Chapter 1 - The Messenger

Today started off like any other day, I awoke to the sun streaming into my room and the sound of birds chirping outside my windows. 

"Good morning, Miss Lisbeth," said a young, homely woman at the foot of my bed.

"Good morning, Ara."

I got myself out of bed and walked over to my closet. Looking at the dresses, I asked, "Does Mother have anything planned for me today?"

"Not that I'm aware of."

"Good," I said, grabbing a dress made for relaxing in the garden.

Ara helped me get into my dress, before leaving me alone in my room. I stood and walked to the window and stared out. I could clearly see the front gate from my window. We were a poor noble family, with desolate lands far to the north. My father and his father before him had tried to make a fortune, but neither had succeeded. I knew we were struggling financially, and that my parents were concerned for the futures of their three children. Me and my two younger, twin brothers: Connor and Colin. As I stood there looking out the window, I saw a messenger arrive at the gate. I heard the voice of my mother call my name before I could see anymore.

"Lisbeth! Come down here. It's time for breakfast!"

I turned away from the window and made my way out of my bedroom. I quickly made my way down the stairs and into the dining room where my family was waiting for me.

"I apologize for my tardiness," I said before taking my seat at the table across from my brothers.

My Mother nodded before snapping her fingers at the butler, saying, "Mita, bring us our breakfast."

I grimaced at her actions, but quickly masked it. Our breakfast was brought out and we began quietly eating. There was a knock at the dining room door, and the butler exited.

"Mother, why must you treat the servants that way?" asked Connor.

"Connor, don't speak to your Mother that way," my father quickly responded.

"I wasn't speaking to her in any way. I was only asking a question."

"Eat your breakfast and be quiet."

Connor dropped his head and resumed eating his food, while Colin and I glanced at each other from across the table. What is going on? Mother only behaves this way when she is anxious about something, and Father has never spoken to Connor like that before, I thought as I ate my breakfast. Soon there was a knock at the door and Mita returned, quickly walking over to my Father.

Father glanced up at him, "What is it?"

"Pardon the intrusion, my Lord, but there is a messenger who wishes to urgently speak with you."

I watched Father stand up, and glance across the table at Mother before exiting the dining room.

"Who could be sending a message so early in the morning?" asked Colin.

"I don't know, Colin," responded Mother. 

We ate the rest of our breakfast in silence, with the hope that Father would return and possibly tell us what was going on. When we had all finished eating, Mother shooed the three of us out of the house and into the back garden. As we made our way over to our favorite shady tree, Colin asked again, "Who could be sending a message so early in the morning."

Neither Connor nor I responded until we were all comfortably sitting under the tree.

"Well, you know how Father can be about his business ventures," Connor stipulated.

"But normally he won't deal with anything before finishing breakfast," I stated.

"True."

"Did either of you notice how tense they were?" I asked.

They both nodded.

"What could be making them so tense?" I wondered.

"Hopefully they'll tell us, and soon," interjected Colin. "I'm dying to know."

"You're always dying to know everyone's business," quipped Connor, while nudging Colin in the ribs.

The three of us laughed, before lapsing into chatter about other things.

><><><><><

We ate lunch without Mother and Father, by that point we realized that something serious was going on. Mother never missed a meal with us. After lunch, Connor and Colin went off to work with their tutor. Though I no longer took any lessons, I followed them into the room reserved for their tutoring. I sat in chair by the window, picking up my needlework that I had discarded there the day before. 

When I had aged out from my tutoring, I had asked my parents for more, but had been told it wouldn't be ladylike for me to do anymore. Instead, I observed my brothers and their tutoring sessions while I worked on more "ladylike" things in the same room. I did eventually learn that the whole "ladylike" excuse wasn't the truth, and that it had come down to there not being enough money for us to have more than one tutor working for the household. Which was the main reason my parents never questioned me staying in the room during the tutoring sessions.

Once Connor and Colin had finished their lessons for the day, the three of us headed back out to the garden where we stayed until it was time for dinner. When we got to the dining room, Mother and Father were already waiting for us and they were in a much better mood. The three of us sat down in our usual places, and dinner was quickly served. While dinner was silent, I could feel the excitement that my parents were exuding. It was almost palpable in the air.

As we finished dinner, my Father said, "Lisbeth, please join your Mother and me in the study."

"Of course, Father," I responded, glancing across the table at Colin and Connor who looked at me with confused expressions on their faces. I then stood and followed my parents into the study. Mother closed the door behind us and ushered me to sit on the in a chair in front of Father's desk. As I sat, I saw Father pick up an envelope from his desk.

"Lisbeth, the time has come for you to get married," stated Father matter-of-factly.

I looked at him in shock before fixing my face. I obediently nodded my head.

"Who am I to be married to, Father?"

"Count Baurmont."

I stood up in anger at his words, "Why?"

"Lisbeth," scolded my Mother. "The why doesn't matter. All you need to know is that this will benefit our family."

"So you're basically selling me off to a man that is almost thirty years my senior!" I raised my voice.

"Lisbeth Eleanor Clemens, you will not raise your voice at us," said my Father in a cold voice. "You are over twenty years old. You are practically an old maid. We cannot afford to keep you in this house forever, plus Count Baurmont has offered us a great amount of money. Money that can send your brothers to university so that they have a greater chance of getting out of this family debt than I ever did."

I fell silent at his words, slowly sitting back down into the chair.

"Now do you understand?" asked my Mother.

I nodded.

"Will you put up a fight?"

"No, Father. If it is for my brothers, then you know I would do anything for them to live a better life."