I sat at the top of the stairs, playing with my hands. The dinner party started in exactly thirty minutes, and all I could see was the notes from my father’s library bouncing inside my head. The notes of his trading routes, large X’s across some of the trading ports, and little notes about what these people wanted in exchange for his life. I twisted my fingers on my lap, gathering pieces of my dress in them. “Camille!” I spun my head around to meet the eyes of my mother.

“Yes?” I knew what was about to come out of her mouth, before the words even made a sound.

“Why are you sitting on the stairs, you will get your dress dirty! And our guests will be here shortly.” She let her hands fall to her hips as she stared me down.

“I know, mother, I was just thinking about what happened the last few times Lucas and I were in the same room, for more than 5 seconds.” I let the memory of my coming of age party come into my mind, along with the idea of the trading house.

“Yes, I know, darling, but Serena won’t be here, and the Madison’s have been close to us for many years,” My mother let her arms fall, before extending a hand toward me, “Please get off the stairs, and go find your brother, I think he is out by the stables.”

“Okay, I will.” I stood up, dusting off my dress, and then raced down the stairs and out the door before my mother could say another word about Lucas. I could feel the slight breezing come in, and I heard the trees rushing from it. I hadn’t let myself enjoy our grounds since I had arrived back home. But I remembered how much I use to adore climbing the trees and spending every moment out here, with my father. I could see Aiden sitting against a tree, with his mind deep in thought.

“And I thought I was the only one who use to do this.” I smiled at him, and slowed my pace standing over him.

“Just preparing myself for mother’s dinner.” He smiled at me, standing up.

“You will do fine, Olivia is taken with you, and her father, already admires you as a man.” I patted his arm, and smiled, “And anyway, I have complete faith in you, Aiden.”

“Camille, you always have been there for me. Thank you, for being my sister.” I smiled at him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

“Thank you for being my brother.” It was the most intamite moment we shared since our father’s death. When father died, I was shipped to boarding school, and he choose to enter the royal guard. It wasn’t an easy choice for him, giving up his dream to sail the seas, and see things that my father would tell us about, but he knew it would be easier and provided more comfort toward our mother. But the day he left, I wouldn’t speak to him, I felt like he was abandoning me to, but as the years rolled on during my time at school, we would write one another and the bridge was mended.

“Come on, let’s get back to the house, because I suspect mother sent you out here, to fetch me?”

“Yes she did.” I linked my arm through his and we began our way up to the house. I could see a carriage approaching from the distance, and a knot in my stomach told me who it was. “Is that the Madisons’?

“I believe so, and I am guessing the carriage behind them belongs to the Drexton’s.” I had completely forgot that Darius and Rose were coming to this together.

I nodded as we continued up the path to our house, I could see the carriage coming clearly into view, and my mother stood on the front steps waiting to greet everyone, “Children, come on.” She waved for us to join her on the top step and I felt every ounce of me, wanting to just collapse and die.

The carriage came to a stop in front of us, and the driver opened the door, letting the view of the passengers come into our view. Mrs. Madison let her hand out so that the driver could help her down the steps. She smiled at us, and hugged my mother. Next Mr. Madison dismounted from the carriage, taking his handkerchief from his pocket, whipping his brow. I bit my lip, waiting for Lucas to step out of the carriage. He was wearing a dark blue suit that was tailored with brown edging.

“Welcome!” My mother was giddy with delight as she hugged the Madison’s. I waited for Rose to join us on the porch, before moving from my place. I wrapped my arms around her, and hugged her tightly. She had always been the only girl who I enjoyed the company of in this small town.

“Hello, Camille.” She kissed my cheek, “This is Darius, my fiancé.” She smiled as she took the arm of the man who was standing beside her.

“Nice to meet you.” I smiled and curtsied toward him.

“The Rhett’s will be arriving soon, but until they arrive, let us take our place in the sitting room,” My mother took my arm, pulling me away, leading the way toward the sitting room, I could feel eyes on me, and I felt uneasy in our own house. “Now, just take a seat, and Curtis will be bringing tea and snacks shortly.” My mother sat in her favorite arm charm and patted the loveseat beside her.

I sat in the chair, and realized I was sitting across from Lucas. I felt myself get sick, and I just looked at my hands in my lap. “So Rose, how is the wedding coming?”

“It is coming well, my mother and I believe it will be a social event of the year.” I could feel her excitement.

“Well I am excited to attend!” I grasped her hand and gave it a long squeeze.

“Well that is what I was going to talk to you about that, would you like to be my maid of honor?”

“Oh, Rose! I would be delighted!”

“You will be walking down the aisle with Lucas.”

I gripped my dress in my hands, and found myself at a loss for words. “Well, the wedding will be fun.”

I watched as Lucas moved his eyes from one side of the room to the other, and then sat up straight, “So, Miss. Brexton, my father was telling me that you two are discussing a new trade spot.”

“Yes we are, it is over in America that we are looking.”

I watched as Darius’s body completely tensed and his jaw clenched. I looked at Rose and I could tell that she was uncomfortable.

Curtis entered the room, carrying trays of tea and snacks, “Ma’am the Rhetts have arrived.” He bowed and left the room to answer the door, but before he reached it, Aiden had shot up for the door and was reaching for the handle. Olivia’s perky voice came through the house, “Hello, Aiden.”

“Hello, Miss. Rhett, Commander, Mrs. Rhett.” He bowed and opened the door all the way to let them in, “My mother, and sister, and the Madison’s are inside the sitting room, please join us.” He offered his arm to Olivia and she took it gladly. He led her to the loveseat, sitting down, as she sat beside him.

“Welcome, Commander.” My mother smiled and I nodded my head at them both.

“Please call me, George, and this is my wife Kathleen.”

“Well George, I hope that you enjoy yourself.”

The party continued on, and I felt myself feeling sicker, finally after dinner, I asked my mother if I could get some air. She had agreed, and I exited the room. As soon as I the path of the I took off running for the giant weeping willow in our grounds. The moonlight lit the path and gave it a different world feeling. As soon as I got to the base of the tree, I stuck out my hands and leaned against it. My hair had finally fell from the pins that had held it up. I grabbed the branch pulling my body’s weight up from the ground and onto the branch. I let my body adjust to the new height, and balanced my weight pulling myself up to the next on. I sat down on the base of the branch and let my head rest against the trunk.

“I don’t think that is very ladylike, Miss. Camille.” I looked down the tree to see Lucas standing at the base.

“I needed some air.” I crossed my arms.

“Well, I need some to.” I watched as Lucas pulled off his jacket, and grabbed onto the branch, pulling himself up.

“Did I ask you to join me, Lucas?”

“Are you never going to let me explain?” Lucas pulled himself up to the branch beside me and sat down, leaning against the trunk.

“What is to explain?” I glared at him, and moved a piece of my hair out of my face.

“A lot actually.”

“Like what?”

“That I did love you.”

I felt my heart skip a beat, and looked at him, “Weird way of showing it.”

“I had no choice!”

“Do you care for her then?”

“In a way…” He looked at his hands and rubbed his legs, “But I need you to know, that if I had it my way it would have been completely different, you understand.”

“No I don’t.”

“Camille, there is stuff going on, everywhere around us, and none of it, ever works the way we want.”

“So it involves you marrying Serena!”

“Camille, please give me a chance?”

“I can’t risk it, Lucas.” I moved to get down the tree, and he grabbed my hand.

“Just read this,” He handed me a small envelope.

“Fine.” I jumped from the tree, and walked toward the house, as soon as I knew I was far away from Lucas, I opened the envelope and fell to the ground.

My dearest Camille,

Writing this gives me so much pain, but I have an obligation to my family, and I must fulfill it. Every day, I hear about you, every day I see you in my head, and feel you in my heart. You will always been my love, my dearest Camille. I want to say that when you are home, that you and I will be together. But it seems to be going further and further away from that. I will love you though, till my last breath. But Camille, understand, the people that killed your father, will only be silenced if we give into their commands, and that is the plan, that I will follow.

I am deeply sorry, Camille.

I hope one day you will forgive me.