Intro To My Novel (5) “It is adequately large,” she had thought, however now, she considered it superior to adequate, it was comfortable, homey in a peculiar sort of way. She was not prepared to take leave so soon, surely her mother and father would do nothing so drastic so soon. The family had soon departed from the breakfast table and Sarah had decided to sew the hem of her dress that had been recently ripped. She sat pondering whether or not it would be intrusive for her to visit Miss Dae after her lessons with Robert Brendan, until her mother burst through the door in a joyful state. “The Brendans are coming for dinner tonight my dear!” “That is splendid,” Sarah smiled, and her mother had run away before she had a chance to ask for an explanation of the sudden news. The Brenans….Mr. Robert Brendan she had seen at the ball, yet not Mr. Edward Brendan. Were they similar in appearance, in manner, in amiability? Her mind soon transitioned to her former thought of the possible visitation of Miss Dae, whose lesson would end later in the afternoon. She did seem to like me…I certainly hope she does! For after all, we did talk for such a very long amount of time at the ball. These thoughts were soon shifted to the sorrowful subject of Mr. Robert Brendan. Miss Dae certainly seemed to fancy him as arrogant and proud….yet perhaps he was none so bad as she had described him, though he seemed to be in terribly bad humors at the ball! Certainly she had misjudged him, for it was kind of him to give her singing lessons with no charge! Perhaps he was doing it for his own gain, for the Dae family was widely known throughout several countries in Europe. Sarah’s mind was made up; she would pay Celina Dae a visit later in the afternoon. The day was as warm as the sun was unyielding, and Sarah entered the front room to find her two sisters, Lydia and Marianne giggling ecstatically. “What on earth had brought on the laughter now?” she asked in an exasperated tone, for they were always laughing. “This man from the militia bought Lydia a handkerchief, how very kind of him! What a terrible flirt you are Lydia!” Marianne indicted her mercilessly. Lydia blushed and then burst into hysterical tears. “It’s all highly amusing to me, for, whatever could have possessed him to do such a thing?” Lydia said with an attempt to hide her arrogance. “Perhaps to you it is all very romantic, but I would take this very lightly, for I find that often, men in militia do not hold relationships as well as they should,” said Sarah icily. “Oh dear me Sarah! Now do not say Weatherby will be like him, for really you must be over it by now!” stated Lydia bluntly, “I do think your former lover was one of a kind, for I have never come into acquaintance with another man who seemed at all like him.” Sarah sighed and walked out of the room with a tear in her eye. It was summertime and Sarah was fifteen years of age (She was now nineteen) when her heart had been agonizingly and suddenly broken by a young man of 19 years. Sarah had been forced into prudence into youth, was sweet and mostly sensible, and met a young soldier through her aunt, who captured her heart instantly. He seemingly returned the favor, and two months later, they were engaged to be married, with the good word of her father, and five thousand pounds to be inherited. Perhaps not as rich as some, but not at all an objectionable sum, and Sarah was the happiest of ladies for the days in which she was engaged. Three days later however, her lover went missing, the word was he had left with the militia. Why would he not tell us he was leaving? Two months later she had received word from her uncle he had married a woman of greater fortune. “I shall never dare to enter into an engagement so quickly again,” she told herself sternly, “What a fool I was!” The days after the initial heartbreak went by slowly, as Sarah grew paler and thinner each day, until Lydia had told her with upright frankness, “You look awful!” Since then she had gained a bit of weight, yet was still reasonable thin, but no fresh colors returned to her face, she often appeared haggard. She had dark brown hair and green eyes, dressed plainly, and had a slight want of elegance, but was completely civil and genuine in manner. Time went passed as Sarah read, sewed, and rested, and it was now three o’ clock. “Mother, I am leaving into town.” “What for, Sarah?” “….To pay a visit to Miss Dae.” “Miss Dae….? Oh yes, certainly, her. Do not be late for dinner, if you recall the Brendans are coming. I had invited them to dine with us tonight.” “I will only be gone but a couple hours, mother.” “See that you are.” Sarah was soon out the front door promptly, and walked through town quite quickly, at fellow shop owners who had come to her acquaintance. Before she had arrived at Mrs. Broadson’s estate, Sarah hastened to think of an excuse she could give for her coming so soon, but struggled in vain, for she could think of no other plausible explanation than the fact that she found her sisters and brothers quite tiring, and Miss Dae quite affable. The large Broadson estate was soon in view, and Sarah hastened toward the front door with great enthusiasm, before nearly colliding with a boy who went by the name of Thomas. “My! Excuse me.” “Sorry,” blurted the nervous boy quickly beginning to hasten away. “Thomas! Is Miss Dae in the house?” “I…er….yes….oh…yes, I do believe so. Goodbye!” and he ran off before Sarah had the chance to comment on how very pale his face was! Whatever on earth was wrong with the poor child? Sarah knocked on the door and was greeted by the maid. “A Miss Warrington Ma’am,” said the young woman turning to Miss Dae, and Sarah entered giving a polite bow to Celina before walking toward her. “Oh, hello Sarah! Your family is in good health, I hope?” “Yes, they are very well. I thought perhaps I would pay you a visit….for perhaps you are often lonely. But if I am in the way at all I certainly cannot intrude upon your hospitality.” “Not at all Miss Warrington, it is very true I am lonely, for there are very few to occupy by company aside from Thomas and Mrs. Broadson.” “Yes…Thomas. I nearly ran into the poor boy only a minute ago! He seemed to have been bewitched.” “I have not seen him within these last few hours.” “I see…pray tell me of how your lesson with the infamous Mr. Brendan went?” “It was maddening enough; indeed I can see that all his object is is to bother me in the utmost!” “What had he done?” “He has done so many things,” she sighed, planting herself into a chair immediately, “You may sit down, so I….oh no I have a better idea. Do you care for walks?” “I love walks.” “Perhaps I would like a breath of fresh air! Come, perhaps you may survive my lamentations outdoors more, so you may better run away,” she smiled to Sarah and sighed. Once outdoors Celina immediately spoke, “Mr. Robert Brendan is the sort of man who people treat with forced respect, for he is rich. However he is never genuinely liked, for the exteriority is the only thing people may admire him for.” “My, my dear friend, you are much too severe on him! For what wrong has he done you?” “He has spoken of me with great injustice, as you know, yet I may have forgotten such disgraceful comments he has made of me if he had not done so much more at the lesson!” She paused giving a glance at Sarah, wishing to see what she was thinking, and continued. “Once he arrived I bid him sit down and thanked him (coldly, I will admit) for his kind services. He made no commented back to me, but seemed to just stare, and nod slightly. We then began reviewing notes, which I certainly knew plenty about, and he acted like he was teaching a child. He then played a song on the pianoforte that he instructed me to sing to, I did so. It was then, I tell you, he looked at me as if I had sung like a dying cat! I then told him he should have well expected I should sing like a toad, and then I heard him say softly, oh so softly, ‘A toad perhaps, yet not a hyena!’ I was quite embarrassed at first, I knew not what to say, yet this embarrassment soon turned to bitterness in a matter of seconds. He then told me I should practice a certain song on the piano, singing it as well, and I should try to keep my voice in the range of the piano.” “He is kind to give you lessons, my good Miss Dae, remember. Yet, was that all?” “That was all; I tell you he is no great genius.” “He is coming to my very own domicile to dine this night.” Celina appeared taken aback by the sudden declaration. “Himself…alone or, with accompaniment?” “My mother only said the Brendans therefore I suppose his relatives will be attending as well.” “That is very well then! For he alone perhaps, would be droll company, yet with the two other Brendans I am certain the unhappy company will be nearly matched by such splendid companions.” “Colonel Brendan is a very chivalrous man, I find him to be very adequate company. Yet the youngest I cannot speak for.” “Have you not met Mr. Edward? For I can hardly imagine one knowing him and not being able to speak him everything amiable and pleasing.” “Indeed, I have not met him,” laughed Sarah, thinking of how Miss Dae’s accounts of both the Brendan brothers were so completely unlike one another. The two had paused at that moment because then, for a moment, only a moment she took notice of a slight change in the face of her friend. Miss Dae looked from side to side, glancing into the forest for only a moment, until looking up into the sky….thinking. Her lips were sealed tightly and her eyes were grown wide, as her breathing grew heavy. She did not look terribly frightened, nor did she look angry or surprised, but pale, and a look Sarah could only describe as….worried. “Did you hear that?” Celina had managed so quickly and quietly that Sarah had to collect what was said a few seconds before answering. “I don’t believe I did…” There was a minutes pause before either managed another word. “What had you heard?” Sarah asked quietly. “I had thought I heard a….high sound. I can’t describe it.” “An animal?” “Perhaps, yes,” said Celina, recovering quickly, “I do not get petrified about these things often….it was just…” “It was just…..? Sarah truly disliked it when people did not finish sentences. “It was from the woods, that’s all.” They looked at one another for just a moment. “Oh,” was the shrill answer of Sarah’s, thinking quickly. It was the first time anything had been brought up about the incident yesterday by Miss Dae since she had come. “Come, we must walk on. I am curious of your family,” said Celina quickly, “What town did you come from?” Conversation then went on as usual, Miss Warrington talked of her family life, of her frustrations and difficulties, making certain she was telling nothing of her former heartbreak. It was not that Miss Dae was mistrusted, only that she could still not talk of the story without weeping! Perhaps….yet perhaps it would help to tell someone. “Do you believe concealment is baneful?” “Baneful? You say baneful…perhaps like jeopardous? Perhaps…..unhealthy?” “Yes, that is what I implied.” “Concealment in what sense, Miss Warrington? There are various definitions of what you may perhaps, consider concealment.” “Perhaps I should surpass the inquiry and simply state the fact to you. I have a bit of a personal matter only my family knows….and which I know myself of course. You see years ago I had fallen in love with a man of the militia,” she paused and looked at Miss Dae, as if silently inquiring if she should continue. “Go on,” said Celina, slightly frazzled by the sudden blunt beginning to a personal story. “I was quite convinced he loved me, you see. It was him who had began the romance, after all! He would always arrive at my house with lilies….my favorite flower! Of course I thought him quite thoughtful after his first few simple visits….just arriving and delivering flowers at my door. I had thought him shy and sweet, you know. Then suddenly he asked me to accompany him for walks…..we would talk for very long amounts of time….he even requested a lock of my hair! We did this many times for months, and soon I found him to be the most perfectly sweet and amiable of men! Perfect in every way, with no possible flaw. Everything I would have needed from a man he had achieved, the perfect boy!.....” This path of thought continued for an incredulous amount of time before she began to admit he did not end out “the perfect boy.” How he left suddenly, and was gone without a trace! My, how worried she had been in that time! That was, however, until her worry turned to calamity and heartbreak. The sweetness of her life had left and married a wealthy woman. Life had ended. After an extended amount of time, and much time to contemplate on the matter, Celina spoke with a sympathetic air in her voice, “I am so very sorry, Sarah. I….I cannot tell you how it saddens me.” “Forgive me, I should not have been so very boring to you, rambling on and on about my predicaments and quandaries!” “It was none so boring at all, I thank you for telling me so that I may take what I have learned and let myself be warned.” “Be warned?” “Well indeed. The next time I see a man of the militia look at me keenly, I shall run a mile away!” she laughed and looked affectionately amiable at her friend. “Perhaps I have given you very good advice then,” Sarah smiled, but then stopped. “My who could that be?” she inquired in a curious tone. Celina turned to the direction her friend was facing, and at first saw only a man. This was not of great significance…..yet who was it? He was tall, in slightly elegant, yet mostly plain wardrobe. Yet then….aha! It was a brunette man, his shoes were quite similar to that of……Mr. Robert Brendan! How could it be him?! Ah, but now it was so plainly him, and what a shock! “That is Mr. Brendan!” said Sarah in a cheerful tone. Celina stared at the figure intently, saying quickly, “Indeed there is no denying it his him….but why?” “Perhaps he does not feel you have had enough of him,” Sarah smiled gingerly. 7 A Sound in the Woods Celina walked toward the figure with great haste. Wait, what on earth am I hurrying to see him for? I should not be excited to see Mr. Robert Brendan! The oddest thing of all was a faint polite smile on the face of the young man. He moved toward her at a mild speed, thinking quickly of what his first words would be. The beginning of the day was very sunny, yet now the sky was less light. He seemed awkward, and approached her in an embarrassed fashion. She was more surprised than judgmental in the odd manner of his approach, and even took pity on him. Yet why he would seem nervous to speak with her she did not know. “Good day, Miss Celina, Miss….Warrington?” The two women did not look at one another, and Mr. Brendan, sensing that the attention was solely on him, chose to look only at Celina. “How do you do?” Sarah said simply, paying little attention to his apparent disinterest in her company. “Very well…thank you….eh….I am enjoying the sunny weather here very much, is it not enjoyable Miss Dae?” Celina was taken aback by Mr. Brendan’s pleasant tone. “Yes, I dare say it is very enjoyable,” said Miss Dae confusedly. “Perhaps you will be enjoying the weather here for much longer than myself?” “Indeed.” “For how long do you intend to stay, Miss Celina?” “I cannot say for how long, Mr. Brendan, perhaps another month.” He paused scanning nervously around himself. He looked down to the ground, and thought of something more to inquire. “Your family is enjoying the weather in Paris?” “I cannot say, for I have received no letter back from the first one I sent,” she said suspiciously. “I see…..your…..Aunt’s estate must be an enjoyable place….considering it is very large.” “Yes there is much space.” “Much room for killing game. Birds, I mean, birds are game.” “I know that birds are game,” she looked at him amused. “Yes…yes of course,” he said nervously, “Well I….you see I have this book for you…..I did not give it to you at the lesson because….I…..recently bought it, you see. It had the song I assigned and…..you did tell me you did favor Beethoven?” “Yes, I….I did say that….” She said breathlessly. Why would he buy it for me? “Thank you…..Mr. Brendan,” she said quickly taking the book. “I will go back to the house,” Brendan said solemnly. “Perhaps,” said Sarah quickly, “I shall accompany you, for my house is quite near yours in the town, and I must be heading back as well.” “Oh….” Celina said, flustered at the sudden suggestion abandonment by Sarah. “Yes….of course. Good day, Mr. Brendan, good day Miss Warrington,” she said, both surprised and bothered by the sudden threat of departure by both parties. “Good day, Miss Celina,” he said and waited for Sarah to walk to him, and they both set off to town. Mr. Robert Brendan had always given the impression he was not the most amiable of men, perhaps even spiteful to those of lower rank than himself. Celina could not comprehend why his mannerisms did not recently reflect that one moment ago. He was nervously polite, shyly amiable, and in fact, quite sheepish. He had refused to look her in the eye, looking around the landscape, his feet, Sarah, anything so that their eyes did not meet! Now, this gift, the gift! Why had he bought the book for her? She had the song he had assigned in her own book, he had knowledge of that. He had actually been kind enough to buy her a book with Beethoven, which she adored; he had knowledge of that as well. Why had he done that for her so suddenly? He had been so very kind, a thorough contrast to the haughty description she had given of him to Sarah. By what power had he suddenly changed? She would put the circumstance out of her mind, and think as little as possible of his kind, yet unusual behavior. “Sarah must think I am very severe on him!” she laughed, realizing Miss Warrington was also a witness of the amiable behavior. She looked up to the sky…..the sun, once shining brightly just as any other day in Devonshire was now down, in the form of a pink and orange hue of a sunset in the sky. Few clouds were out and the sky was not a bright blue as usual, but a faded blue and pink. The overall atmosphere was slightly darker, and the air was as still as night, there was no wind, not a slight breeze. She could see only the parts in the forest that were not covered in trees and shrubbery. The house seemed only a slight distance, being barely in view. “Perhaps I should walk back, I am a bit weary.” Slowly, she walked toward the direction of the house, knowing when she reached home, Mrs. Broadson would be there, filled with inquiries. “How did your lessons go?”, “Was he very kind?”, “My dear niece, be honest, do you not think him such a beau!” “How she interrogates me!” she cried to herself, beginning to walk toward the house, until stopping. It was that noise. Part 2 It was! It was! It was! I knew it, I simply absolutely knew it was that high pitched noise. That high, sweet noise was so familiar…..yes, I knew I had heard it before. That sound had been heard by Sarah and I walking….not even an hour ago. How would I describe it? It was a sweet, instrumental tune….haunting my thoughts and threatening my nerves. My foot pace quickened, just as my heart pace quickened! It began by me simply walking without daring to look back. I had heard the sound, that sound that had haunted me! Perhaps it did not seem like very much then when I first heard it, yet now it was a fright! It was both a beautiful and foreboding sound in one, for the sound was sweet, yet the anxiety it created in me was passionate! For who needs to hear sounds in the woods a day after a corpse was found strangled in the very same place? That is, found in the very same place strangled, a completely purposeful intention. Therefore it was not only a corpse, but a murdered corpse. (I still pity Thomas for finding it)Yet there was music coming from the very place! Was I mortified? Yes, of course. Certainly I was mortified! Yet was I curious….perhaps I was inquisitive as to what could make such a sweet melody flow. Indeed, I could not help but turn back, against my own good judgment, I turned back! My hands were steadily shaking, as my legs were shaking also. Perhaps had I not turned back, had I resisted temptation, and my girlish curiosity….I may have not made that fatal mistake! My heart was pounding mercilessly, my legs were shaking violently, yet for what reason? It was only a silly sound in the woods, I saw nothing, the sound was not menacing….perhaps it was a sense! Indeed it was a sense! I felt some curious type of feeling….a feeling only felt when you are….overwhelmed with excitement. Perhaps….perhaps I was not worried at all! Perhaps I was excited about seeing what the sound could be! My breathing began rising very intensely, and I unconsciously moved toward the reverberation, gradually….progressively. Why did no one else hear the resounding noise, that was growing heavier and heavier! So very heavy I could hear the sound within myself, hearing it in my very own head, and I did not know whether to blame this on insanity or growing audibility! I was still walking to the sound….still slowly…..I dared not hurry my speed toward the sound where it was coming from, not because I was frightened, yet because I felt….perhaps unconsciously drawn toward it, perhaps that I was even in a trance! I wondered as I walked….I wondered and hoped and thought of what the sound could be….still taking step by step slowly, gradually. This continued for….what did not seem very long until I finally did make my first step into the forest! I took another steady step, entering into the large green kingdom that had remained unknown and uncared for by me until recent events. This was a different area then what I had entered in the day before. Yet the forest remained the same….tall, grand, intimidating trees standing as protectors from the sun, often peeking through the unprotected crevices of the branches. Yet, that evening, it was very different then I had remembered it….the menacing darkness overwhelmed me with chilling nervousness, the sun was not shining through crevices, instead I only say a grayish sky through the branches, and all else was dark. Not, pitch darkness, no! Yet a gray, evening darkness filled with too much shade. It was a crowded forest, with little space to walk without getting your foot entangled with the bushes and shrubbery. Yet, I had to come to it. I simply had to come to the noise. It was calling to me. Calling to me! It was still audible, and I stood still and simply listened to where the voice would lead me. Yet then!!! Then, I heard some terrible screech that made me jump, and turn, and leap, and made my heart nearly pound out of my chest! I turned, to find it came from the tree. Oh Lord, you made it a bird! Oh, thank you God, that you made it a bird! An owl, I believe, and I reproached myself bitterly for being so skittish! Turning from side to side, I realized my head was being crowded with sudden sounds, and I winced and looked from side to side again. The bird was making knew noise now, very loud, very intolerable, yet I was still hearing the sound, the sweet sound, yet it was none so sweet when it was filling my head and growing restlessly louder, and louder, and louder, and louder, until I did not think I was sane! Why was this sound throbbing so painfully within me? My head was pounding! My heart was pounding! My legs and hands were shaking, and I heard myself gasping for air, in terror! I was hearing the three thing, the hum, the bird, and my gasps for air, yet then I started hearing all sorts of noises in the forest…..yet I did not know where they were even coming from! The bushes were moving. I was very certain of that! Yet what animal was it? Was it an animal? I was the only one in the forest, was I not? Perhaps, yet I did not know…..Oh certainly I was not alone! For what was making the sound! What was the sound!? Had I died?! Was I in hell? I did now know! I thought quickly, and grabbed a large branch, to the ground on my left and I held it out in front of me, looking every place imaginable….to my left, my right, my front, above! The sounds were still pounding, I was looking around quickly, and could not help but notice the way I was looking at things was becoming increasingly demented. Things were twisting, from side to side….perhaps it was my eyes moving around the place so hurriedly and wildly that made things look so odd, I did not know. Yet for certain I knew that the forest was seeming increasingly crowded, yet steadily empty at the very same time!
Copyright © 2006 Jenelle Marie Dayton |