One Crown & Two Thrones: The Prophecy Read online

  “How can you compare me to other beautiful things when your eyes have been shielded and kept behind closed doors? When you step out into the world you will come to the same conclusion in time,” Eveline groaned outwardly.

  “You are my equal Eveline, can you not see?”

  “But you can keep your abilities to yourself,” Eveline cried out softly, letting her eyes drift across the lake, observing the boats to the north, filled with visitors from the south.

  “You talk as those I am not plagued by my own being and all that it entails,” Theodore said with contempt as he rolled up his trousers. “You portray yourself to be a kind of weakling and you know you are not. I spend many a night beside a fire with my fellow friends discussing philosophy and they being highly educated to do not hold a candle on your own intelligence. Why do you submit yourself to the shadows when you know your real environment is amongst the light?”

  “I do not know where I belong in this world for I have never felt a part of it,” Eveline said with great feeling, letting her finger tips wade through the water lightly.

  “We are all molecules of dust awaiting fates harsh gust.”

  “Speak truthfully Theodore, do not you as I feel as though we are much older than this world in which we walk? Do not your feet feel as though they have forever walked upon this earth? Since time itself was created and moulded by God?”

  “Sometimes,” Theodore said with a shrug. “I admit I do at times feel as though I am not of this world but where else could I be from?.”

  “You have to ask yourself how it is that you and I are gifted in ways other humans are not. Does that not bother you slightly?” Eveline asked as Theodore joined her.

  “If I did that Eveline I would drive myself insane. Instead I simply accept the gifts that have been bestowed upon me with a hope to use them in a way that will serve those in need,” Theodore replied with certainty. “And you are purposefully reflecting the original topic of conversation.” Eveline smiled slightly in a knowing manner.

  “I will miss you, for what shall I be without you at my side?”

  “You shall be Eveline. My Eveline,” Theodore replied softly.

  “What shall I do with my time?”

  “You shall read, write and explore. You are not alone, you have mother and she will not allow you to wilt away into the wall of your doomed existence,” Theodore laughed heartily, placing his arm about her waist. “And I shall write to you and send you gifts.”

  “What use are they if you are not delivered with them?”

  “Eveline you sound as though you will rupture at my departure, do not lower yourself to such a belief. You have many purposes in this life, maybe some time to yourself will allow you time in which to reflect upon the issues that burden you so.”

  “You always try to place an optimistic stance upon a pessimistic viewpoint,” Eveline smiled, comforted by his touch. In silence she let her head fall against his shoulder and raised her face to the sun, basking in its warmth.

  “You are formed from light not darkness, remember that,” Theodore whispered into her ear.

  “I shall try.”

  “Good.”

  Eveline opened her eyes slightly and gazed up into his own, smiling deeply. Without a word, Theodore bent his head and kissed her lightly feeling her body tremble at the intimate touch. Eveline quickly stepped away, placing her fingers upon her lips.

  “Why did you do that?” she asked nervously.

  “I love you, you know that. I couldn’t very well head off to London without at least attempting to you kiss you,” Theodore replied kindly, a faint blush upon his cheek.

  “But we cannot Theodore, mother wouldn’t allow it,” Eveline argued, refusing to acknowledge the fear buried deep within her that such a gesture felt wrong.

  “Mother knows how I love you, she understands how I feel and knows that I would never force you to feel anything that was not right or proper on your behalf. But forgive a fool for trying…,” Theodore shook his head. “No needing to at least give you cause to think about it.”

  “We are as good as siblings Theodore,” Eveline cried out, her cheeks burning.

  “No we are not Eveline,” Theodore stepped forward and reached her, cupping her face in his hands. “You know we are not. You have known that since we first beheld on another at the ages of ten and eleven. We have been bound to one another in a way that no sibling could however you may deny it. But I am no wretch and would never ever make you uncomfortable. But a part of me thinks that you feel the same.”

  “Why would you bring up such a subject when you are leaving in a weeks’ time?” Eveline retorted quickly, letting her hands fall to his waist.

  “I have waited in vain for the past year to bring up such a subject, it seems only befitting that I do it now when the thought of you falling into the arms of another plagues me so,” Theodore admitted quietly. “I promise you there is nothing perverse in my manner of feelings towards you. My heart first began to change when we attended the mid-summer ball last year upon your eighteenth birthday and I realised that you were first of all a woman and second of all a woman with whom I could not bare to be parted. That you had to be mine and only mine.”

  “I noticed how your gaze changed from that day onwards and have been living in fear of it ever since,” Eveline admitted quietly, still quiet in shock at their current conversation a part of her feeling uncomfortable whilst another felt as though it had soared into the sky like a lark.

  “May I ask if you feel the same?” Theodore pleaded in agony the sound of squawking swans in the background.

  “If I am to marry any man it is you I see at the altar,” Eveline murmured gently, feeling embarrassed and confused all at once.

  “Then you will marry me?”

  “Not when you are leaving Keswick and make for London,” Eveline said quickly, raising her eyes to his own, gentle and warm gaze.

  “When I have finished my training and come home to Keswick you will marry me?” Theodore asked with a wide grin, his face a live with hope.

  “I shall if you are certain it is I you wish to marry?”

  “I have always been certain that you shall join me at the altar,” Theodore cried out, gently pressing his lips to her own. Eveline closed her eyes and allowed herself to be carried into the embrace, feeling Theodores yearning and love, finding herself ever more moulding herself into his body. With strength she batted away the fear and feelings of wrongness, refusing to submit to the deeper most inner feeling that this was somehow wrong, that she had willingly accepted to walk down a path that was not to be her own.

  Theodore and Eveline spent the afternoon lounging and talking by the river before unwillingly returning to their cottage with Wordsworth who was now tired and grumpy, falling before the fireplace with a groan.

  “Ah I’m glad you are both returned, dinner is nearly ready so go and wash your face and hands before joining me at the table,” Estelle ordered as she exited her study, closing the door behind her. Looking at the pair she observed a difference in their appearance, in the way that they gazed at one another. “What has taken place to cause you both to look at one another so?”

  “Eveline has agreed to marry me,” Theodore announced happily. Estelle looked at Eveline for a moment and assessed her intensely.

  “And you are both sure that you love one another enough to marry each other?” she asked seriously, guiding them into the front room where Wordsworth now lay asleep upon the hearth.

  “We are,” Theodore said loudly, his arm about a quiet and blushing Eveline.

  “Eveline? What do you have to say to all this?”

  “Our relationship has changed in the last year,” Eveline stated, her arm wrapped within Theodores. “This is not a decision that has been rushed or pushed, I have thought about it for many a month. I wish to marry Theodore but only with your blessing?”

  “It will cause a scandal amongst the town, you know that?” Estelle argued kindly.

  “We kn
ow,” Theodore said with certainty. “But we are not blood relations and have not entertained into anything offensive or perverse. This is all above board.”

  “As much as I know that, many will simply refuse to believe that,” Estelle warned.

  “I know,” Theodore replied calmly. “We will not marry until I finish my training that will give us a year in which to seriously think about our future.”

  “Well I have my doubts and concerns but if you both still feel the same after your training then you have my blessing,” Estella smiled warmly before embracing the pair tightly. “Now go and ready yourselves for dinner.”

  When dinner had ended and Theodore departed for the pub, Estelle and Eveline readied themselves for a walk, leaving Wordsworth behind as they made their way east, towards the slopes of the hills. For a while they walked in silence, simply taking in the evening’s splendour. A large flock of starlings filled the sky as they ever so promptly entered into their nightly ritual of dancing before departing to their chosen tree, to enter the night, hidden within the ancient trees of Derwentwater. Soon they found themselves upon an age old path as the clouds began to gather.

  “May I ask why you never married?” Eveline enquired, breaking the silence and causing her mother to awaken from her thoughts.

  “I suppose it was never meant to be,” Estelle replied thoughtfully, her greying curls floating about her heart shaped face delicately.

  “Have you ever been in love?”

  “A very long time ago,” Estelle smiled painfully, tucking her hands into the pockets of her tweed jacket.

  “What happened?”

  “He was married,” Estelle announced, turning her face from Eveline.

  “Married?” Eveline whispered, slightly shocked at her mother’s statement.

  “A marriage of convenience one would say,” Estelle smiled as they passed a couple along the path. “Nothing came of it of course.”

  “What was his name?” Eveline enquired curiously, observing the anguish forming on her mother’s agonised face.

  “Lord Hugh Milton was his name.”

  “How long ago was this?”

  “A very long time ago. We met during the second Boer war. He had been brought back to London and I was assigned to him as his nurse,” Estelle began, her eyes glazing over as the memories arose painfully from that deep and hidden box, safely loaded away where no one could coax it out. “He had his left arm amputated and I was his nurse for the next eight weeks of his recovery.”

  “How old where you?”

  “I was twenty nine years old when we met and he was thirty two,” Estelle smiled weakly. “I of course knew that he was married, for his young wife came regularly to visit him.”

  “Did he know that you loved him so?”

  “Yes for he had himself proclaimed his love for me within a letter.”

  “What happened?”

  “Nothing scandalous I assure you, for I am no hussy,” Estelle said with pride that could not disguise the obvious discomfort she felt. “Though we did share one kiss, the day before he was released and lost to me forever.”

  “Have you seen him since?” Eveline asked softly, wrapping her arm within Estelle’s.

  “Once when I was in London a few years ago visiting my agent,” Estelle admitted.

  “Did he see you?”

  “Yes from across the road,” Estelle murmured painfully. “But when a bus passed by he was gone.”

  “I wonder why?” Eveline mused to herself.

  “I suppose there could only be two reasons; first that he was pained by the experience or second that he felt shame,” Estelle said with feeling.

  “And you? How did you feel?”

  “I was pained, severely so,” Estelle whispered as they ascended a small hill stopping to turn, their gazes cast out across the countryside, the lake to their west and the town of Keswick to the north. The breeze heightened upon the hill as they stood together overlooking the beautiful countryside.

  “And you have never loved another despite the length of your courtship with Lord Hugh?” Eveline asked, turning her golden eyes to Estelle’s misty eyed face.

  “I have never loved another and will not ever so long as I live, despite only knowing him for such a brief period of time. Never had I felt so vigorous and full of hope than when I was with him.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “You have nothing to be sorry for child,” Estelle smiled warmly, leaning in to kiss Eveline upon the forehead.

  “It must cause you pain to see couples who adore one another?”

  “The pain lessens with time. I have become used to such things in my old age, having children has brought me all the love that I need,” Estelle said with certainty, a flare of strength in her eyes.

  “Then may I have your true opinion of my betrothal to Theodore?”

  “Do you wish to hear it?” Estelle asked with an arched brow.

  “I do.”

  “Come let us sit on the bench over there,” Estelle pointed to a nearby bench and guided Eveline over. Once comfortable, she turned to Eveline and placed her hands within her own. “You have led a sheltered life have you not?”

  “Yes but it hasn’t been oppressive if that is what you are referring to,” Eveline smiled, lowering her eyes slightly.

  “But sheltered none the less,” Estelle stated with knowing eyes. “You have only ever known one man in your life, Theodore.”

  “Do I need to know other men? Theodore is all that I need, yes?”

  “You would think so, for he is alike you in ways that normal men are not. But that does not make him the right man for you, do you understand my meaning?”

  “Yes.”

  “I am not slighting Theodore in the least but I would be idle in my role as your mother if I did not warn you against such an engagement, for now at least.”

  “Why?”

  “Theodore is about to venture forth into the world, who knows what will happen in the time that he gone from us,” Estelle explained kindly seeing the fear in Eveline’s eyes. “Oh I do not for a moment think he would so willingly go against your betrothal. But I will say this, he has only ever known you and he may find that he falls in love with another. What I mean to say is, you are both so young and inexperienced with so much to experience before venturing into a marriage together.”

  “But he loves me and I him,” Eveline pleaded against her better judgement.

  “Do you love him as a wife should love a husband? Do you love him with a passion he so clearly has for you? Or have you mistaken the love between friends for that of lovers?” Estelle challenged the pale and withdrawn Eveline.

  “I believe I do although I admit freely that I have no one else to compare him too,” Eveline said with a confused look.

  “That is exactly my fear that you will both marry too soon. That one day you will meet another man, a man that fills you with a passion so strong it will be as though you have been living in the shadows,” Estelle said softly, stroking Eveline’s cold hand.

  “But I do love Theodore with a passion, though it may not be as bold as his own,” Eveline argued weakly for she knew all too well that she held little passion towards Theodore. For all the lack of passion she wielded she knew Theodore was the only man that would love her for her.

  “I am just urging you to be cautious, to tread lightly,” Estelle soothed gently.

  “I will,” Eveline smiled hopefully. “He is the only man that can ever love me for who I am, imperfections and all.”

  “There are many men that would gladly love you for who you are,” Estelle smiled warmly, pressing Eveline’s hand. “Imperfections and all.”

  “I doubt it,” Eveline whispered, her eyes watering.

  “If only I could replace your lack of self-confidence with strength,” Estelle moaned. “For you are so much more than you believe yourself to be. Why would God bestow such gifts upon you if you were not something more than you believe yourself to be?”

  “May
be he made a mistake,” Eveline smiled.

  “I doubt that child.”

  *

  The trio stood together upon the platform of the train station huddled in an embrace.

  “You will write directly when you arrive in London?” Estelle urged Theodore.

  “Of course mother!” Theodore smiled, kissing his mother’s cheek gently as the air filled with sounds of those departing.

  “Remember to be on your best behaviour!” Estelle choked through tears.

  “When am I ever not on my best behaviour?” Theodore laughed, keeping Eveline’s hand within his own.

  “You know what I mean!” Estelle cried out before hugging him once more. Behind them the station master called out.

  “Last call!”

  Estelle stepped away from the couple to give them a moment alone as steam filled the platform, whirling about their tall figures.

  “You will write?” Eveline said weakly, her eyes upon his grey coat, her hands upon his shoulders.

  “I will and you?” Theodore replied, forcing her chin up so that her eyes met with his own.

  “Yes I promise.”

  “I will come back for you, I promise,” he said in a serious manner, his youthful face filled with grief.

  “And I will wait,” Eveline replied gently, a tear falling from her eye.

  “It is only a year,” Theodore smiled tenderly. “It will pass like the blinking of an eye.”

  “You will not forget me?”

  “How could I forget you Eveline? You are all I think about!”

  “That may change when you settle in London, it is so full of entertainments and people, you may forget our quiet ways,” Eveline argued lightly betraying the look of fear in her eyes.

  “Stop trying to ward me off you Eveline, it won’t work,” Theodore said firmly, pulling her close. “I have to go.” Eveline had no words, she simply wrapped her arms about him and kissed him gently. After a moment, Theodore broke away and fled through the steam, climbing into the train and closing the door behind him, rolling the window down. Estelle quickly joined Eveline as she clasped his hand.

  “Good bye mother!” Theodore cried out as the train began to move.