Widows and Maidens

In a small modest room with blooming flowers in each corner and a large stylish desk in front of the window, Anne Spenbourne entered not knowing her fate. She sat on the spare chair in front of the desk.

‘Why am I here, Auntie?’ she asked, impolitely whilst removing a floral glove from her hand. She failed to stop a large sigh from escaping her mouth. Bertha sat with her hands firmly crossed upon the desk and managed to not move a muscle in her face.

‘I brought you here to discuss your father’s will. Seeing as you were not allowed to attend the reading of his will, I thought I would tell you that he has left everything to me.’ She leaned forward on her antique wooden chair as she spoke with a smug smile replacing her look of misery. Anne looked away and sniggered to herself, her poker face only just managed to hide the shock horror that she was forced to feel.

The air was filled with silence until Betha decided to continue.

‘You are far too young to have everything, he could not trust you with that responsibility.’ Bertha announced, believing she knew what was right for her deceased brother and her young niece. Anne shook her head and couldn’t believe the audacity of her Auntie.

‘I have just come of age, 17. Therefore, I am old enough and dare I say wise enough to take care of anything. I have a younger sister of 14 to take care of as you well know. None of us have spoken to you in so long, why would he leave everything to you? Everyone knows how much he despised you.’ Anne explained, hoping for a reaction just to get under her skin.

Bertha burst into a heap of laughter that she couldn’t seem to control. She slammed her hand down on the desk to flaunt her authority and she threw herself up from her seat in anger.

‘Because he had no choice! He may have hated me, but he could not leave everything to you. He told me himself in a letter that he just could not trust you because of your past. It's as simple as that. Life is cruel, accept it and move on.’ As she finished speaking, Anne also raised from her seat and headed for the office door. Bertha stormed over and aggressively placed her hand on the door handle.

‘Before you leave there was one other thing. He ordered you and your sister to come and stay with me.’ Bertha said. Anne couldn't help but cross her arms and produce a mocking laugh.

‘I do not care what he wanted, he is gone now. He has no control over me. I am old enough to take care of myself and my own home. I am not leaving the house I grew up in.’ Anne stated in an authoritative tone. Bertha remained quiet and for a second, Anne believed she had won. But a second was such a short time.

‘Say what you will but I now have full control of your life. You cannot go back to that gorgeous country house because it is currently up for sale. You see, when I said he left me everything, he also left me his house and it is worth hundreds of thousands. So, you either move in here or you go and tell your beloved sister that you are both homeless.’ Bertha said, leaving Anne no choice.

Before Anne had the chance to think, Bertha continued. ‘We must get to know each other if we are to be living together. You must attend my ball this evening, to celebrate the year 1900. A brand-new century always means a brand-new beginning.’ Bertha said. Anne noticed a sudden cheeriness in her voice that only appeared when she had won a battle.

‘It has been a new century for a month now it is almost February. I hope this party of yours is not for my sake?’ Anne asked curiously. Bertha used an unconvincing smile to reply.

Anne looked upon her Aunt Bertha with disappointment and enragement, but she knew nothing further could be done. She left the four-story mansion and went home to gather her belongings and be back for the ball tonight. Bertha watched her young niece leave her office and then she walked down to her lounge and began to read one of her fathers’ books. She was disturbed by a loud knock on her front door. She carried her body proudly with her nose pointing towards the ceiling, her stride was drowning in confidence. Bertha opened the front door and greeted the man standing there with a pleasant smile, they then walked through to the lounge together and sat comfortably together.

‘Sheldon, what a pleasant surprise.’

‘Bertha, it's so nice to see you, it's been too long. I hope you do not mind me visiting you.’

‘Of course not, what can I do for you? My my! You are very handsome just as I remember!’

‘Thank you, my father says my looks improve by the hour. But I am still short of a bride to do my bidding.’

‘You are still seeking a bride? With the amount of pretty maidens in this town?’

‘Absolutely! The ladies around here are not to my liking I am afraid. And I tell the truth when I tell you that I have tried a lot of them. But I am looking for someone special, unique. I grew up with people around here. They are adequate for fun but not wife material.’

‘I may have a solution to your problem. I have two niece’s coming to live with me. I believe you never got around to meeting them as me and my brother had a bit of a falling out so we lost contact. But you can meet them both at the ball tonight. One is sweet and innocent and the other, well she has too many opinions and is overly flirtatious with a dark side. I know which one you shall choose. You need someone pure and angel-like.’

‘Well, I look forward to meeting them. What a grand night it will be!’