Love Grows

Dear Diary,

My name is Elizabeth Parker. I was born in 1860. I am in my early twenties. I am firm about what I believe. I’m very emotional. Always believe in right and wrong as well in justice. I don’t believe marriage without love. I wouldn’t marry anyone for money like my brother Edward. I’m intelligent and always reading and spend most of the days revive about romantic novels. I lived in a small cottage with my parents. My father is Joseph Parker. He is so kind and wise. He has so many good qualities such as compassion, patience, and love. He is my favorite person. My mother is Catherine Quimby Parker. She can be dramatic sometime but is very understanding and supportive. It’s just three of us since Edward got married to Lady Catherine Quigley of Damerly. Her father is Lord Matthew Quigley of Damerly. Catherine got her inheritance from her father when he passed few years ago. She gets 10,000 pounds a year. Edward inherits 5,000 pounds a year from the war. He married her for her inheritance and her beauty. People said she is beautiful, and her face is breathtaking. I don’t truly believe that. She is beautiful but she judges lower class people. She married my brother because he has a good reputation from the war. He was a hero to many people. There was a 10-year difference between them, Catherine is the same age as me. They lived in a house in Damerly where Lady Catherine inherits from her father. They always go to Bath at least twice a year for a month or so. They love to socialize such as going to the opera or a musical play. They love to mingle and waiting until someone important invites them. They seem to love the lifestyle. I don’t see them very often.

I just dreamed about Willie. He is a young boy who used to meet me at the lake near my house. He has the bluest eyes like the sea and dark black hair like a coal. He has the most adorable dimples. It is one of his charms. We grew up together. We were friends at the beginning. But after few years, we notice each other like a mature adult not a child like we used to. We fell in love. We were more than a friend. We love each other. But he got summoned to go to the war. He said we would see each other. We would get marry when he gets back. I never knew his last name or about his family. He doesn’t talk about his family.

It’s been few years passed; my father received a telegram from the chief general. He works for the chief general as a secretary. He does the paper works. The telegram seems urgent, it’s stated they couldn’t find Willie. They couldn’t send a group to search for him because of financial reasons. So, they stated that he is dead. I thought he left and forgot about me. I was heartbroken. It’s like someone stabbed into my heart. My world just collapsed. I couldn’t live without him. Sometimes I cried so much, and I couldn’t breathe. My heart aches every time I think about him. He is my everything. I think about him every day. I loved him. I wouldn’t love anyone like him. He is my first love. There is no one like him. I miss his sweet words and his kisses. I miss his face and his blue eyes. I can get lost in those blue eyes. We were supposed to get married when he gets back. But he is dead. I won’t love anyone like I loved him. He will always be in my heart forever. I loved him.

Elizabeth

Chapter One “The Ball”

A morning passed; the sun is shining bright. It is perfect day for a walk. I decide to go for a walk. When I walk, I enter my own world. I imagine happiness in my own world when I don’t have much going on in my life. It’s was an escape for me. A world where I can decide the ending. I can decide who I talked to or what I wears. I never pay attention where I was going. I was daydreaming. As I was walking, I look up at last minute. I accidentally bumped to a stranger. He is a handsome young man. He has a captain uniform on. I said, “Forgive me, I wasn’t pay attention. I was daydreaming. I didn’t see you. Forgive me.” He said, “It is all right. It is all right to be daydreaming. Even I do sometimes.” I smiled. I gasped and said, “Forgive me, I forgot my manners. My name is Elizabeth Parker.” He smiled and said, “You are quite a lady. My name is William Wellington.” The name sound so familiar as I look closer to his face. He has bright blue eyes and dark black hair like ebony. His eyes are filled with curiosity and kindness. They reminded me of someone. But it is impossible. Willie is gone. I began to shake and said, “Forgive me, I must go.” Thousands of thought began to appear in my mind. My heart aches as I think. I walked away. I know it was wrong of me to walk away from a stranger but something about him that is making me nervous. Something about him that makes me wonders. What if?

As I walked away, I begin to have thoughts about him. As time goes, my heart wasn’t aching. Thinking about him calms me for some reason. A smile slowly lifted across my face. I can picture his blue eyes. They are filled with curiosity. I walked back home. My mother informed me that my father has some news. My father is sitting on his favorite thinking chair. He said, “My good friend Charles William and his nephew Captain William Wellington is coming. They are staying at Edward’s house. Edward is arranging a ball at his house this Saturday. We are invited.” My mother love balls. All she thinks about is ball gowns and finding suitors for me. She said, “Lizzie can dress up for the ball. I can picture Lizzie meeting young handsome gentlemen. Then there will be a wedding…” I interrupted her, “Mother, I haven’t met them yet. And there will be no wedding.” She winked and said, “There will be.”

Few days passed; we all are getting ready for the ball. My mother dressed herself with the best ball gown she ever owned. She has the prettiest jewelries on. I put on my favorite ball gown, which is red chiffon with white satin bow at my waist. I had simple pearls necklace on. We got in our carriage and headed to Edward’s. As we pulled in, Edward’s house is so huge and there are many windows in the front. The land is not big but bigger than ours. There is a garden with many kinds of plants and flowers. You can see that they are well taken care of. There was a footman waiting outside as we arrived. He held my hand as I got out of the carriage. As I walked in, I can see the marble floor and many portraits of Lady Catherine with Edward on the wall. There is a huge luxurious crystal chandeliers hanging in the ceiling above us. There are many butlers walking around. They served us snacks and champagne. Edward’s butler announced us. I spotted my best friend Heather Bennett. She has long red hair and freckles. She is so brave. She is very daring but kind. She had a crush on my brother when she was younger. But he married Catherine and she was heartbroken. I didn’t think she would get married. We took a stroll around the house until my mother grabbed me. I excused myself.

My mother said, “Lizzie, come. I want you to meet someone. I followed her. I look at the gentleman. It is the same gentleman I bumped into other day. My mother said, “William, this is my daughter Elizabeth. Elizabeth, this is William. He is Charles’s nephew.” He said, “Nice to see you again.” My mother looks at me and said, “What does he mean? You already met him? Why didn’t you tell me?” I start to blush. I whisper to my mother, “I did. I accident bumped him in few days ago when I took my daily walk.” My mother yelled, “Few days ago! Why didn’t you do something about it? Father could’ve invited him to dine with us.” My mother doesn’t think sometime but from looking at William’s expression, he seems doesn’t mind. He is well mannered and respectful. William said, “Yes, we bumped into each other in other day. But then, she left.” My mother shouted, “Elizabeth! That’s not how we treat a gentleman!” I blushed and felt embarrassed. My moment was almost ruined until my father dragged my mother to talk to Edward. As my father escort my mother out, he winked at me. I felt relieved. But at the same time, William is still standing there. He was smiling and going to laugh. I said, “I’m so sorry. My mother can be….” He interrupted me, “I know, my mother can be the same…” I said, “I’m sorry. What does your father do?” He said, “He own a family bank that his father passed to him. So, I’m next in line to get his inheritance.” I told him about my parents. We talked for a while. My father called me. I bowed and excused myself.

Our carriage came, the footman helps me to get in the carriage. I was thinking about William. How much he reminds me of Willie. No, it’s can’t be. Willie is dead. Rest of the night was a blur. Next thing I remember is my mother saying goodnight to me. I dream about Willie. How much I miss him so. I wish he were alive. How wonderful if he was alive. We would be married and have children. But it’s a dream that I will never have in the reality. Morning passed, I got dressed. Went downstairs, my parents are in the dining room. My father handed me a telegram. I look at the telegram. It is addressed from William. I was shocked. I wasn’t expecting a telegram from him. But I opened the telegram. It said….

Dear Elizabeth,

I enjoyed my time with you at the ball yesterday. I want to get to know you more while I’m in town. I saw there is a lake nearby by your house. What do you say by meeting me at the lake by three o’clock today? Will you come? I will wait there. If you don’t come by four o’clock, I will know the answer. I hope you can come.

Your friend, William

I said, “It is from William. He wants to meet me at the lake.” My mother overjoyed. She is planning a wedding already. She said, “I can hear the wedding bells already, I can’t wait.” I said, “He may not be the one. Give it time, Mother.” My father smiled. He said, “Lizzie, if he is rich or poor, as long he loves my Lizzie. I will allow the marriage.” I kissed my father’s forehead and thanked him. I rushed to my room to get ready. I handed out my diary. I start writing….

Dear Diary,

So many things had happened ever since when I last wrote. I met William at Edward’s ball. I just got a telegram from William; he invites me to meet him at the lake today. He said he want to know me more. Wonder what he wants to know. I’m so curious about him. He looks interesting to learn about. My mother thinks we are getting married. I don’t know much about him. I shall go now to meet him now. I still miss Willie. It’s been few years since I saw him last. I wish he were still alive. We even talked about getting married and have a family, but he is gone now.

Elizabeth