Tree house:
Melone: So who was it?!
Me: William!
Roxton manner 1905:
William: what took you so long? Hiding girls in your closet?
Richard: Errr you could say that! Anyway what brings your majesty to my humble room?
William: Annett has mixed our shirts. This is yours and my one is probably in your closet.
Richard: Probably…..WHERE? In the CLOSET? NO!
William: That’s where you keep your clothes right?
Richard: Yes but er…
William: If you are so lazy, I’ll check.
William made his way to the closet. He faced Richard and threw open the closet door!
There in front was me with saucer eyes. Richard jumped across his bed and landed just in time before William turned. He held him from his shoulders and not allowing him to turn.
Richard: William I want you to know that…er…I love you every much!
William: Well…er… splendid. Now that shirt…
William’s second attempt to turn was cut short by Richard forcing himself on William on an embrace! Richard signaled me with his eyes to move. Steeping out of the closet, I inched towards the French windows with Richard turning William with him to avoid getting me caught.
Richard: Oh William not a day…er.. goes by without …er well me …er thanking lord on high
< I get out> okay enough said.
Richard pushed away William.
Richard: Get your B***** shirt and get out!
The next day breakfast:
Lady: Oh you must be hungry love! Eat some more Richard.
Richard: No mother I have had enough. Thank you.
Lady: I just could not bare the thought of you sleeping without food. I was so worried.
But you know your father. No one can change his mind and how many times must I tell you not to get him angry!
Richard: Mother, you can do that, surrendering to him, I can’t. I’m not William. Besides,
God sent an angel to look after me last night.
I looked up from my plate to see Richard looking straight at me. And then I felt it, a warm comfortable feeling in my heart. What was that wonderful feeling? I felt a smile creep into my face and I quickly drowned it in my tea cup.
William: So how did your angel look like?
Richard: The angel was amazing, she was beautiful with dark hair and eyes that shone like a diamonds.
Lady: Someone has been reading too many novels lately.
I looked at him again with an astounding urge to touch him and, God forbid, I might have done just that if I did not go from there.
Me: Please excuse me, I feel a walk would do me good.
I walked towards the back garden and leaned against the ork tree. The silver sun pieced every crystal surrounding me as the signs of spring slowly set in. I was waiting, I knew he would come looking for me as we had some unfinished business. Soon I heard the crisps of ice being trampled and Richard’s figure walking past me.
Me: Going somewhere?
Richard turned in surprise.
Richard: My Miss Krux, you startled me.
Me: Well it’s not everyday that I get to startle a man of noble status.
I walked towards him and stopped inches before his face.
Me: William?
Richard: Gone to work, won’t be back till afternoon.
Me: lady Roxton?
Richard: Went to church.
Me: Nice conditions!
Richard: Agreed. Shall we walk to the lake?
He took my hand in his and we continued our walk to the lake. There was a bolder there where Richard said he liked to sit on hot summer afternoons enjoying the golden sunshine.
Richard: And see that back potion? Sunflowers grow there. They grow so thick that you get lost in it.
We sat quite for a while just absorbing the environment but in my head, questions formed. Questions I wanted to ask from him. I just needed to hear that voice.
Me: I’ve heard some call you John?
Richard: Yes. My whole name is John Richard Roxton so my friends and acquaintances call me John. Mother and father and those close to my heart are allowed to call me Richard.
Richard: There’s a special reason in it.
Me: Which is?
Richard: Well, when William was born, everyone was fussing over him and you know, he was the first born. My mother knew she ‘lost’ him to the family. So my Father’s family gave the name for him. When it came to me…er let’s just say that they were not exactly expecting me so my Mother finally had a son all to herself. My mother is a wild sprit. She’s…quite sentimental. Opposite of my father. So my baptized name ‘John’ is as in the saint John of God because he…
Me: represents enthusiasm.
Richard: ‘Enthusiasm’ is because I very active inside of her and came early. Richard has a very special meaning to her. She believes that it is made up of two words ‘rich’ and ‘hard’ so that I’ll be rich in generosity, love, courage, determination and work hard throughout my life for truth.
Me: That’s a beautiful story. Wish I had something like that to tell…
Richard: Actually you do.
Me: really what is that?
Richard: Well I was born on 12th January 1882 which is the feast day of…
Me: St Marguerite Bourgeoys!
I looked at him in surprise with joy bursting inside of me. Such a simple conversation, such simple words and Oh how well he makes me feel so special?
Richard: Exactly…and there’s a saying in Ceylon that that if you meet the person who carries the name of the saint whose feast day falls on your Birthday, you’re ment to be together.
I narrowed my eyes and looked at him.
Me: You just made that up!
Richard: Okay so I did! But it was good!
We erupted in laughter.
Me: Anyway, me and another perhaps tens and thousands of girls are called Marguerite.
Richard: Yes but only one appears to be an angel.
Richard reached in and brushed off a tress blowing across my face.
I threw my sight over the far end of the lake and stood there absorbing his warmth.
I have lived for 18 years but I have never, once in my life, felt so warm in winter.
Everything was beautiful!
Richard: Have you ever fallen in love Marguerite?
Without turning and still lost in my thoughts, I answered him.
Me: No…and I’m not exactly looking forward to it either. Love and I never got along.
Richard: You will know when true love comes along.
Me: How?
Richard: True love does not wait for consent from you, it just goes right ahead. It’s like music coming from the other room. You don’t want to hear it but you can’t command it to be turned down.
Me: oh….
A comforting silence followed that moment.
Richard: I leave you to your thoughts.
Me: Richard…shall I stop calling you Richard…
Richard: No, you’re one of those special people now.
At the Tree house:
Me: That was the first peaceful day in my life. I don’t know how the two of us suddenly
reached the deepest places in our hearts. It was amazing Melone…so amazing…..
Roxton: She was amazing that morning. That little scarlet figure walking on the white snow…she
was so delicate…so young…her cheeks always flushed when she talked to me and she had
those eyes. I swear they shine!
Veronica: What happened next?
Roxton Manner 1905:
It seems like my life took a surprise turn. Yesterday it was so isolated and overnight, Richard
and I have become so close to one another. Suddenly, each moment apart ment such pain
and each moment together ment ecstasy.
The next few days were exciting as the party for Richards’s birthday drew near. I imagined
Richard coming and asking me for a dance, the wine, the music, the people and us
dancing…all just a dream… but of cause, bad news was in for me.
Lady: Marguerite? Dear can I come in?
Me: Of cause Mum.
Lady: We need to talk dear about Richard’s Birthday celebration.
She walked over to me and rested her hands on my shoulders.
Lady: My dear, Aunt does not want to be introduced on that day as she feels that you need…oh
dear how should I put this!
Me: Lady Roxton, it is perfectly fine. I understand the difficulties that face her and frankly I
was not ready for this.
Lady: Are you sure darling?
Me: Yes mum.
Lady: All right then, should I arrange for you to go anywhere or…
Me: Don’t worry, I’ll be fine here. And I’ll stay out of sight.
Lady: My darling I’m so sorry…
Me: Please don’t apologize. It’s perfectly fine.
That did change everything though. I stopped my all dreaming and had to start imagining
Richard with other girls. More richer and beautiful ones. I knew she would never let me mix with
‘their’ society. Cruelty I can call it, to steal me from my mother’s womb, to
mould me for 18 years as if I was clay and then keep me trapped. To tell the truth, I was looking
forward to this. I wanted the beautiful dress, the music, the elegance, the gentlemen twirling
me in a waltz but it was all gone. Cruelty.
Well the day did drew near with everyone so busy and occupied that I had my breakfast in my
own room alone before going down hoping to find Richard.
Me: Batron…
Batron: Ah good morning young Miss. How can I help you?
Me: Do you know where Master Richard, or John for that matter, is. All these names are confusing me.
Batron: Well as soon as Lord Roxton left, he stole a moment and went to the lake.
Me: Thank you Batron.
With my birthday present tucked in my coat, I made my way towards the lake. And there he
was. He was seated on that bolder with his knees hugged closed to his chest.
Me: what’s the Birthday boy doing here?
Richard: Trying to get away from all that nonsense. You won’t believe how much nonsense that is.
I climbed up next to him.
Richard: I hate the big balls and all the fuss and everything. What I wanted was to give some
to the poor but no that would hurt the image of the family. Stupid ball! Nonsense I tell you.
Me: Well then you might consider my present nonsense too.
Richard turned to me in surprise.
Richard: You got me a present?!
Me: But it’s nonsense.
Richard: No, no, no I want to see it!
Me: Sure?
Richard: Yes!
Me: Okay, here it is!
I placed the paper on his hand.
Richard: It’s a bookmark! Did you make it?
Me: Yes. Those were some flowers I pressed last summer. I know you have a huge library so I
figured a bookmark would be nice.
Richard: Thank you. It is nice…very thoughtful of you.
Richard turned and looked at me with mesmerizing eyes.
Richard: this is the most sweetest thing anyone has given me.
Without warning, he leaned in towards my right cheek and startled by his advance, I looked
away shyly. Against the blowing wind, we continued our conversation in whispers.
Richard: You act as if you have never been kissed before.
Me: I have never been kissed before.
He laid a finger on my chin and turned my face to him.
Richard: There’s always a first time.
He closed in slowly…..
Tree house:
Roxton twirled the bookmark in the wind.
Veronica: So did you two kiss that day? Did you kiss her?
