Always and Forever
Drygonrose
Drygonrose@hotmail.com

Okay, this is the second chapter, it’s a bit longer.  This is going to be a 
long story, I’ve just started it now. E-mail me!!!!!!!!!!!

Disclaimers- all those characters don’t belong to me, whatever. (except Lady 
Berkliy, she’s mine)


~Always and Forever~  Chapter 2


	Meanwhile, Serena grew bored of just sitting there in that old chair, 
noticing some of the finery around her she got up and began to examine the 
beautiful artwork and figurines that stood like little soldiers on the 
mantle.  At home, there was nothing so fine, anything of worth had been sold 
years ago, all of her mother’s priceless heirlooms had been pawned away as 
soon as her mother died because William need more money to pay for his 
gambling and drinking habits in London.  So while he was away, the old house 
had grown more old and worn down.  Serena could remember hazily a time where 
there were paintings and old velvety furniture around the house, but of 
course even the furniture had been sold for old and dingy pieces.  Reaching 
out Serena touched an figurine of an angel.
	“Thinking of stealing something?”  a voice drawled lazily.
	Serena spun around shocked, “No….. no of course not.”
	“Can a say that I’m sorry for catching you?”  Serena looked up into the 
eyes of the most hansomest man that she had ever seen.  He had midnight 
black hair that wasn’t cut in the fashion at the time, it wasn’t very long, 
but still hung over his eyes giving him a boyish look.  The rest of him 
wasn’t very boyish at all, he was tall almost whole head taller than Serena, 
he didn’t look like one of London’s fops who powdered their hair and sat 
around acting like men.  He was tanned and looked as if he actually worked 
instead of just lounging around the town all his days.  He had aristocratic 
features, especially his nose, but his mouth was sensual.  His eyes were a 
dark dark blue, almost the colour of the night sky.  He was impeccably 
dressed and leaning against the doorway so Serena couldn’t escape.
	“Of course not, I was invited.”  Serena said primly
	“I’m sure, does Lady Berkliy know that you have an interest in her lovely 
figurines?”
	“I already told you I wasn’t stealing anything, it’s just that there isn’t 
anything this nice at home so I was admiring the pieces.”
	“All the more reason to steal,”  the young man’s arrogant tone was 
beginning to get on Serena’s nerves, but before she could come up with a 
retort Lady Berkliy walked into the room with Andrew at her heels.
	“Oh, I see that you’ve met one of Andrew’s friends, Serena this is the 
Marquess of Manmour, Darien Shields.  This is Miss Serena Blackthorne.”
	Darien bowed and said, “Pleased to meet you, Miss Blackthorne.”
	Serena herself was angry, how could he just act as if he hadn’t said all 
those hurtful things to her, but she managed a stiff curtsy and said, 
“Charmed, my Lord.”
	Breaking the silence that started Andrew said cheerfully, “Dare, aren’t we 
late for the meeting at the club?”
	“Yes, we are, let’s get going, Lady Berkliy, Miss Blackthorne.”  Bowing 
Darien retreated from the room.
	“Good-bye, Grandmother, Miss Blackthorne.”  Bowing as well Andrew hurried 
out after his friend.
	“Well my dear, do you like it here at the Berkliy house?”  Lady Berkliy 
asked.
	“Oh, yes, it’s lovely.”
	“Good because I’ve decided to introduce you to the ton, you need a husband, 
you can’t live with your father forever, eventually it will occur to him to 
sell you as a prize.  You have a respectable dowry, it isn’t much but it’s 
enough to draw the attention of a few young bucks.  You’re pretty as well 
so, that will help.”  Lady Berkliy announced as if it had been decided 
already.
	“No, I couldn’t leave Mina and Lita to Father’s horrible lifestyle!”  
Serena said
	“Tell me girl, who are Mina and Lita?”
	“Mina and Lita are well…….. um……..  uh….. they are my half sisters.”  
Serena finally managed to blurt out embaressed.
	Lady Berkliy understood, “Well girl, let’s bring them to town.  How old are 
they?”
	“Mina is my age and Lita is a year older, but I could impose on your 
hospitality like this.”
	“Nonsense girl, I’ll even give them dowrys, not big ones but enough so that 
some young man will want them.”
	“OH, Aunt Luna, we couldn’t accept this generosity.”  Serena said aghast.
	“You can because I say that you can, don’t defy me girl, I’ve lived over 70 
years and I have a huge fortune, I have nothing better to do with it.  This 
should be amusing, I remember when I made my debut, all the young bucks 
danced to my tune, I was an beauty then.  I fell in love with Artemis 
Fairgrove, he wasn’t a duke then, just a viscount like Andrew.  I had to 
make his fall in love with me, he was a fool and thought that he was in love 
with another girl, but in the end he fell for me.  I’ve been happy with him, 
he died 10 years ago.”
	Serena sniffled, “I’m sorry, it’s so sad.”
	“Why are you crying girl?  Artemis and I had a good life, we were happy 
together.”
	“I’m crying because it’s a love story,”  Serena said sniffling, but 
managing to almost stop crying.
	“Well than my dear, shall I send a note to you home and get your Mina and 
Lita for you?  I don’t want any nonsense about how much it costs and how 
generous I am.  I warn you now, I’m not going to take no for an answer.”
	“In that case, we’d be delighted to come to London.  Mina always wanted a 
season, Lita will come for the fun of it even though she enjoys the country 
more.”
	“So we shall find her a husband that enjoys living in the country.”
	“but…..but what shall we tell them about Mina and Lita, they are well…..”
	“Bastards?”  Lady Berkliy put in.
	“Yes”
	“Leave that to me, my dear, what are they’re full names, I’m going to need 
it for my note.”
	“um…  Lita is Carmalita Dubois, her mother was a french noblewomen. Mina’s 
is Aramina McKenzie and I think her mother was a servant from the 
highlands.”
	“what do they look like?”  Lady Berkliy asked curious now about the two 
young ladies.
	“Mina looks a lot like me, people say that we could be twins except for 
what we dress like and how we do our hair.  Lita is taller than me, she has 
shoulder length brown hair and green eyes.”
	“All right, my retainer and my lawyers should be able to get custody (AN:  
sorry, I don’t know what they called it back then) of them, since they don’t 
have a father.  They should be here in about a month or so.  Come now my 
dear we have to get you settled, did you bring trunks?  It doesn’t matter 
you’ll need a whole new wardrobe…………..”

~End of Chapter 2~

Well what do you think?  I’d love e-mails, you can tell me what you like, 
don’t like whatever.  Ideas are also great.


~Drygonrose
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