A Chance With You by Paula Camille Wong (the snowy day read aloud TXT) 📖

is living with you?”

“Well, Mother and Father live off into the country with an estate of their own. There is none other than the housemaids, footmen, me, and my brother in the mansion. Though my parents tend to visit from time to time, see how we are holding up. As for my brother, he just got back from the Continents. He leaves the estate from time to time to be off with whatever business he is attending to. So what I am trying to say is that he is not home much so you will be alright. Nothing improper,”

Jane felt herself relax a bit and for once leaned against the red velvety sofa. The soft material complementing the fabric of her worn out dress. A soft blush made its way onto her creamy cheeks. It seemed that Lillian did not mind her raggedy dress, thank goodness. The door of the library doors opened, Temera heading inside to bring the tray of tea and the fresh lemon cake, setting it down onto the small newly polished table. Giving a bow of farewell, she exited out of the room. Jane poured tea on to each china teacup handing it gently to Lillian, followed by a slice of cake.

“Thank you,” She smiled, bringing the cup to her lips and drank.

Jane did the same, murmuring you’re welcome, the freshly herb content making its way into her mouth calming her taste buds as she took a small bite out of the lemonade cake.

“Oh!” She grinned and sat the teacup down. “I almost forgot. My elder sister and her husband are visiting for a couple of weeks. She has three children: Lewis, Tiffany, and Jody. The reason for their visit is because they wanted to congratulate Will’s safety return. I do hope you don’t mind the children,”

Jane laughed softly. “No it is alright. I am fond of children. I do wish I can produce a child…,”

Frowning, Lillian met her gaze. “I am sorry to hear that. I did not mean to-….,”

“No! It’s absolutely alright. I SHOULD be the one apologizing. I did not mean to bring up such a depressing subject,”

She shook her head, loose blonde curls falling. “Not at all. The fault is mine,” She smiled and took Jane’s hand in hers. “I still have hope that someday you will have children of your own, with the man you love,”

Jane smiled and nodded. “I do hope you are right Lillian,” Then her gaze landed on carpeted floor, a frown upon her lips.

Lillian noticed it immediately and pulled her hand away, only to place it on top of her shoulder. “What is wrong?”

“I do not think my mother and stepfather will allow it. You see… my family needs me and I don’t-…,”

“Jane, it’s alright. I had already send the word to your parents. They won’t mind as you come, on a condition that I serve as your chaperone of course.”

Jane relaxed a bit and smiled once more. “Well alright. Should I start to pack my things?”
She laughed. ‘That would be up to you dear. You can wait until tomorrow or you can go ahead and come home with me today, I’m sure I won’t mind,”

Jane laughed and rose up from the couch with a determined expression. “I shall go pack my things. Do you wish to come with me? Knowing you, you do get bored easily Lillian. You always get bored so easily,”

She smiled in response and followed her out of the library and turned left, continuing off into the long hallway and up the long flights of stairs. Then just as sudden, she placed a hand on her forehead. Oh no, she forgot about the fact that her room was all the way in the attic. Covered in dust and debris. Panic bubbled inside her making its way into her stomach. But oddly when she stopped on the last step, Lillian did not ask any question. Instead, she already went ahead and let herself in, looking around then strode over to her bed, sitting down with gracefulness.

Jane averted her gaze and headed over to the wardrobe to take out a wooden worn out luggage, taking all of her dresses and shawls, placing them inside with great care. Then heading over to her dresser to retrieve her brush, extra pins for the hair, and finally her jewelry box. Its golden frame beautiful hand-made, mahogany wood, a golden keyhole in the middle of the box. But the keyhole wasn’t a shaped of the key; it was instead, a shape of a heart. Lillian glanced over her shoulder and a smile formed on her lips. “That is beautiful,” she whispered glancing down at it in both curiosity and interest.

Jane turned back to look at her. “It is isn’t it?” She asked a hand over the opening.

“Who gave it to you?”

“My father,” She whispered a smile on her soft red lips. “For my eleventh birthday,”

“Do you know what’s inside?” Lillian asked.

Jane shook her head in response. “I have no idea. It is not a key I know that. But more of a heart shaped object… I have no clue what it is though,”

“Have you tried possibly to open it?”

She nodded. “Yes. With a knife, pin, but none of it will work,”

“Have you tried a pistol?”

Jane looked over at Lillian, eyes widening in surprise. “Good heavens no! I could not imagine breaking my father’s most precious gift,”

Lillian only laughed and headed over to sit by the bedside again. “I was just teasing Jane. Of course I will never suggest such an absurd idea,”

“I know,” she nodded and placed too in the luggage with great care. “I never leave home without it. Or mostly any of my belongings. I have very few, so I mostly carry them with me wherever I go if I can,”

Lillian smiled. “I see,”

After Jane was through packing her belongings, she led Lillian out of the room and down the long flights of stairs, out of the hallway entrance and into the hallway itself. When goodbyes had been said, she exited out of the massive estate and down the step entrance. A black fancy coach was waiting for them. A coachman stepped off of the rider’s seat and onto the ground, his olden aged hair combed neatly back, gray eyes hidden over white lashes, but other than those features he looks absolutely healthy. He opened the carriage door for them, waiting patiently.

Lillian thanked him kindly and took his outstretched hand, helping her up onto the steps and into the carriage, settling herself down the leather seat with Jane following behind her smiling. “It is going to be a while till we reach Bakewell. Make yourself comfortable, please.”

She nodded in understanding and looked around the seat, making herself relaxed as she said. Jane let out a yawn as she glanced one more look over to Lillian’s now sleeping form before closing her own eyes.

William grunted collapsing onto the spot beside his mistress; sweat covered his naked body as Lisa curled up beside him, her head up on his chest.

“You were wonderful baby,” She chuckled and closed her eyes, sleep trying to consume her.

“I should still say the same for you my dear.” And with that, he made his way to the side of the bed, beginning to slip on his trousers followed by his boots and his ruffled shirt that was thrown onto the floor.

Lisa sat up, her hand on her head looking over at him. “Where are you going?” She frowned, wrapping the sheets around her naked body. “I thought you could stay so we could sleep here for a while. Come on back to bed,”

He shook his head and stood up, buttoning his trousers, raising the shirt up and over his head, brown hair still tousled by their love making earlier. “I can’t,” He muttered. “My sister is coming back from her visit to the City. I have to be there to greet her,”

William grinned as he saw her frown. “It’s alright honey. I will visit you again tomorrow,” He made his way back to her and kissed her on the forehead.

Lisa closed her eyes a smile on her face. “Yeah because you needed to be tamed again,” She mumbled licking her lips. “I just need to remind you William-…,”

“I know,” He mumbled standing up to tug on his knee-long black boots. “Do not worry. I will see you tomorrow,” And with that he left the small hut, untying his horse’s reins, hopping up and over the saddle, securing his foot into its proper place before thrusting the reins. The horse neighed and lurched forward, running toward the woods and into the vast forest.

Fresh maple, birch, pine, and other unique trees were everywhere in Bakewell this time of year. Flowers bloomed on each bush, different variety. The sun was set low onto the sky, making his tall form blurry as he passed through the forest rapidly. The late winter wind stabbing his masculine chest inside his simple ruffled shirt.

As soon as the front gates of his estate opened, he headed over to the stables and threw the reigns to the stables boy, tossing him a golden coin before making his way to the four story mansion. The footman, Sanchez, greeted him with a smile. “How was your day my lord?” He handed William a cloth.

He took it with a grin. “Splendid. Thank you Sanchez,”

Sanchez bowed, locks of silver hair falling on this wrinkled forehead, dark gray eyes soft as he looked at the person before him: a man who used to be a small boy but now grown up to be such a successful and handsome man. “Shall I get you something my lord?”

William shook his head in response. “No need thank you. When did my sister say she is arriving?”

Sanchez took out his pocket watch and opened the glass covering an odd look crossing his elderly face. “Well my lord. From here to Birmingham, it will take about a couple of hours,”

“When did she leave?” He asked.

“They left about a quarter past nine in the morning, my lord.”

William glanced over to the grandfather clock, a frown forming on those soft lips. “It’s half past five in the afternoon. Birmingham is not that far away to take nine hours,”

The footman looked out of the massive glass window, facing the country the sun sinking low in the sky. “Normally it takes about five hours by carriage. Hired by the slowest horses, but I made sure to tell them to hire the fastest horses this family own,”

“Did she bring anyone as an escort with her?”

Sanchez shook his head. “No my lord, the lady insists of traveling by herself and the coachman,” He scratched his silver hair and soon a frown followed. “Highwaymen should be lurking about on the road at this hour,” He mumbled more to himself, William knew, than the both of them.

Quickly, he took the overcoat from his arms and made his way to the door. He is right; those bastards should be outside right about now, waiting for their next unfortunate target.

“Where are you going my lord?” He asked staying his place.

“To see what the hell happened to