands in mine, squeezing them none too gently. She winced before gripping mine back.
"We're looking for Rini because, because she needs her herbs that help her...um, throat, you know her sickness."
"Rini doesn't get sick."
"I know but he doesn't know that!"
"Oh," I nodded, "Alright, go on."
"Well, that's it. We're looking for Rini and your sister to give Rini the herbs that she forgot and it's an emergency!"
The whole time I was nodding at her explanation, "Alright, why?"
"Why what?"
"Why is it an emergency?"
"Because without them she's going to die!"
"Isn't that a little extreme?"
"This is an extreme situation!" Mina yelled over the noise of the carriage.
I stared at her before swallowing, "Are you sure this will work?"
Mina stared back at me, "No."
"Mina!" I cried.
"Miss," the horseman called down, "There is a carriage flagging us down. Do you wish us to stop?"
Mina and I stared at each other.
"Yes, stop."
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Rini frowned as her mother tugged her out of the carriage and into the sunlight. They stood in front of a large building with lots of windows. Above the large double doors it read "Cariena's Ladies Academy".
Blinking, Rini looked up at her mother who was talking to the horseman. Her mother looked shaky and on edge. Not liking the situation at all Rini backed up against the carriage, already wanting to go home.
Lady Starant turned to her daughter and quickly grabbed her hand, "Let's go inside dear."
Rini immediately dug her heels in, "No, I don't want to go! I want to go home!"
Lady Starant quickly whirled on her daughter, "You're coming inside. This is where they are going to make you a lady."
"No! I want to go home!" She stomped her foot and began screaming at the top of her lungs.
Face reddening in embarrassment, Lady Starant frowned, "Rini! Enough!"
"No! I want Aunt ReCinny!" Rini screamed, "I want to go-"
But before she could finish the sentence she was soundly slapped across the face. Rini gasped and her eyes opened wide as she stared at her mother.
Lady Starant stood strait and softly bit her lip, "I'm sorry dear, I shouldn't have done that. I-"
It was too late however. Tears formed in Rini's eyes. Her own mother hit her! Rini backed up further, trying to pull her hand out of her mothers' tight hold, "Let me go…" she cried.
"Dear, please understand. Mother wants you to be a lady and grow up right. You can't do that under Aunt ReCinny. She can't teach you what this school can. Now, please come inside and be a good girl."
Rini stopped her struggling but tears still streamed down her face. Her mother didn't look like someone to trust anymore. Something was terribly wrong with this situation but she wasn't quite sure what it was. Looking at her hand, tightly held in her mothers, Rini felt defeated. She really had no choice. Nodding slowly, Rini stepped forward.
Lady Starant let out a sigh of relief, "Good girl."
Rini wiped the tears with the back of her hand but they still continued to flow. She wanted to go home right now.
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Both carriages slowed to a halt. I couldn't breathe. How did I get myself in this situation? Mina gripped my hand and smiled reassuringly. I nodded and turned to look out the side window. I heard the crunch of the gravel as he neared us before his head appeared in the window.
"Afternoon, Ladies," there was no smile in his voice or a pleasant greeting in his eyes. I shivered and managed a weak smile.
"Now, may I inquire as to where you were planning on going?" Darien looked directly at me, staring me down.
I opened my mouth to speak, glanced at Mina then turned back to Darien, "I- We were…" What was the matter with me?
Darien lifted an eyebrow, "Well, then," he frowned and I knew that he could tell that a lie was circling in my brain. I hated him for that. He shouldn't know me so well!
Mina suddenly jumped in, "I'm sorry Mr. Shields, but our journey is urgent. Dear Rini is sick and we are off to find Serenity's niece to give her the herbs she needs."
Darien seemed to suddenly take notice of the other blonde in the carriage and gave her a critical eye, "Really?"
"Really," Mina frowned, "And we really need to be off."
"The young Miss is back at your sister's estate."
"No," I gulped, "No, she isn't. Ellen took her early this morning to a boarding school."
"Rather sudden, isn't it?"
I nodded, "Yes-"
"And that's why they forgot the herbs for Rini," Mina quickly cut in, "Please, may we be off Sir?"
"I'm afraid not. I have some business here with Serenity that needs to be taken care of and I daren't leave her out of my sight," He pointedly stared at me, "Besides," he turned his head to address Mina, "I wouldn't dare let two ladies such as yourselves travel alone."
"Oh, well then by all means, shall you be our escort?" Mina smiled and batted her eyelashes playful. I frowned and quickly turned back to Darien, "You don't need-"
"No, I do," He nodded at Mina then faced me, "Where is your next stop?"
"Glenford Manor."
"Very well. I shall be behind you all the way," With that Darien nodded and stomped off back to his own carriage. I let out the breath I was holding and released my hand from Mina's to put it against my breast. I could feel my heart pumping wildly under my fingers.
"Well, that wasn't too hard."
"You think he believed us?" I asked.
"Of course."
I glanced at Mina out of the corner of my eye. No, no Darien did not believe us, at least not totally. I could tell by how stand-
offish he was that he did not. I swallowed. And I could most certainly count on him confronting me about it on this trip.
How much longer could I lie?