Forbidden

Chapter 1

I have to get out of this house, Victoria thought. It's so hot and boring in here that I could just drop dead right now.
She slipped out the back door and started walking.
It was a fairly cloudy day in Winona, Minnesota, on September 7, 1886. Victoria was so focused on getting away from the monotony of her family's house that she didn't notice where she was going until she took a whiff of the breeze. Something in the air smelled different, but she wasn't sure what. Victoria stopped and looked around. The houses were much shabbier and run down than in the rich section of town, and Victoria realized that that was because she wasn't in the rich part of town. She was in the poor section.
Just as she realized that and the fact that she didn't know how to get home, the sky opened up and it started to pour down rain. The dirt roads instantly turned to mud, everyone with any sense scurried indoors, leaving Victoria almost alone in the street.
Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder and whirled around. Standing there was a young man about her age who had shoulder length dark blond hair and deep blue eyes.
"You look like you are in need of directions, Miss," he said. "Come. I'll walk you home."
Victoria gave him her address, and they walked through the muddy streets until they neared Victoria's house. She stopped him.
"This is far enough," she said. Better for him not to be seen by my parents.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. And thank you."
"You're welcome. Always happy to be of service, My Lady," he said, then turned and disappeared down the street into the gathering dark.
Victoria sighed, staring after him. He was such a gentleman, she thought. She walked back to her house, sneaked in the front door, and was climbing the stairs in her sopping wet socks when she heard a voice behind her.
"Victoria, I can see you there." It was Anne, Victoria's slightly younger sister. Victoria sighed and came back down the stairs.
"I went for a walk and got caught in the rain, that's all," she explained.
"Oh, but it's not all! I can see it in your face. The way those cheeks blush...those sparkles in your eyes... You met a boy!" Anne exclaimed. "Who was it?"
"No one! I didn't meet anyone!"
"Shhhh. Alright, we'll keep this quiet. But you would tell me if you did meet anyone, right?"
Victoria blinked. "Of course," she half lied. She would have told her sister about the boy had he not been from the poor part of town and therefore viewed as dangerous for her to be with.