Chapter One

I was woken up by the sounds of my maid preparing for the day. Sunday. A day of constant visits from people all over, most of whom you have no desire to talk to.

"Sorry I woke you miss Willow, I shall leave and let you sleep".

"No" I protested, "It's about time I get up".

"But it's Sunday Miss!"

"Oh Leah," I sighed getting out of bed. "W`eve been friends since we were children, there is no need for you to call me Miss".

"But you are a lady, Miss, and I am your maid".
I walked over to where she was filling the wash bin and hugged her.
"stubborn" I muttered. She just smiled at me and hugged me back. That radiant mischievous smile of hers. Leah had been my first friend here, actually my first friend at all. We have been inseparable as could possibly be with our different ranks, Which was why I was so happy when Mrs. Mistings appointed her my personal maid at my coming out. Leah was of normal height with hair was black as mine that flows down to her bosom. Her eyes are a mysterious dark emerald green that gave her the look of a graceful cat. Mr. Mistings said that we could pass as sisters. We like to think of ourselves as sisters, she really feels like one to me. Since my coming out 3 months ago I haven't had the time I used to with her. I want her to come with me to Balls, dinner parties, to come and giggle about the young men who asked us to dance, and wonder about who we would rather marry out of them all. One day when we had some time alone together, I dressed her up in one of my ball gowns and pulled her hair up in piles of curls. I painted her lips and lids and we both stood in the full length mirror. You could barley tell the difference between the two of us. When there was a rap on my door Leah answered it while I hid behind the dressing curtain. It was little Robin who did not even notice that it was Leah. We spent the rest of the night giggling about switching lives for a while. Meaning she would go to balls and I would stay and be the maid to her. What an exciting adventure! I decided to make a story of it and tell it to Leah and Robin. They both loved to hear my stories. I would sometimes work all day on a new story for them and then I would write it down.
"stop helping me and sit down so that I can brush out your hair" Leah scolded.
I smiled and put the laundry I had begun to fold down.
"Only if i get to do yours next" I sat on the window seat and let her undo my braid and brush out my long thick black hair.
"Do you know why Mrs`s has been so giddy lately?" I asked her.
"I believe she thinks you shall find a husband quickly" she giggled.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because of all the nice things people have been saying bout you, plus all the handsome young men that have been calling on you." She let out another giggle.
I smiled at that thought. I looked out the window, facing the gardens, all the trees, grasses, and flowers where looking more and more livelier by the day now. The leaves where turning green and the flowers where very close to blooming. It all looked so peaceful with the bright pink and violet sky behind them. Since the sun wasn't fully up, it meant that Leah and I had at least an hour together before splitting our separate ways.
"Well are you going to tell me about last night or not?" asked Leah, "meet anybody special?"
I blushed and tried to hide my smile. she noticed.
"Oh I see," she giggled, "Whats his name?"
"His name is Joseph," I sighed, "Joseph Tremonton, Oh Leah he was such a gentlemen!" I exclaimed.
"The way we talked, and we didn't talk of fickle things, we talked of books and schools, and what life is like on the other side of the country. He was so handsome and I felt as if Ive known him for years and years. I lost my breath when he touched my hand and his eyes were the most magnificent turquoise"
I stopped, for I realized I was making a fool of myself.
"Well" Leah said trying to sustain her laughter, "I think that someone's in love"
I sighed again.
"let her laugh" I thought, "maybe I am in love, oh I do hope that I see him soon, or that he will leave his card or call on me"
I sent a silent prayer in hopes that this man was as good as he seems. 

                                                                         *&*

"Robin will you please stop fooling around this instant" Misses. Mistings said sternly.

"He's not causing any harm love," Mr. Mistings said "He's just playing."

"But he's playing in the curtains!"

"I'm perfectly aware of this love," said Mr. Mistings with a wink in Robin's direction, he doesn't like the curtains.

"GAH!" Misses. Mistings threw her hands up in defeat, and Mr. Mistings snatched one and kissed it tenderly.

"What a pair," I thought to myself. Sometimes you would think these to where newly weds, instead of married for 24 years. The Misses is tall and and light on her feet, she always has a smile, except for the darker times. Today she wore a dark purple chemise that made her light brown eyes and hair seem to glow.

Mr. Mistings is a tall gentlemen. He wore his usual dark grey suite that made his hair look slightly grey itself, though he was still quite young. He is a playful character, always getting into trouble with his son. Fortunately there are not very many visitors after church. I sit on the window setee in our visitor parlor with a book in hand. Most adults don't not approve of my reading, but I don't care what they think because books are wonderful creations that take you wherever you want to go.

The sun beams where warm on my face and I smiled as Robin jumped into one of the last rays, he was pretending to be a hero standing in a godly beam of light. I started seeing a story in the mists so I closed my book, not wanting to loose the ideas that just came into my head. I stood and addressed the Mr. and Misses with a curtsy.

"Yes Willow dear?" Mr. Mistings asked.

"If I may, I would like to go for my walk before the evening tea."

They both nodded. I dipped into another curtsy before crossing the parlor to the hall. I felt a little bump at my side and stared down at little Robin.

"Can I come with you sis?"

"Not this time little bird," I said.

"Why not?" his smile turning into a pout. I bent down and gave him a sisterly hug. "I need to think alone"

His eyes lit up in recognition, "A new story, Yes!" He did a little happy dance on the spot before running down the hall to tell Leah. I Chuckle to myself as I walked the opposite way to the back door. I took my apron from the hanger, Misses. Mistings asks me to wear it to help keep my dresses clean, and tied it over my green chemise.

the sun was high in the sky, its rays dancing on my skin, I stood there and took all that I could in. My fingers tingled, as if some extraordinary power was coming to life.

The family graveyard consisted of at least 8 tombs. My mother was one of the few to be buried alone in a single grave. I try to bring flowers to her every ten days so that the grave never looks lonely. I liked to bring flowers for the others as well, thought I never knew them, I want them to know that they are not forgotten.

Esmera once taught me that if you take chamomile and dry it, it will make the graveyard smell sweet and will ease the spirits still here. My mother used to believe that some people could connect with them, when I was but a little girl I didn't know what she was really talking about. I was reading a book once and I came across a passage explaining how it was done, I remembered my mother doing all of those things, but I don't think she ever connected with anything. Putting away those thoughts I placed my hand on the smooth cross of stone and started to tell her my new story.

"What do you think?" I asked the cross.

"I enjoyed it very much," replied a male voice.

I sprang to my feet in surprise.
 "Mr. Tremonton!" I exclaimed, "You should not listen while one talks with herself, its quite rude."
 I quickly smoothed out my skirts and untied my apron, folding it in my hands. I was trying to maintain that serious look that the misses always uses, but my attempts weren't that great, for I fear he saw my smile. He grinned amusingly at me.

"Good afternoon Miss Mistings. I'm sorry I frightened you, your right I should not have intruded, but your story engulfed me."

I thought I could see a light around him, a baby blue shine, but once I registered it, it was gone. "Must have been my eyes," I said to myself. forgetting whose company I was in I quickly dropped into a curtsy and thanked him sincerely for the compliment. My heart was beating so fast that I swear he could hear it.

"May I ask you who the grave belongs to?" he asked.

"You may, her name was Esmera," I paused, "a cousin to the Mistings."

"Esmera... are you sure?"

What an odd question?

"Yes I am sure."

"I had heard that you were adopted from the other ladies of the street."

I grimaced, they never had anything nice to say to people about me. "I'm sure you think lower of me then?"

He took on a skeptical look, "Of course not!"
 I nodded courteously and did not reply.

"Would you allow me to walk you back to your house Miss Willow?"

"Thank you Mr. Tremonton, I would rather enjoy your company,"

I took his awaiting arm and let him lead me back to the house. As I took in every detail of him and I think fell in love with him right there.

"I wonder if he feels the same?"