My Beloved

It's Over

after 11 years.....

Alaina's POV

The sky is so dark...As dark as what I feel... I'm still wishing that it's all just a dream... please...please..I beg...wake me now if it's all a dream...

I stared at the grave,Papa is dead for 6 months now and I'm all alone...I cant help it,tears flowed thru my cheeks.

"Papa I hope you are happy wherever you are now,I love you!...I sobbed...I know you are with mama now,Dont worry about me,though you are not with me,I have managed,you taught me how to be strong and independent and I'm still holding on to your promise,that my Jared will come for me...

"Let's go miss" Lily said,she has been with me since I turned 12,my personal attendant,confidante and a friend."It's getting dark you might catch a cold".

" Yes in a moment" I replied.I uttered a little prayer and started walking towards the carriage.

On the way home Lily started chattering away,hoping to distract me from melancholy.I smiled at her endless chatter.
"Oh miss! I almost forgot a letter came. It's on the desk on the library waiting for you! Lily said excitedly.

"Really?,I smiled,the first genuine smile since the day papa died.I hope it's what we have been waiting for".

"I have a feeling that it's what we have been waiting for miss,finally! it's about time!" Lily sighed."

We reached our destination.
The Manor,Collin's residence for 25 years.What used to be a house full of laughter is now as silent as a tomb.

I miss papa...I remember when I was a child, when mama is still alive,he used to tease mama how he is the most handsome among the ton because he won the hands of an earl's daughter.Mama will just blush and smack papa on his shoulder.

I smiled at the memory. When I turned 14 papa told me the whole story.Theirs is a love match.I know now why my grandfather the Earl of Reddington wont visit us.It's because he condsider my mama a disgrace,my mama and papa elope to Gretna Green.Papa has gained his wealth thru back breaking work a merchant with no title.

I saw the Earl once,a day before I turn 16,He sent me a note and a gift,a locket embedded with amethyst on the middle and small diamonds around it,I opened it and gasp.My mama's miniature,a little portrait.She look so young on the miniature,probably around 15 or so.

I was outside at the garden when the carriage bearing the coat and arms of Reddington came.I was curious so I watch as a man came out of the grand carriage bearing a small box.I watch as he handed the box to a running stable boy and turned back to the carriage and bowed to the man inside the carriage.
I saw a glimpse of the man inside the carriage,a gray haired man with silver at the temples.He looked so regal and he has violet eyes! same as mine.I saw him stare at me,and I think I saw a shadow of a smile crossed those eyes of his,then the door close and the carriage moved away.

I read the note that came with the locket,it says take care of this,I gave this to your mother when she turned sixteen
that's all!.. I dont know if I should be ecstatic or what,but I kept the gift safe,near my heart,since that day I was never seen without the locket.

A voice has shaken me out of my reverie.Mrs. Jennings' voice the housekeeper "Miss Collins?"

"Oh Im sorry! Im daydreaming,what did you say Mrs. Jennings?

"Oh nothing miss,we are just talking about your you know who?" Lily giggled.I gave her a small smile,Lily is 4 years older than me.

"Your prince should have come when you turned 16,instead of keeping you on the hook" Mrs. Jennings said while shaking her head

"We dont want a pretty lass like you waste away and die an old maid like our neighbor next door." Lily giggled again

"Who says what Lily?You are unmarried and you are not getting older" Mrs Jennings said while laughing.

"hurrummp! I may be unmarried but I know how it is to feel loved,and be loved in return" Lily said while wiggling her eyebrows,"if you know what I mean" Lily giggled.

I blushed at the turn of the conversation.
One time I saw Lily with George,a stable hand,passionately kissing at the stables,locked in each other's embrace.
I shook my head to erase that memory.Sometimes I really cant help but be envious at least she has someone to love,someone visible unlike my own fiance.

I went to my room and changed my dress.I sat on my bed and look at the painting on my bedside table.My Jared.

My papa gave me this painting on my 17th birthday,when Jared failed to come for me again,Papa said that Jared is not in the country.
Papa gave me his painting instead,he commisioned a friend of him to create a painting of Jared for his brief stay in London.

I looked at Jared's painting and slowly traced his unsmiling lips,I remember the conversation downstairs,
"How does it feel to have your lips against mine?"I asked him sadly,"When will you come for me? How long do I have to wait?".I sobbed.
I stared at his eyes,his beautiful hazel eyes.

I drew sketches of him based on the painting,On my sketches he is smiling,his beautiful eyes twinkling.I took a deep breath.

Years passed and I never heard a word from him,just occasional letters on my birthdays and every christmas but nothing personal.Every greeting card I received from him contains a brief note it's either happy birthday or merry christmas,same message every year,nothing special.Sometimes I cant help but think that maybe I just imagined getting bethrothed.

I sighed,changed to my mourning dress without assistance when Lily barged in.
"Oh miss! why you didnt wait for me?"

"It's okay,I can manage"I replied shortly.

"Here miss I drop by the library to get your letter"

"Oh!,I almost forgot about the letter!"With my hands shaking I reached for the letter,It came from the Duke of Glenford's man of business,Mr. Lincoln.It was dated 3 months ago.The old duke is dead! and Mr. Lincoln said that my fiance Jared Montgomery is now the 5th Duke of Glenford and he is coming here to claim me.The ceremony will be held here..by the end of the month...I placed a trembling hand over my mouth.

I lifted my skirt and ran all the way down the stairs

It's the 25th today,so we have 5 days to prepare!...