MDA Chapter five.

                                                                                 Chapter five.

                                                                                                                                     Buckingham, England, 1607
                                                                                                                                                         Summer.

   "Where is Aunt Silvie?" I had asked the chauffeur when he helped me to the chariot. He had answered that she was very busy and could not make time to come herself. 'Is this how it will be all summer?' I wondered as I glanced out the small window, enjoying the lovely scenery, distracting myself from the events of the previous night.
     It had been nearly a year since the last time I had visited her. Could things had really changed so much in a year? Aunt Silvie had come to visit us a few months after my return from visiting her. She never explained her reasons for such a sudden visit, and my father didn't asked, but there was something odd about that visit that made me wonder. My father was so preocupied with the sudden loss of money from a business that had gone wrong. A business that David had suggested. I frowned, even after what he had tried to do I kept thinking of him, of the feelings I had shared with him, until everything crumbled and I opened my eyes to see who he really was and of what he was capable of.
    I asked the chauffeur how long would it take until we finally arrived to Aunt Silvie's mansion, he answered it would take us more than five hours to arrive, I decided then, it would be good to rest now that I could. I hadn't slept for nearly two days. I was affraid my nightmares would haunt me. I prayed to my grandmother, my gurdian angel to keep the nightmares away, even if it was only for that moment, but to spare me from them. I closed my eyes, the movement of the chariot cooed me until I fell completely asleep. As if my prayer had been heard, I had a dreamless rest. It felt like only a moment that I had slept when the chauffeur woke me up informing me that we had arrived. I rubbed my eyes grimacing in pain, clearing them from the crusts that had formed while I slept. I looked around, recognizing the big mansion and the town that surrounded it.
    I descended the chariot with the help of the kind chauffeur, stretching my back when I was on solid ground. He carried my luggage to the front steps of the mansion. I knocked and waited for the door to open. No one answered, I knocked again. "Are you sure aunt Silvie is home?' I asked the chauffeur who stood beside me looking around, avoiding to have a look of my bruised face.
    "I am positive, Miss," he answered. I bit my lower lip, hoping my aunt wouldn't mind. I tried to opened the door and to my surprise it was unlocked. The chauffeur and I looked at each other, "Come on, we should wait for her inside," I said entering the mansion. He followed close behind me.
     I looked around, it always amazed me how beautiful her mansion was. The walls were white with intricate patterns in gold; white, long carpets adorned the light-brown marble floor. At the end of the carpet were a flair of stairs that lead to the bedrooms and bathrooms. Gold chandeliers with expensive jewelry adornments hung from the ceiling. 'My family doesn't have money and she can afford all these luxuries?' I thought in disbelief. I glanced back, the chauffeur's eyes wide in admiration, with a hint of jealousy. For the man's expressions I assumed my Aunt wasn't kind enough to even invite him inside. I turned my attention toward the walls. There were family portaits along them, oil candles burning brightly, bringing even more light to the long corridor. I glanced at the paintings of my ancestors. Looking for some similarity with any of them.
    "This is a very exquisite painting of you, Miss Camila," the chauffeur commented glancing at a painting in the opposite wall.
    "What is your name?" I asked turning around.
    "Samuel," he answered a bit nervious.
    "Samuel," I repeated. "You were saying?" I pretended not to hear his previous comment.
    "I said that this is an exquisite painting. When was this painted?" he inquired, not noticing my uncomformity.
    "This was painted ten years ago," I answered casually.
   "Ten years ago? But, you are only seventeen, Miss," he said, obviously confused. "How is it possible...?" his words trail off. He seemed not to comprehend how it was possible for a painting of 'me' being painted ten years earlier.
    "The woman in the painting it is not me, Samuel," I said calmly , though I was raging inside. "That is Aunt Silvie."
   Samuel blushed a bright pink. He felt embarassed for confusing me with my aunt. "My most sincere apology, Miss. I had no idea," he bowed respectfully. "It's just that you two look so much alike, it is hard to tell you apart at times."
   'Here we go again,' I thought angered. I hated when someone compared me or confused me with my aunt. "We do not look alike," I said flatly. Trying my best not to yell at the poor man. He knew not what had happened to me the night before, but he was getting on my last nerve with his comments.
    "Of course not, miss," Samuel quickly said shaking his head back and forth.
    I was about to say something I might have to apologize for, when a set of laughters interrupted my words. A high pitched laughter stood out from the others. I instantly knew that aunt Silvie was in the tea room. "You can go now, Samuel, thank you," I said smiling kindly at him. He was not to blame for speaking his mind. He was not aware that it angered me to be compared to Silvie. 'What is it they say we have in common?' I asked myself staring at the painting. We were so different. I sighed heavely and began walking toward the room filled with laughter.
    When I opened the door, the smell of lavander tea filled my lungs. The elder women that sat in the chairs and couches fixed their gazes on me. I waved my hand shyly, "Hello," it was all that it came to mind to say. How would I explain the bruises in my face?
    "Camila, darling!" I head the sweet voice of my grand mother calling from a cross the room. She set down her tea cup and made her way through the chairs to greet me. When she finally made it to the door where I was standing she said hugging me hard,"Aw, dear, it has been so long since the last time I saw you! " Her joyful expression suddenly changed when she saw my battered face. "My God! What happened to your beautiful face?!"  
    "Nada, estoy bien," I lied, "I got into a fight with a woman."
    "Good gracious!" she covered her mouth with her delicate hand.
    "I am alright, let's just not talk about it. I will heal in a few days," I stepped closer and hugged her tightly interrupting her words. I knew that my physical wounds would heal, but I wondered if my emotional ones would.
    Even with all of our differences and things she had done, she was still my grandmother.The one who had spoiled me and my brother when we were little. My father had told me countless times, that no matter what she had done, she was my family. I had ignored his words many times, but I realized, that everything was in the past and she cared about us dearly. "I missed you, grandma!" I said in a sweet voice, smiling that I was seeing her again. I stepped back, braking our embrace. I looked at her, she looked tired. "Why aren't you at your mansion with Uncle Louis, grandma?" I asked, concern tainting my voice. "Is everything alright?"
    "Oh, yes, dear," she assured me, "Your Aunt needed some help with Gabriel, naturally I could not say 'no' to her."
    I frowned. I could never understand why Aunt Silvie would always ask for my grandmother's assistance whenever she liked. Did she not realized that with each passing year her mother was getting older and she would like to spend her time doing something she desired?  My grandmother would never refuse anything to her only daughter. It had always been that way, but Aunt Silvie was a grown woman now who had enough money to hire a Nanny for her child. She even had the money to pay my father's debt. A thought came to my mind, but I quickly discarded it. She would never do something like that to her own brother, or could she?
    "Do you remember my friend, Lucielle?" my grandmother asked lacing her arm with mine and walking me toward the group of older women.
    "Yes, of course. Hello Lucielle, how do you do?" I waved with my free hand to Lucielle who nodded before taking a sip of her tea. Lucielle was a petite, a bit robust elder woman with short, red-ish hair; dark eyes and full pink lips. I had heard rumors that Lucielle was some sort of witch, they could never prove it. But, I knew their rumors were true. My grandmother had once told me of Lucielle's powers, she had said to me that one day she would be one as well. I had been shocked to think that my grandmother desired to be a 'white witch' as she called them.
    "Camila?" my grandmother's voice interrupted my thoughts.
    "Yes?" I answered glancing at her.
    "I was asking you if you remembered, Tere," she repeated her unheard question.
    "Of course!" I answered gleefully, stepping away from my grandmother's arm and into Tere's open, loving arms. "It has been so long," I whispered in her ear. Her scent had always been so sweet and warm. Tere had been like another grandmother to me in my childhood. Always kind and spoiling me and my brother with treats. Tere was also a petite woman, with light blonde hair, thick glasses and kind honey-coloured eyes. I stepped back from the embrace, remembering my sweet childhood, where I didn't had to worry about a thing. But, now it seemed like the weight of the words was on me.
    "Would you like to accompany us with some tea, dear?" Tere asked kindly, taking my hand in hers.
     "That would be lovely, but I need to get settled first," I said, hating to reject Tere's invitation. "Maybe next time?" I smiled.
     "Of course, dear, you can join us whenever you want," Tere smiled widely. She kissed me on the cheek, "Go on, young lady," she patted my hand.
     I kissed her in return. "I will see you lovely laddies in a while," I said bowing slightly before turning around and walk toward the door. On my way out, I kissed my grandmother tenderly on the cheek. I walked out the tea room and headed toward the main door. I thought it strange that my grandmother had not asked further what had happen, and quite honestly, I was glad she had not.
    I wanted to explore the great town of Buckingham on my own. Maybe I would find someone of my liking around town, or in the palace.


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    After receiving the help of Adair and Erryl with food, I felt a bit more reasured that my clan would survive this month. 'If it would only rain in Mull, the crops would grow to at least feed my people' I thought indignantly. I closed my hand into a fist, slaming it hard against the chess board, the chess pieces flew to the floor. My adversary in the game jumped slightly, startled. "My apologies, Roxanne," I said bending to pick up the fallen pieces.
     "What is troubling you, Lachlan?" said the petite woman, who had been my friend since my first appearance to court. Roxanne Gonzales was from Spanish decendence. Her mother had married an English businessman. She had fair skin, dark brown eyes with long lashes, pointy nose and pink, full lips. Her hair was naturally curly, each strand full of small curls. "I know that expression all too well," she added, noticing that I was taking longer than necessary to pick the chess pieces. When I picked the last piece and set it on the board I met her gaze and she knew what was troubling me. "Is because of her, isn't it?" she frowned, making her pretty face less friendly.
     "Yes, it is because of her," I admited. "The crops this season were few and my Clan is starving. I need that airgiod back, Roxanne. She took everything my Clan had, even the damned cattle!" my voice was full of resentment, I was angry at myself for believing her treacherous words of love.
     "I warned you about her," Roxanne said placing her hand on top of mine. "I told you she would betray you, but this time you did not listened to me," she raised a brow.
     "Do not scold me, I know I should have listened to you," I said sighing deeply.
      "You are so stubborn, Lachlan," she sighed, "If you need money, I can lend you some, your Clan does not have to suffer for your pride."
      Roxanne war right, if I left my pride aside my Clan would not suffer famine. "You are right," I answered simply. The look on her face told me that she expected me to keep denying it. "Would you help me in the mean time?" I asked, sounding more desperate than I wanted.
     She smiled, her brown eyes meeting my green ones, "Of course, dear!  You just had to ask," she laughed, "Was it that hard?"
    It was my turn to laugh, "No, it was not. Thank you, Roxanne," I caressed her hand.
    "I will send food and cattle to last you for a year," Roxanne said, sounding like the determined woman I knew. "You can stop worring now, and focus on finding that woman and make her pay."
    "Yes, I know," I said, my voice turning somber, "I heard she came back and her mother is with her in her mansion. Silvie believes that I'm still in Mull. That is why I asked Jamie Campbell to invite her to his wedding."
     "What for, Lachlan? Do not tell me you are still in love with her?" Roxanne frowned.
     "I am, but I asked him because then she will have no other choice than to comfront me. Then I will take her hostage until she returns my money," I explained in a rush, hoping that Roxanne would understand. She shook her head. "Roxanne, I want you to help me, she does not know of our friendship."
     "I know she does not know, I've been trying hard not to expose that," she answered then she realized what I had asked of her, "How excatly will I help you?"


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   I walked aimlessly through the palace corridors. It had been a year since my last visit. The persons I encountered mistaked me for my aunt, a fact that was starting to annoy me. 'Do I really look so much like her?' I asked myself stopping momentarily by a mirror. I shook my head, 'Camila, focus! keep in mind what you came for,' I told myself. Even with my battered face people still called me Silvie. A few curious asked me how I had gotten those bruises. I had been very unpolite and told them to mind their own business. I received a few bad looks and some women shook their heads. "If they only knew," I said out loud.
     "Knew what?" said a sweet voice from behind me. I turned around startled. The young woman standing in front of me seemed familiar to me, even though it was the first time I had seen her in my life. She was a bit taller than me, her hair curlier than mine, she had dark brown eyes like mine, her lips full and pink. She was truly beautiful. Her dress emerald colour, with intricate embroidery in white.
     "What is your name?" I asked abruptly, 'she could be my sister,' I said to myslef, amazed by the resemblace.
      "Roxanne," she answered kindly, "May I ask what happened to you?" she asked concerned.
     "I had a little problem with a man," I answered, amazed with my honesty with her.
     "Oh my, you should not be with him if he did that," she said shaking her head in disgust.
      "I am not. Although he wants to marry me," I said. Suddenly, I realized I had not introduced myself, "I'm Camila by the way."
     "Camila?" she asked, clearly confused. "Silvie, stop with your silly games," she uttered the name I was getting tired of hearing.
     "My name is not Silvie!" I raise my voice a little. I wanted to scream my frustration, but she did not knew, like everyone I encountered. "Silvie is my Aunt. My name is Camila Jimenez, not Silvie!"
     "My apologies, you look so much like her," she said. For her expression I realized she did not believed my words.
     "If you'll excuse me, I need to go," I said politely with a hint of annoyment in my voice. I began walking past her. When I was near her she stopped me.
      "I am sorry Camila, I allowed my eyes to play a trick on me. You do not have freckles, your nose, hair and voice are different than your Aunt," she said taking a closer look on me. "We started with the wrong foot. I'm Roxanne Gonzales." she said stretching her hand to mine.
     I took her hand and shook it like my father had tought me. A strong shake would let the other person know that I kept my word. "Nice to meet you, Roxanne," I thought for a moment her last name, it was Spanish. "Hablais Castellano? " I asked her, she raised a brow.
    "Si," she answered, her voice sweeter in Castellano than when she spoke English. "Though, I must say English is my native language."
    "Yes, I can notice," I said laughing slightly. "As you can see my English is not so great."
    "Now, I am sure you are not Silvie," she said smiling. "I just need to hear your voice."
    "Do you know her?" I asked curiously.
    "Not that much, we talk from time to time, she is older than me," she said shrugging. "It is hard to talk to her."
     "Is that so?"
     "Yes, since rumors of her wrong doings started she is suspicious of everyone."
    "What are those rumors?" I asked hoping that Roxanne would confirm my suspicions about Darach's comments.
    Roxanne hesitated, debating whether to tell me or not. "I do not know," she finally said. I could clearly see her uncomformity with the subject. I decided not to ask her further.
    The clock rang loudly announcing that it was nine o'clock. "I have to go," I said quickly. "I must meet my family for dinner,"I kissed her on both cheeks and began walking away quickly. I had lost track of time, I had been cruising all over town trying to find what I came looking for, but got distracted talking to Roxanne. I knew I would not find my saviour in one day and with my bruised face even less.

    When I arrived back to Aunt Silvie's mansion, dinner was being served. She looked from her plate and motioned me to take a sit. "I thought you decided to stay at the palace," she said chewing her food.
     "No, I just went to walk around," I answered flatly.
    "Well, you are late for dinner," she stated.
     "Oh, my trip? It was alright, just that the man that wants to marry me tried to make me his by force,"I said sarcastically. "Thank you for asking."
     Aunt Silvie dropped her fork and stared at me. She was speachless. "What did you said?"
    "You heard me," I said taking a bite of the food in my plate. My grandmother remained quiet. I would tell her what had happened in the ship with David later that night when she came to my room.
     "You received an invitation for a wedding," she changed the subject. "It is in a week, make sure to represent me well," she continued glancing momentarily at me.
     "Como gusteis, Tia," I answered annoyed. "Are you avoiding someone at that wedding?" I asked bluntly.
     Aunt Silvie almost choked on the piece of bread she was swallowing. She quickly drak from her wine. "How dare you imply something like that?!" she nearly snarled.
     "I am only speaking what I heard in the palace today," I shrugged. She frowned at me. "I will go to bed, now. Good night," I said leaving my napkin in the table. I raised from my chair and walked out the door. I would assist that wedding in her place, but she had to know that I knew something and she would not get away from it. Whatever it was she was hiding I would likely find out in that wedding. Roxanne knew something as well, and I would make sure to find out what it was.