Always and Forever
Drygonrose
Drygonrose@hotmail.com

Here’s the first 
chapter.  It should be understandable.  Some terminology:

carriage= 
(for all you really dumb people out there)  is like a car, except 
it 
was pulled by horses.  People used to use them to travel.
dowager= is 
what they called the women who had titles after their husband 
died 
because back then the title could only be passed down through the male.
 
(Silly, I know)  So there would be a new ‘earl’ and then he might 
have a 
wife who would be a countess so the dowager in front of 
the title is so they 
won’t be confused.
Lady and or Lord = this 
wasn’t really used in this chapter but for future 
reference, you can 
be a lord or lady by two ways at least there are for 
females, you 
have to marry into a title to be called lady, but the other way 
is 
that your father and mother are already titled so you are automatically
 called Lady or Lord from when you’re born.
Dowry = A dowry is 
something the female’s family gives the males family on 
marriage, it 
can be land, jewels money, whatever.  I think it supposidly for 
the 
fact that the male’s family is taking the female off their (the 
female’s 
family’s) hands.

Disclaimers:  These character’s don’t 
belong to me, blah, blah blah.

I know I’ve noticed that in the olden 
days, life was really sexist.  Anyway  
I love info on my story so 
e-mail me and tell me what you think.  Especially 
if you think that 
the language is too hard.  Enjoy!

~Always and Forever~ Chapter 1

	
A carriage pulled up to the Berkliy House.  A young lady about 
18 years old 
stepped down and walked to the front of the house.  A 
butler opened the door 
and Serena Blackthorne walked into the sitting 
room of one off the most rich 
women in London, maybe even England.  
The Dowager Duchess of Berkliy stood 
and greeted the young lady, “So 
you’ve finally come to visit, Miranda always 
promised that she would 
bring you for a visit, though over the years I 
thought that she had 
forgotten.”
	“Grandmother didn’t forget, I was busy at home,”  
Serena said shyly.
	“Oh, I see your Papa was in dept again, eh?”  
The dowager laughed.
	“That doesn’t seem to be an appropriate 
subject to talk about Lady 
Berkliy,”  Serena said a bit surprised 
because it didn’t seem to be good 
manners for anyone to speak so 
upfront, and as always, Serena was upset 
about the fact that her 
father spent most of his time in London gambling and 
drinking.
	
“Come know my dear, I’ve spent too many of my years being meek and 

submissive.  I’m not going throught that again at my age.  I’m old and 
rich 
to boot so I’ll be as essentric as I please.”  Lady Berkliy 
announced.
	“Yes, your grace.”
	“Don’t start that, call me 
Aunt Mariluna, wait even better Aunt Luna, that 
is my name.  I simply 
detest simpering.  Your grandmother and I were like 
sisters before 
she married, even then we corrasponded.”  Just then someone 
yelled, “
grandmother, I’m finally home, Grandmother?”  A tall young man 
burst 
into the room to stare at Serena.  He was openmouthed.  He saw a young 

lady with blond hair the colour of spun gold.  It was in a strange 

hairstyle.  It was arranged into two buns at the sides of her head and 
then 
two ribbons of hair flowed down from them trailing lower than 
the waist of 
her simple pink afternoon gown which in reality was worn 
and a bit tattered. 
  It was obviously the best gown that Serena had. 
 Her eyes when he looked 
were a royal blue which shone innocence and 
beauty.  Interrupting his trail 
of thought, Lady Berkliy announced, “
Andrew, so your finally back.  You 
shouldn’t just barge in here, after
 all I have guests at times you know.  
This my dear is Serena 
Blackthorne and Serena, this is my grandson, Viscount 
Andrew Matthew 
Fairgrove of Maryle, heir to the Duchy, his father is my 
Jonathan.”
	
Serena got up and curtsyed to the viscount murmering softly, “My 
Lord.”
	Andrew bowed in turn gallantly saying with a roguish grin, “
My Lady.”
	Serena blushed and then said not sadly, but with a 
sense of mischief, “I’m 
not a Lady, I’m just a miss.  You see my 
father was the youngest son of the 
late Earl of Gamwood.”
	Andrew 
grinned again and then remembering why he rushed in, frowned, 
“
Grandmother, may I please speak to you in private?”  Andrew pleaded.
	
“Of course you may not!  Can’t you see I’m entertaining?” “Grandmother!
  
PLEASE!!!”  “Oh alright then, Serena dear please wait a bit for me.
”
	“Of course Aunt Luna,”  Serena replied dutifully even thought 
she was a bit 
curious about what the viscount wanted to talk to the 
dowager duchess about 
that was so important.

	***********************
*********************************

“Grandmother, I need your help.  I 
placed a wager………….”  Andrew began, but 
Lady Berklit cut him off. “
Another wager?  Andrew I’m not bailing you out 
again”  “This time 
it’s different.  I don’t need money, just help, do you 
remember the 
Marquess of Manmour?”  “Of course, do you take me for an 
invalid?  
Isn’t he your best friend, Darien right?”
“Yes Grandmother, well I 
wagered Lord Chad and Lord Ken that Darien was 
capable of falling in 
love with a lady.  I got angry because Lord Chad said 
that darien was 
a cold arrogant man and he could never care for anyone.  I 
wanted to 
probe them wrong, afger all Darien does have a heart, it’s just 
that 
he hasn’t found anyone yet.  I’ve already tried lots of places abroad, 

we’ve seen lots of ladies, but not one of them has ever captured 
Dariens 
attention for very long.  Please Grandmother, you know all of 
the ton you 
have to know some ladies we can introduce Darien to.”  
Andrew pleaded 
leaving out the fact that he had wagered 10 000 pounds.

Lady Berkliy pretended to think it over, but already she had decided 
to 
help.  In reality she loved to play matchmaker.  Finally deciding 
that 
Andrew had been kept haning long enough said, “Alright then 
Andrew, this is 
the last time though.”  Andrew was gave a shout and 
hugged his grandmother, 
then remembering the young lady asked, “Who 
was that girl you introduced me 
to, I mean who really is she, she’s 
quite pretty.”
Lady Berkliy frowned, “Don’t go near her Andrew, I 
promised Milly that she 
wouldn’t be hurt and you’re a rogue and a 
rake.”  “Isn’t her father the 
infamous Heartbreaker William 
Blackthorne?”  “Yes, he’s a gamster and a 
drunken fool, Milly’s 
daughter Sarah was too good for him, but she thought 
that she was in 
love with him and eloped.  He only wanted Sarah for her 
dowry which 
was quite rich, but then she found that out too late.  Serena is 

descended from Quality, she deserves better than her wastrel father 
can give 
her, for all I know he could try to sell her one day.  I’m 
going to sponsor 
her, introduce her to society.”  Andrew grinned, 
this was his grandmother 
that he knew, she was over 70 but she was 
still totally active.
“I suppose that she has a dowry from her mother 
still doesn’t she?”  “Yes 
she does it’s not much, but sarah managed 
to save it by putting it in 
Milly’s hands, William can’t touch it or 
else he would have spent the money 
long ago.  It’s still a 
respectable one so that should do.  I want you to 
help get her 
aquainted with society, she is still quite innocent you know.  
Sarah 
died early, I think that Serena was only 5.  Milly does try to help 

but any money or help she sends William squanders away.”  Andrew 
scowled as 
he thought of the poor girl.  Lady Berkliy continued, “ I 
know he’s 
horrible, had many affairs and such, the whole country 
knows of his 
notorious behavior.  Oh, I left Serena in the sitting 
room…….





~End of Chapter 1~


Make sure you tell me what you think.  I love 
feedback, please e-mail 
me!!!!!!!  I hope you liked the story.


~Drygonrose