Who's the Guest?

CHAPTER ONE

Lady Elizabeth Walden smiled in the mirror, peering at her wrinkled powdered face with pleasure. Life was good to her. She was dreaming the same for her nieces, especially Agnes, the heiress of her estate. Worriedly, the Baroness remembers her niece constantly worming on the books of her private library. Socialization is non-essential to the young girl. When she forces her to join parties and soirees, her niece will always elude from her plans. She wanted the young heiress to have a secure future before she departed to this world. Lady Elizabeth had a strategy to bring her dream to realization. She was praying to the heavens for its success.

Lady Elizabeth rang the golden bell that was hanging beside her vanity. "Smith!" she called her servant.

"My Lady?" Smith magically appeared bearing a tray of tea. Every morning, the Baroness took her drink in her bedroom before going on with her business. But today, tea is not essential.

 "Is he arriving?" she asked worriedly. Unintentionally, throwing her robe to Smith, who was still holding the tray. He deftly catches the robe in one hand with a fluid motion. Nervously she said, "How about Agnes? Where is she?"

 "Agnes is somewhere, my lady. The guest did not confirm his whereabouts, but his assistant told me he arrived last night."

 "Damn! Why didn't you tell me? You know I hate surprises." Lady Elizabeth stood up and stormed out from her bedroom. She was seventy-six years old. Despite her age, the older woman carried herself well. She was especially active today. Smith has been with the Baroness for ages. He started working at the young age of twelve. Smith comes from the descendant of butlers that work for the Walden family. He already understands the quirks of the Baroness. The guest today is exceptional indeed.

 "Agnes!" the venerable lady shouted, calling for her errant niece from the top of the stairs of the great hall. "Agnes! Come here quick!"

 She was engrossed in the story of two warring tribespeople and how the cunning chief of the tribe sent a woman to destroy the noble warrior of the opposing clan. Unfortunately, the woman fell in love with the warrior. Engrossed in the climactic chapters of the book, she heard her aunt calling her name.

 "Yes, Aunt Liz, I'm coming!" she yelled back at her aunt. Hurriedly, she left her make-believe world and reluctantly walked to the great hall. She looked up and saw Lady Elizabeth in her silk robe and curlers.

 "Did the marines come?" She laughed at the attire of the grand lady.

 "Stop making fun of me, child! You need to hurry up. Take a bath and change your clothes. A guest is coming."

 "That visitor must be something, huh?" she winked at her aunt, and the old lady exploded in expletives.

 "You witch! Hurry and be pretty. Have you taken your bath? God, you look like someone dragged you from bed. Did you know what a comb is? Keep your hair up. Don't let it tumble like there was no tomorrow! We have a guest, and you smell from up here!"

"Auntie, I don't care. I'm in the middle of a great story. Your visitor, your preparation. Even if he is the cardinal, I will not take my bath until I'm ready."

 Lady Elizabeth grinned at the defiant woman, "Really, you won't clean up? What if our guest is Chris Duvier?"

 Agnes' mouth dropped open, and she stared at her aunt in shock. The man of her dreams is coming to visit them. Her prince charming had returned.

***

 Chris Duvier is exceptionally excited to see Winshord Castle. It's been a long time. He was gripping the steering wheel tightly as the gamut of emotions built up with every turn on the zigzag road going uphill to Walden's abode. He smelt the distinct scent of wildflowers and pinewood during spring. Nothing has changed. The castle itself was untouched by time. From afar, he can see the castle's proud heritage at the peak of the mountain. The beautiful steeped roof and stone walls compliment the forest and the sky in one cohesive, timeless beauty. The beat of his heart was hurting him as he was coming closer. 

An ancient gate with two snarling lions appeared at the curve of the road, proudly guarding the passage for no man to walk uninvited. It's the same odd emotion he felt every time he passed the massive entrance. Chris needed to stop. Facing the memories that came flooding into his mind. All these years, the resentment was still alive. 

He wondered if one of the mouths of the two stone lions guarding the gate still hid the key. Chris left his car. Approaching the lion, he stuck his hand inside the gaping mouth and pulled out an old rusty key. 

Chris remembered her. She told him the secret of the exit. Thousands of nights ago, when they were still young, they smuggled out for a date. Lea Walden, the woman, forever locked the gate of his heart. No woman since Lea has ever threaded the path to his heart. Giving his all, she still left him broken and bitter. Chris Duvier closes his eyes, trying to erase the memory of that wound. He felt the hurt she inflicted eight years ago. Nothing seemed to heal his broken heart, no matter how much wealth and power he amassed. He needs to inflict the same pain to be free from his past. Revenge. He plans to destroy what Walden's cherished most.

***

Agnes pulled the gray dress over her head and took a look at the mirror. The dress looks like a sack of flour. She hated it! What to do?

"I don't have any nice dress." The elderly maid was scrutinizing her change of clothes for the tenth time. Pile of clothing on the floor was growing by the minute. "Ann, I need help."

"You can choose that white dress. It's better compared to those browns. You're twenty-seven years old, but your dress was comparable to a nun's garb." The maid wrinkled her nose in disapproval. "If I had my way, I'd throw everything."

"I can't do that. I don't want to meet Chris naked," Agnes joked. 

They both laughed with the vision of her walking towards him in her birthday suit. "He would run away in fright!"

Ann retrieved the white dress she fitted first, "Try it again."

She wore it once more and checked herself in the mirror. It's vintage lace clothing with a satin ribbon. Very virginal. She wore the dress during her confirmation rites at a catholic school twelve years ago. She never financed in wardrobes and make-up like any other girl. Instead, her money and time were invested in books.

She was already sweating in her effort to look for the perfect clothes for Chris Duvier, "I guess this one will do."

"I wonder what he looks like now?" she sighed dreamily.

"Deliciously handsome! I heard filthy rich too," Anna said, looking at the girl she was helping. "The village gossip said that he is still unmarried. Imagine, Chris the stable boy, is one of the richest men in this part of the country. Who would have guessed, eh?"

"Can he still remember me? We talk occasionally, but I can count on my fingers the times we had a conversation."

"While you are hiding behind the stalls watching him silently. We call you, Peeping Tom behind your back. You only stared and disappeared behind a wall. Peeping through the slits of planks while he was bathing."

She blushed, "I'm that wicked?"

"Oh yeah, very naughty. Now that your sister is not here, you'll have the chance to bait him."

Agnes sighed, "I wonder what Lea would do if she learned that he's here."

"Zip your mouth! Don't tell her anything." Ann warned her. "If you want to catch the prince charming, make sure you don't tell the princess. Witches like you will have no chance. Men want their eyes covered with cotton candy than the bitter ale." 

Agnes gasped, "Ann! You dare not compare me to that---"

"I will dare everything, child. I'm determined to do that. Talk some sense on your stupid head. This situation is your second chance. Don't blow it away."

"Yes, Ma'am. I will try my best." She hugged her lovingly. "Thank you. I love you so much, Ann."

The maid kissed Agnes on the cheek. "I'm praying for you. Every one of us loves you."

The castle is her home. It was everything to her. Aunt Liz, Smith, Ann, grumpy cook Pete, Lou the stable boy and gardener, and everything within the castle's estate was precious to her. Every tiniest part of her castle ingrained deeply in her soul. She resolves not to let anybody destroy it and take it away from her. She was promising to herself to keep them safe forever.

God above smiled. Agnes cannot discern what fate holds, but it will test her inner vow in a form she less expected.