1

1757

Three young women left ship after it docked in Albany, New York; two of them were dressed as proper English ladies and sisters, the third wore a white porcelain mask with a white veil attached and a green dress. An older woman flanked by two young men approached the three women; she embraced the two sisters as she said in greeting: "Welcome Cora and Alice; I am so glad to see you!"

"Aunt Wilhelmina;" choruses Cora and Alice Munro with small smiles on their faces.

Lady Wilhelmina Corwin was the younger half-sister of Colonel Edmund Munro; she had married a lesser noble but was well happy in her status. She brought two strong sons, Edward and William, into the world and they were her joy.

Lady Corwin loved her older half-brother dearly and viewed her two nieces as her own daughters. Yet when her gaze fell upon the third girl; Lady Corwin assessed the masked girl in silent judgment as she said curtly: "Gwenhwyfar Moonshard!"

"Lady Corwin;" said Gwen with a bow of her head and a quick curtsy.

Gwenhwyfar Moonshard was the ward of Colonel Munro; she was the constant companion to Alice and Cora, practically grew up with them and was viewed as sister and daughter. But to the girls' Aunt; Gwen was outlandish, an orphan of unknown origin and she didn't fit in at all with proper society.

Yet the Munro sisters love her dearly and were protective of their Gwen. She had unique abilities that were of great use and it was easy for many to find peace in her company.

Soon the company of six was taken by carriage to the Corwin manor; Cora, Alice and Gwen were allowed to share a bed chamber with a fireplace. But before Gwen could join the sisters; she was taken to a parlor where Lady Corwin and her sons soon joined her.

With her sons flanking the door; Wilhelmina Corwin pointed to the center of the room with a silent command that Gwenhwyfar should stand there and Gwen obeyed. Her sons took seats in armchairs as the Corwin matriarch circled the young woman and sized her up; the girl was petite in height, Edward or William could tower over her, she had a natural voluptuous hourglass figure that was hidden by the dress yet the older woman and her sons can see.

Though the mask and veil hid the rest, and added an air of mystery; Lady Corwin didn't care as she had a duty. She took a seat on the settee between her sons' seats facing the girl who made no sound nor moved from where she stood which pleased the older woman slightly.

"While you are here with my nieces and until you accompany them to see their Father; you will be put to some use," said Lady Corwin straight to the point as she made sure her authority was understood. "While my nieces spend time with their peers; you will be working and doing any chores I see fit for you!"

"Understood, Lady Corwin;" said Gwen with a nod.

"I don't know who your parents were nor do I understand why my brother took you in;" said Lady Corwin with a shake of her head. "But Edmund did give you a good life out of charity and provided you with the same education as his daughters; but you are not equal to Cora and Alice.

They will marry husbands of equal standing who will provide them comfort and give them many children," she continued matter of fact. "You might get lucky with a husband who might overlook your flaws and provide healthy children or you might join a convent to be a nun or work as a governess as you are well educated!"

"Or I might end up marrying a red man, live with his people and bear him children;" said Gwenhwyfar with slight sarcasm in her voice and Edward Corwin said with a smirk: "Such a marriage will never be recognized by God and man, and any children of such union would be known as mongrels!"

"The Indians are human like us, the only difference is that our skin color is different;" said Gwen matter of fact.

"Hog-wash and nonsense;" said William Corwin with a snort, "you know nothing, girl!"

Gwen was dismissed with a wave of Lady Corwin's hand; she gave a sigh as she left the parlor and found Alice waiting, the younger Munro took her friend's hand and led her upstairs. The girls' luggage had arrived from the harbor and brought to the shared bed chamber; Alice and Gwen found Cora going through the trunks, and arranging clothes.

Once inside and the door closed; Gwen removed her mask and veil with a sigh of relief as she tossed the item on a table, the Munro sisters knew their friend hated the mask and veil but it was to protect her. Alice coaxed Gwen to sit before a vanity mirror as she grabbed a comb and brush.

In the mirror staring back at Gwen was an extraordinary beautiful woman of eighteen with flowing wavy dark red hair like a garnet with gold tints. She had skin that was white as moonlight and upon her brow was a gold sun symbol surrounded by gold flames.

Her fingernails and toe nails were hooked like tiny delicate talons and the rest of her body had tendrils of gold flames, decorating her arms and legs. Upon her back at the top center was a pair of gold fiery wings that was the origins of her markings and hidden by the clothes.

Her lips were full and red like a red rose but her eyes revealed that she was indeed different; she had sapphire blue eyes like the night sky and the iris were gold like the Sun. She was ethereal; Gwen had been mistaken for an angel numerous times, she was lusted after and attack out of jealousy which was why she wears a mask and veil.

Gwenhwyfar Moonshard was in fact a Phoenix of Nature; a celestial being of fire with the abilities and being the personification of nature in human form. Gwen can take the form of a Phoenix or shape-shift into any animal if need and can use her other abilities to help or protect.

Only Alice, Cora and their Father knew the truth of Gwen, and neither of them fear her because she was imprinted on the Munro family. The sisters and their Father were the only family Gwen knew, and Phoenixes were loyal to their imprinted families until they find a mate or move on when the time comes.

"What did Aunt Wilhelmina want?" Alice asked as she began combing Gwen's hair and Gwen answered with a roll of her eyes: "To remind me of my station in life and that I will be working while you socialize until we go to meet your Father!"

"You know Papa treats you like a daughter and doesn't mind you calling him Papa;" said Alice as she began counting the combing strokes.

Cora added as she continued sorting: "Papa practically adopted you, Gwen, you're family!"

"Tell that to your Lady Aunt and she'll sing her responses on how wrong you are;" said Gwen as the sisters chuckled.