Where Is Eloise?(2)

Esmeralda stirred upon her bed.Her eyes lost in the once familiar surrounding she had left sometime ago.The veil of slumber had stolen pieces of her memories,leaving her mind in utter blankness.

Lady Georgina roamed the grounds of the estate, shouting irately at the maids.The queasy look on her face betrayed her facade of bravery,as a turmoil gripped harshly at her heart.

Unexpectedly,she had been worried sick since she rose from bed in the morning and the maids avoided her like the plague.Irritating her would spell their doom and it wouldn't be a problem for her to dismiss thousands of people from their jobs due to her temper.

"Get to work quickly!" The head maid had commanded the maids to start their jobs three hours earlier than their usual routine.As soon as Esmeralda left the estate,Lady Georgina's nerves had been acting up causing her to yell at her neighbors.

"Daughter!" Sir Dynevor exclaimed as he entered Esmeralda's chamber,a pitcher of cool water in his hands.He looked anxiously at the frail figure that sat stiffly on the bed.

The memory of the coachman returning home with his daughter's unconscious body had caused him a great heart attack.He had leashed his anger on the coachman,who began trembling after seeing his master's anger for the first time in centuries.

"She passed out in the forest." He said,tears welling up in his eyes as the henchman whipped him from behind.

"Pray tell me the least,what did you do to Esmeralda when she was under your watch?" His voice boomed across the grounds of the estate.

"I fear that if I were to say Esmeralda went in search of the miss and passed out in the forest due to fear, I might be accused of slander. Therefore, you have my permission to punish me."

He had not been pleased by his reply and he sought to punish him through the hardest way possible to fetch the answer from him,but Lady Georgina had stopped him.

"Dynevor, Esmeralda shall die if you spend your time on the latter.Please!" She fell to her knees, clasping her hands. Hurriedly, they had rushed in for the physicians to exert their power,but their attempts proved futile.

"Daughter!" He uttered,yet again.The tears he had long fought to contain now flow down his face."My precious jewel!"

He rushed to her bedside,gathering her in his arms.

Lady Georgina scuttled to the room after being informed by her maid.

"Daughter!" She cried out,her legs threatening to give way beneath her.

"Why am I here father?Where is Eloise?" She inquired.

"You should focus on recovering Esmeralda."He said,gently tucking the coverlet around her."We shall speak when you are well."

He made his way to the door, shooting a quick glance at his wife before making his exit.

"Mother,if you do not inform me about Eloise's whereabouts..I shall not consent to the wedding." Her tone halted Lady Georgina in her tracks.

"You shall not do that!"

"It is my wedding and I shall make the decisions."

Lady Georgina turned to face her daughter, controlling the raging temper that was fighting to burst out."The consequences of such an action would be dire.Lady Beatrice has invested a lot in you already.You shall appear at the altar whatever may come.I shall have my men search far and wide for young Eloise.Do your part and be there!"

She examined her mother's face and noticed the stressed glint in her eyes.She knew Lady Georgina would fulfill every promise if it meant she had to get wed to the duke.

"Very well,mother!" She replied,her demeanor softened."I shall consent to the wedding and you shall find me Eloise what come may!"

Lady Georgina released a shaky breath.She had stopped breathing when her daughter made her sudden announcement.

Just then,a maid let herself in through the ajar doors,bearing a sealed letter in hands."I am sorry for the intrusion Lady Georgina,but a message has arrived from the royal palace for you!"

Her heart skipped a beat.What did she have to do with the palace?

Her hand tore open the envelope, scanning the information it contained as a smile crept on her face."It's a letter from the palace!!" She exclaimed.

"We know mother!"Esmeralda yelled."What does it say?"

"The Duke of Britannia,to whom you are betrothed is none other than the nephew of the great queen Esther.It is the queen's decree that the wedding be held in the palace walls."

Her voice echoed,laced with excitement.