Going down the stairs, my father was receiving the guests – Meet the Windsor Miller family

Is he Henry?

Henry, a young man of fourteen, greatly resembled his younger brother, Gilbert. They both shared those green eyes with a shine that was impossible to ignore and hair that, under the light, seemed to reflect an almost unreal dark blue. I wondered if he would really agree to the compromise.

During dinner, the bustle surrounded me like a distant murmur. I couldn't taste a single bite. It was overwhelming to think that I was meeting the family that would, one day, also be mine. Among the rumors at the table I heard my name. Had they spoken to me?

A light touch on my leg brought me back to reality. Grace, my sister, looked at me knowingly.

- What? - I whispered, surprised.

- Of course we are excited to attend the dance. We want to see the beautiful dresses that the ladies will wear - Grace responded with an enthusiasm that I did not feel. They were talking about the Victory Ball, the most anticipated event of the year.

- Mad, are you feeling okay? You've hardly eaten - my father asked, with that tone that mixed concern and discretion.

- Everything is fine, dad. I think I'm already satisfied - In reality, the air seemed dense, suffocating to me. I wanted to get out of there. I wondered if only he had noticed my discomfort…or if everyone had.

When we arrived at the Evergreen–Bailey mansion, I was breathless. It seemed like a kingdom of its own: towering columns and stained glass windows that caught the light. The sound of footsteps descending the stairs caught my attention. I looked up and saw her.

Madelyne.

She was barely twelve years old, but her gaze had a strength that I had not expected, her deep blue eyes seemed to contain a calm sea, and her brown skin shone under the light of the chandeliers, the blue dress she was wearing highlighted every nuance of her presence.

In that moment I knew that that first vision would remain engraved in my memory.

During the entire dinner I couldn't take my eyes off her, she was immersed in her thoughts and just playing with the food.

- My dear friend Charles and his family have come so that Madelyne and Henry can live together, and be able to make the engagement official – Madelyne's father said.

- Thank you Viktor, we haven't seen each other in a while, I had never visited your country house, which is actually a large mansion - My father answered - It seems to be a quite exquisite place.

- For that reason we think it is a good place to raise our daughters.

- However, after the engagement we will return to court events, such as the Victory Ball – added Emma, ​​Madelyne's mother.

- I bet the girls are excited to attend the dance - my mom said - Isn't that right, Madelyne?

After a pause Madelyne surprisingly said - What?

- Of course we are excited to attend the dance. We want to see the beautiful dresses that the ladies will wear - she responded.

- Mad, are you feeling okay? You've barely eaten- Viktor asked.

- Everything is fine, dad. I think I'm already satisfied. Can you allow me to go to the garden? Maybe that way my appetite will improve - she added a little more cheerfully.

- It's okay Mad, in fact, Henry could go with you - Hearing that I couldn't help but get excited, I would have the opportunity to get to know her more.

- Come on Mad? – I asked, giving him a smile. But I only got a look of disdain from her, would she have minded if I called her Mad?

We continued walking outside, there was a large glass pavilion, surrounded by flower boxes where red rose bushes and wonderful water fountains were planted.

- This is it - Mad said sharply.

- It really is a nice place - I answered in amazement, while she walked towards one of the fountains to start walking on the edge.

- Yes.

- Do you like coming here a lot?

- Yes.

- Well... and what else do you like to do? – I hoped to break the monotony of the conversation.

- I'll tell you something Henry, I don't want to marry you, I'm not interested in sympathizing with you either - she said coldly but clearly, she continued ignoring me as I walked around the fountain.

- Well, I haven't proposed to you yet - I was trying not to be rude to her, but at the same time direct.

- Good.

- At least we could try to be friends and then we will decide.

- The most coherent thing you just said.

- What? Be friends? – I asked intrigued.

- No! About deciding on our future, I... I want to be like my dad... a great pilot-

- And after that?

- I still don't know, I haven't figured out the outcome of my story.

- I think you would be better off marrying me and that's it - I wanted to bother her a little as a mockery.

- How arrogant! How dare you? – She had gotten quite angry.

Suddenly she started to walk towards me, but the heel of her shoe suddenly broke and he lost her balance, falling from the fountain, hitting her head hard.

- Madelyne! – I screamed desperately, my heart began to beat strongly because of my nerves, she had been completely unconscious.

 To be continued...

This novel is also being published in the spanish language, through this same platform called Entre el Cielo, la Tierra y el Mar, I invite you to help me as a reader in the same way, thank you very much and we will see you in the next episode.

Att. BF Crunch <3