Morning always came early for Mark. However, the journey across the sea was just over and he was tired. Mark was unaware of the smile playing on his lips as he dreamed of a blonde haired green-eyed marchioness. But as he woke up, he felt fully rested and as if he was finally home – the place that had eluded him since the time he lost his parents.
He woke up to the sound of the laughter of kids and his thoughts went towards having his own some day. He had always loved kids, especially his nephew and niece – Alex and Nina. As he thought of them he got up, freshened himself, got dressed and finally set off to find the little rascals with a smile tugging his face.
He followed the sound of their laughter and found them playing a game of Tag with Bella… er… Cassie. It was going to be a tough time trying to remember that the beautiful girl in front of him was different from the scourge of his early youth. And then she turned and greeted him with a radiant smile of her own. Maybe it was not going to be as tough to think of her as only Cassie, thought Mark.
Mark returned her smile with a grin and went on to join the party of three.
“Well, well. It seems nobody misses me anymore over here.” exclaimed Mark to the kids.
“Uncle Mark! Uncle Mark!” shouted both the kids in unison as they turned and saw Mark; they ran into his outspread arms. Mark picked each kid in one arm and whirled them around, the size of all their 6 years being light for Mark’s built and height of six feet three inches. Cassie watched the trio as they whirled and twirled around – the innocent laughter of the kids mingling with the booming one of Mark. The kids seemed to truly love their ‘Uncle Mark’, and he in turn seemed to genuinely care for them. Cassie smiled along with them at their antics.
Ever since she had come to stay with the Duke of Wellingshire, the kids had been in her charge. They were both really good kids, with a ready smile and eager manners and Cassie had come to love them a great deal. When she had first come, it had been merely six months since the accident that killed their parents and aunt, Bella – the one whom she so much resembled in face. The kids had seemed low and withdrawn in the beginning and it had taken a great deal of effort from her to bring out their natural exuberance. She thought back to the day she had first come to the estate of the Duke of Wellingshire.
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Leaney Household, Carlton, 1888
Cassie, or rather Cassandra Livington had spent ten years from a child to a young lady of seventeen at the Convent of Mary. She got the position of a governess for the Leaney Household in Carlton, upon recommendation from her favorite teacher Sister Greta. Sister Greta had always liked Cassie and had profusely recommended her to be the young governess of the two motherless children of the Baron of Leaney. The Baron was a dear old man of forty five odd years with a portly figure. His wife had recently died because of the fever, before Cassie came to live with his family. He had two sons who were thirteen and ten at that time.
Cassie quickly assimilated herself to the household and became a surrogate mother and teacher for the two children. Both were well-behaved kids, although a bit bereft at the death of their mother. Within weeks being with Cassie had become an integral part of the family and brought joy and peace to the Leany household. Lord Smith, the Baron of Leaney, also let go of his grief slowly. Their days were regular filled with peace and quiet of the town of Carlton and Cassie had become a part of the family. To the kids, she was like an elder sister and to the Baron like the daughter he had never had.
And then, he had met Elizabeth Brown, the new spinster teacher at the village school and fell in love with her. Elizabeth was a rather tall lady with average features and pleasant manners. After a whirlwind courtship, he asked for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage and she agreed. Although Cassie was fond of the entire Leaney household, including the newest member – Elizabeth, she thought it was time to move on. Elizabeth was a lovely lady who had very effectively filled the void left after the death of the Baron’s first wife.
After handing over the reins of the Leaney household within a year to Elizabeth, Cassie said her good-byes. Elizabeth Leaney had an aunt in the town of Wellingshire who was working as a governess in the household of the Duke of Wellingshire. This aunt was due retirement after working for the Duke for the past thirty years. Also she wanted to come and visit Elizabeth in her new household and see for herself the happiness of her only niece. But Aunt Martha was undecided over the fact that the Duke’s grandchildren had recently become orphans and there was no one to look after them. Aunt Martha had looked after the Duke’s children, Anthony and Isabella as well. But now she was getting old and it was becoming difficult for her to take care of two energetic children on her own. Also, being in the Wellingshire estate reminded her of Anthony and Isabella at each turn and it brought tears to her eyes so very often.
Elizabeth did not want Cassie to go from Carlton, as now they had become very good friends. But since she was so insisting to leave, Elizabeth recommended Cassie to become the governess for the Duke’s grandchildren.
And this is how Cassie found herself on route to Wellingshire Estate to take up the position of the governess for the Duke’s grandchildren.
Wellingshire Estate, 1893
Cassie was aware that they had entered Wellingshire Estate, so informed by the driver of the carriage. She was looking outside the carriage window at the scenery passing by and admiring the estate. It seemed to be huge with fields on both sides of the roads, happy peasants working on the land and enjoying the summer sun.
Cassie was thinking back to the Leaney household and how her new duties would differ from the ones she left behind. The kids she was going to look after now were twins aged six. This was to be her second job and she had only had experience with Tom and John; aged at ten and thirteen respectively. She had only had experience with a baron of a small town and now she was going to work in a Dukedom – under a Duke who was next to Royalty. The prospect scared her a bit.
Suddenly the gates of the Wellingshire Manor opened up and they started driving up the path leading to the Manor. It was a huge manor, imposing in its appearance with big strong pillars supporting it. The gardens in the front were nicely kept and you could make out a small pond in the distance with a fountain in the centre. Once the driveway ended and the carriage reached the doorstep, one of the estate footmen came running up to open the gate to the carriage.
Cassie got down on her own and moved towards the big doors of the Manor. As she was deciding to knock on the door, it open inwardly on its own and there stood a stoic butler on the other side of the door.
Cassie hesitated as she said, “I… I have come to meet the Duke.”
The butler looked down at her at this and suddenly his stoic face blanched. He uttered, “Bella!”
Looking at his ash-stricken face, Cassie thought that he might faint or something and asked him, “Are you feeling alright? You seem to be sick.”
“Bella! Ma petite!” said the butler again. “Let me call His Grace. He will be so happy to see you.” With that the butler ran off in the other direction leaving Cassie to herself at the door.
After waiting a while, Cassie entered the house and looked around. The manor was as beautiful inside as from the outside.
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