Some People Were In The Dark Chapter 25

Nathanial was rooted in the spot he stood. He just stared at his father not wanting to believe what he had just learned.

Wasn't he married to his mother?

How come this girl was calling his dad, father as well? What was really the truth here?

Mr.Stuart sensing his sons many questions directed a questioning look at the youth that stood behind his son. Stephen knew that the lad behind his son was not one of his own, so he was probably a relative from the mother's side of the family or a friend perhaps.

Nathanial rembering his maternal cousin behind him, softly spoke to his father as if to clarify their relationship.

"That is my cousin, Henry Reyes."

"Ah, very good then. I suppose your mother must have been hiding our relationships true form from you kids. Although I think she should of told you a few years ago...

Anyway, your mother and I never got married.

I happened to get her pregnant when she was maid working for my friend. As a good gentlemen, I bought her a house and supplied her with money to raise you and the rest of your siblings. Only three of your other siblings are my children. Francine and Jeremy aren't."

Mr.Stuart explained abit embreassed that his mistress hadn't told their oldest son that they weren't married.

Miriam looked at her father and itmedaitely slapped herself in the head, before saying to her father, "Daddy, exactly how many siblings do I have to buy birthday gifts for? Please tell me! How many siblings have you got hidden in every nook and cranny of this country, ah no wait. You go aboard sometimes, I should say this world!"

Miriam pulled at the skin on her face, making herself look rather comical and trying to ease the situation abit.

"Ah, I forgot, Natty, whens your birthday?" Miriam askes walking around in a little circle around her newly discovered big brother.

This is the scene the rest of the servants saw when they came inside. It was also at this moment that footsteps could be heard loudly from outside and a pale and thin woman with dark circles around her eyes came inside and almost fainted when she saw Stephen standing just inside the entréeway of their little abode.

"Mr. Stuart what a surprise we weren't expecting you... ahahha...Nathanial don't be rude, take our guests into the drawing room.

Why don't you have Henry play somd music for everyone?" Said the pallid looking woman.

Looking at this lady, she didnt look anything like the boy named Nathanial.

Walking over and talking Bannons hand in hers, Miriam waltzed up to the cousin of her brother and shyly asked a question.

"Do you know any works of Paganini, Liszt or Handel? Your violin is very beautiful. My name is Miriam Mavis Matilda Stuart, its pleasure to meet you. This is Bannon, my brother."

Surprised at how articulate the little girl in front of him was, he decided to introduce himself as well.

"A pleasure to meet you too. My name is Henry Radford Reyes, I am Nathaniels cousin son of his uncle Francis Anton Reyes on his mother's side."

"Reyes, that's Spanish for king right? What a wonderful last name." Replied Miriam in a complimentary manner.

Footsteps could be heard coming down a beautiful dark oak staircase with simple carved floral patterns decorating the railings.

Two girls about the age of seven, and one that looked to be twelve, followed by a little boy around the age of six, who was being held in the arms of a girl around the age of 16 or 17.

"Father!" The two similar looking little girls cried as they flung themselves into Stephens arms for a big grand hug.

Eyebrow twitching, he reprimanded them.

"Ah how old are you now, Evergreen and Ophelia. Please compose yourselves."

The two young girls pouted at the same time and reluctantly let their father go.

The eldest girl itmediatly noticed something was wrong with the atmosphere and went to her younger brother Nathaniel.

"Whats wrong Nat?" A ash blond teenage girl asked Nathaniel as she set down the young boy in her arms, who practically scampered off to meet Barron who looked his age

Nathanial turned his head slightly towards his eldest sister Francine and let out a long, disappointed sigh.

Finally after a breif moment of silence, he spoke.

"Mother has not been entirely truthful with us about some things, and I fear this may badly impact your marriage prospects. You'll find out soon enough. Just try to remain calm, okay?"

Hearing her brother turn serious all of a sudden while bringing up her future marriage in conversation, Francine blanched white in fear. After trying her best to steady her breathing again, she finally managed too before slowly nodding her head abit to show that she understood.

The sickly looking woman itmediatly intruscted the servants of the Stuart's where to put their belongings upon their entrance into thd house, while calling for their maid.

"Kitty! Go prepare some tea and snacks for our guests!" The pale woman screeched into a darkened hallway where a a girl about the age of 15 came out of the shadows and hurriedly headed off to where Miriam assumed the kitchen was in the house.

Miriam was not the least bit interested in the children. Bannon on the other hand itmediatly went up to the boy his age and introduced himself.

Fiona was busy with the flirty maid and Beatrice with bringing in all the belongings of the travelers.

The twelve year old promptly acted as a hostess and led the Stuarts into the main drawing room.

Miriams eyes landed on what looked to be a harpsichord and her eyes practically sparkled with the brightness of a million suns.

She slowly made her way over to the harpsicord, completely ignoring the other children and began to inspect it by hand.

Ah! This one looked like it was made in the late 18th century. "Ah an Octovino!"

Before anyone could stop her, she moved her hands to the keys and began to play the first piece that came to mind, 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.'

"Up above the sky so high, like a diamond in the sky, twinkle twinkle little star~" She even sang a little bit of the song.

After testing the harpsichord, Miriam felt much better and calmed down.

Turning around, she saw a few of the children looking at her weirdly.

"What? Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is easy, of course I can play it..."

The children didn't say anything and just stared at her some more.

Seeing her father take off his hat and coat, Miriam trotted over to him.

Taking his hand in her little one, she began to sway it gentlely and massage it.

"Are you tired dad? Let me rub your hands and make them feel better."

What a touching scene! Is what most people would think.

But the children were confused why this girl called their father dad.

Turning her head to look at the others, then gazing at her father with a grimace appearing on her porcelain colored face.

Tur her attention back to the gaggle of children, Miriam plastered a cute but clumsy looking smile on her face.

"Ah, I'm your little sister Miriam, nice to meet you. That's Bannon my big brother." Miriam said as she finally waltzed up to the two twin little girls.

Slightly waving her hand, she made sure Samantha hid away in a her house of a bag.

They certianly didnt need to terrify these poor little girls, Miriam thought to herself.

Evergreen and Ophelia were certainly her sisters so Miriam thought it was safest to go talk to them. She didnt want to create a misunderstanding after all.

Not sure what to make of Miriam, the two twin sisters lookes at each other rather confused at what Miriam had just said to them.

They had a little sister? Why didn't they know this? They instantly looked at Francine the oldest out of the lot before seeing her not respond to their queryful gazes.

Evergreen the more courageous of the two, leaned into closer to look at Miriam and noticed she had large, pretty blue eyes and pale skin, pretty golden hair that flowed down just past her shoulders, and very short.

"Why are you so short? How old are you? Six?" Evergreen asked Miriam, bewilderment clearly seen across her face.

Blushing a little, Miriam replied, "I just turned four recently, and I don't know why I'm so short either, maybe I don't eat enough meat? I tend to like vegetables more."

Surprise appeared on the twins faces! Four?!Indeed she was short for her age! She seemed very intelligent for her age. This made Evergreen ever the more curious about her.

Mr.Stuart was busy talking to the sickly looling woman and couldn't be bothered by who Miriam and Bannon were playing with.