Timeless

[Brittn]

Timeless

 

It was early that morning, the birds were singing their morning songs and bathing in bird baths close to the home. Trees were now full of life just brought back from the dead of the winter and lush and green through the spring now ready for the start of summer. Pecan trees were dripping with their treats for the small animals that passed their way. Lillian paced in her grand Georgian home, biting her fingernails a trait that her mother would frown upon, as would most other women in her society. She would only do it when she was nervous or on edge, her mother would slap her hand if in the privaticy of their home, or if in public she would grab her elbow and squeeze until Lillian would stop. Her mother was like that, cold and harsh, but she did what she had to do. Lillian came from a poor family and had a not so good breeding. So off to boarding school she went and when she was home, it was still as if she were at school. Her mother judging her every move, criticizing her looks and words. If someone thought about it or even cared to, they would see that the woman didn’t even care that Lillian was her daughter, but instead a horse that was to be sold.

 

 

“Misses, are you ready?” An elder woman with kind eyes looked up at her, but never directly in the eye for too long. It was sad though, their eyes were warm and inviting even with everything they had to live with.

 

“Yes. I was hoping for the yellow today. Its so lovely by the river.”

 

“Misses, yer not thinkn' 'bout goin down in de river is you?” Ruth looked up at Lillian with her eyebrows raised her eyes exited for the scandals thing Lillian might do. All Lillian could do was smile and blush deeply as Ruth roared in a hearty laughter.

 

“Oh Lordy! Misses, you wou'nt!”

 

“But Ruth! Its so hot, and the river, it just looks so nice. You wouldn't tell, would you?” Lillian looked at Ruth worry making her heart skip a beat, but calming when she saw Ruth shaking her head while laughing.

 

“Evin if you did Misses, yer out in de middle of no wheres. Whos gonna see ya?” Ruth patted her shoulder as Lillian slipped into the long dress. Its silky smoothness clung to her exposing her arms and most of her chest. It had a small train in the back and a huge yellow hat that came with it

 

 

Lillian walked down to the river that strung its way by her home. Twisting and turning every which way until it was no longer able to be seen. Disappearing into the great unknow. Lillian walked by it plucking a flower now and then to smell its sweet fragrance then twining the stems together making a small crown. She had seen many mothers do it before but never her mother. Her mother would be miles away sucking dry every last penny her father left after his death. She didn’t even call for Lillian after his death, she found out from Ruth who came to visit her a Christmas after. Lillian wished Ruth was her mother, she wished it often. Lillian didn't care about the color, just the color of Ruth's eyes. How they would warm up when Lillian would scrape her knee and she would rock her telling her how Lillian would be fine. It was always Ruth who was there, comforting her when she was sick or unhappy. Most would have said it was just because Ruth was a slave, but she always thought different.

 

“Ma'am. What ever are you doing out here?” Lillian looked up startled by the sudden interruption of her thoughts. He was tall and dark haired. He had twigs and leaves sticking out and loose strands. He hadn’t shaven it what seemed to be a long while. His clothing was tattered and dirty, his fine brown boots were muddy and caked with dirt. He didn't seem to care at all what kind of condition he was in. For certainty it should have been her to ask what it was he was doing out in the woods.

“I beg your pardon sir?”

 

“What are you doing out here all alone Ma'am, are you lost?”

 

“Am I lost? No, but it seems you are.” Lillian gasped at her own rudeness, her mother for sure would have given her eyes that could kill her. Lillian looked down in utter embarrassment, watching her blush creep up her neck in the rivers reflection, hurriedly she mumble out to him.“I’m truly sorry Sir, please forgive me.”

 

“Forgive you?” The man looked at her a laughed shaking his head. “No, no. I am lost actually.” He smiled at her, still hiding his laughter at her embarrassment. Lillian kept looking down at her self, thinking if she stared long enough that she might be able to will the blush away that only seemed to deepen in color. “Ma'am is your husband home. I wou-”

 

“I'm not married.” Lillian shook her head placing her hands over her face to cover up what was surly now the color of the red bricks of her home, again he just laughed the matter off asking for her father. When she replied that he was dead and that her mother was away, he just started at her.

 

“Do you mind if I may boldly ask if you could show me the way to your home.” He started to trip over his words when he saw her look of bewilderment. He was asking her to take him to her house, just after finding him in the woods, well after he found her. But he must have been mad to ask a lady that. Then again what lady walks in the woods by a river all alone.

 

“I suppose it would be no harm. But I do hope you know, I can scream loudly and can run very fast. As it looks that you are weak and tired, I'm sure you know it would be very easy to outrun you in your state.” Lillian arched her eyebrow and folded her arms across her chest raising her chin ever so slightly. He looked at her and smiled, throwing his hands up in the air and waling slowly to her chuckling a little when she took a few steps away from him.

 

“Wouldn't dream of it Ma'am.” With that he started hard into her eyes, now she could see that his were a lovely brown rich and dark. There was almost something luring about them. A blush crept back up, how easily it was for him to do this to her was frustrating. Out of all the men she knew, not one could make her falter or feel foolish, but some stranger that she knew only but a few moments could. Grunting with annoyance she pressed on to the house, him following behind.

 

 

“Ruth! Ruth!” Lillian's voice rang out to her maid who was no where to be seen. Then just as Lillian was starting to feel worried, the elder woman came rushing out of the house. “This is Mr.-” Lillian racked her brain to remember his name, when she remember she didn't know it at all. She looked to this man hoping he could read her eyes and he could. Anthony Felton. “Can you make sure Mr. Felton feels at home?”

 

“Yes, Misses. I sure will. Oh, you got yer self a letta from de Mrs. Post. I set it in yer room. Come now Mr. Felton. I be showin you to yer room.” As Ruth passed by she winked at Lillian, sending a small smile to her lips.

 

 

When she finally reached her room she collapsed into her bed. She hadn't even been gone long enough to be tired but she was. Just thinking about Mr. Felton sent chills up her back. But they were not of fear but rather of warmth that she knew she should not feel. She could see his eyes, and though he said he wouldn't dream of her, she liked to think other wise. Rolling over she felt her mothers card underneath her. She didn’t want to ruin her one moment she had of joy, but she thought and hoped her mother would say that there was no man in Boston that in his right mind would marry her. And that she was coming home to wait before she went back out in search of this long lost man. Lillian opened the letter and traced the lines, the black ink becoming a blur.

 

Dear Lillian,

I have found a man here in Boston who is willing to call upon you. He has agreed to stay a while with us before he goes to London. Be on your best behavior when we come, and do try to look appropriate if at all pretty.

 

Reguards,

Mrs. Chaple

 

Mrs. Chaple, not even mother, just her name. Lillian dropped the letter in the fire place that would burn that night. Chuckling sadly Lillian pressed her face against the cool window. Oh Mr. Felton, it never would have worked anyways.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I was looking around Google for some writing prompts and found a great place. ( http://www.seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=writechallenge ) Anyways some of us...we two of us thought it would be fun to do a story tonight. And I couldn't decide what to do so she picked one for me.::: The story starts on a river. The story takes place a century in the past. During the story, there is a letter delivered. So here is what I did. I left it so that if I wanted I could keep writing, but I don't know. You tell me.

[Maharg67]

Very good! Please keep on writing on! :thumbsup: