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[Evelyn Ildaw]

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Dawn was only moments away. She hadn’t meant to stay for so long. Julia knew he was her target before he knew she was his. As she watched the sun's colors the woman pondered. It tore at her to betray her husband as it did to swindle the other, but he was an Ildaw surely what was taken could hardly be missed. Better this money clip be nestled in her blossom than impairing him as he would continue to drink it away. The money was more than enough to save her husband’s business. She scowled as the horses galloped on.
“If only he would have taken the loan, damn his pride and ignorance.”
She shook her head, instead her husband lead them closer and closer to poverty with his obsession to find investors. It kept him away for long periods of time leaving her resentfully alone. As their situation became more and more dire, the more desperate they became the longer he would grant Julia with his absence. Julia sat back and sighed. The night had been filled with wretched actions but it wasn't all bad.

“Oh how wonderful it felt to be wanted again"
She was starved for the attention. Her husband had denied her his presence, Alasdair gave to her. She longed for almost three years time now to be wanted. The attraction made her gasp, stealing sounds from her throat as she continued to be in his company moments longer than she should have. Yearning for more, desire overwhelmed her as she was over taken with her own scheme. The hours flew like seconds. Julia had but seconds to follow through her plan.
Just thinking of the night’s events made her heart flutter as she journeyed home.
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Julia laid upon her bed with her hands upon her bulging pregnant stomach.
“Where’s Richard? Where is my husband?” She screamed as a contraction began to run its course through her. The mid wife quickly ran to her side. He’s away on business mum.
Tears of pain and anguish ran down Julia’s face, “ He was more than four days away?” She asked as Julia had requested her husband be summoned from the moment her water broke four days ago.
“Mercy me no! We sent word just as fast as the words fell from your mouth ma’am, it was less than half a day’s ride to reach him”
Through labored breath and with her pained tears Julia asked , “Where is he then, what is keeping him? What is keeping him from the birth of his child?”

“Well,” the nurse looked at her sadly, “I don’t rightly know, but he sent word back.”
“What did he say?”

The nurse looked at her with a look of understanding pity, “Take care of it”
With another scream of agony the new born was delivered into the world. Julia’s Vibrance began to fade. The midwives cheered and cooed at the newborn.
“A Girl, ma’am. What should we call the babe?” they asked as they laid the baby onto her chest. Tears slid down Julia’s face. She was crying for many reasons. “My daughter, you will have a name befitting of a royal! For that is what you are, my dearest Evelyn.
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As Evelyn grew older, her features began to take the same form of her mother’s, save her eyes. The child looked out on the world with big brown eyes. The curious orbs, full of childish curiosity and adoring love. No one could resist this child, not for long. Her will was strong and determined. Julia for years secretly prayed that no one would notice. Hoping people with just be taken enough with her not to notice that Richard Miller, her husband had green eyes whilst Julia had blue. It was with mixed feelings that Julia realized that this babe didn’t belong to her husband, but a living reminder of her night with Alasdair. This was the last time one looked upon her with desire.
She decided to push the day that she had to tell her husband of the night she did what she had to do to save them. She remained silent.
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“Please Gurden, fetch my daughter, I wish to speak with her” a pale, weakened Julia asked. “I wish to gaze upon my daughter once again. I must tell her I love her” Julia was overtaken by spasms and coughing. Influenza had taken it’s claim on this broken woman. It was strong where she was weak, it was doubtful she’d make it to morning. Most of the maids were certain she’d pass on before her daughter arrived from the east wing.
Julia looked upon her husband and stated, “She is the last person that loves me.” The maid tending to the woman with pity and sorrow in her eyes. Bed ridden for weeks now her health continued to deteriorate. The staff knew by the lack of color in Julia’s face that death loomed closely. As Julia coughed, the maid said, “ I will make sure Little Evie is summed with haste, mistress”
Julia looked upon the last hand maid and said, “please, a glass of water? I am parched.” The maid reluctantly left her with the master of the house who seldom made an effort.
With a tremendous amount of effort she turned to look at the man.
Decidedly Julia concluded that it was time, time to tell her husband of the investor that saved them all those years ago. “Richard I need to speak with you about Evelyn.”
“What of the child?”
“When did you look upon her last?”
“What is this about? I look upon my daughter everyday Julia.”
Through a coughing fit knowing she didn’t have much time, she managed to say, “If you did you’d know she wasn’t your daughter.”
Richard simply started at her, “What is this? You are ill you know not what you speak of!”
“I am quite certain of what I speak of, I only just got the courage to speak it. Have you not noticed the girl's eyes? Their color resembles neither yours nor mine. None of this was the child’s fault. But six years ago.....the investor......was an Ildaw. I didn’t mean any of it. But he just held me and wanted me.......”
Understanding dawned across the man’s face. “wench! Deceiving wench!”
“Richard, I did it to save us. It DID save us. I thought truly that doing this to save the business you wouldn't have to be away desperately looking and searching.......” She heaved as she became more and more increasingly upset, her breaths became more ragged she continued to plead. “I did it for us”
“You did it for yourself harlot” At this they heard a light scuffling at the door. The adults looked towards the sound. Evelyn was sticking her head in timidly. Still in her school’s uniform. She looked at her mother concerned.
“Mama, are still you sick? Will you be ok, mommy?” The girl said as she approached. Relieved to look upon her beloved daughters face she smiled. Julia placed her hand to her daughter’s cheek. “Never forget how much your mother loved you. No matter what, no matter what you hear, know that I loved you most darling.” With the last weak breath Julia sighed and laid her breath into her pillow, closing her eyes and letting death over take her.
Evelyn took her little hands and grasped her mother and shook. “Mommy, mommy wake up please. Don’t leave me and daddy please”
“It’s no use girl, she’s gone.”
“Oh Papa, bring her back” the little one pleaded as she reached for Richard and cried. Before she could embrace the man he held her out at an arm’s length and coldly stared at her.
“What is it papa? Why are you looking at me like that?” She asked as the tears slid down her face one after the other.
“You will address me maid as Miller, Mr. Miller maid.” Horror crossed Evelyn’s face. “Daddy what are you saying?”
“You have no father here girl. You will now become familiar with the streets and die on them like your mother should have had the good grace to do” Richard Miller said as he released her and walked passed.
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Evelyn put her hand to her stomach as it reminded her of her need to eat. Evelyn for two days now had been wandering the streets of Sosaria. She never realized how cold it was until she didn’t have her coat to keep her warm. The clothes she donned were threadbare and torn. Her old father was gracious enough to part with the rags that they washed the beasts with. Evelyn never knew why he got so mad at her, but she must have been a naughty girl. Her stomached rumbled again. No one cared to spare so much as a pence for the child.
She came upon the mansion. It was tenfold more grandiose than her former home. It was several stories tall, land for acres and acres. Luscious lands and blooming flowers surrounded the lands. With out a second though Evelyn grabbed a handful of flowers, forgetting to detached the roots. She marched up the stone steps and rapped on the door of Ildaw. “Oh, I hopes they can help me.”
The door opened and Adrian Ildaw stood before her. As Evelyn gazed upon him, she nearly lost her nerve and almost bolted back down the stairs. Then her stomach rumbled and reminded her of her original purpose.
"Can I help you young one?"
Slowly she raised her hand that held the freshly cut flowers up to Adrian.
"Hello, I am selling Magic Flowers, " She began her impromptu script. "they will makes you pretty and handsome forevers!! Oh and you will never get sick, no sir!" Adrian chuckled as the words flew out of her mouth. As she finished too, another young female came crashing from being the suit of armor. She didn't look much older than mid teens. The young woman looked as if she were barely starting to see the signs of recovery of a long illness. It took all of Evelyn's strength not to cry as the paleness and dark circles under this girl's eyes reminded her of her mother.
"Ginny, should you be up? I wouldn't want you to loose your new strength, Adrian asked. Ginny simply looked at Evelyn and asked, "Do they really make you beautiful forever?"
Evelyn nodded her head ferverently.
"Aye, one pence a piece!"
Adrian nodded and motioned for Evelyn to come in the house, "Come child, let us see about these flowers. I can hardly believe your parents let you peddle the streets alone. What is your name" Evelyn hung her head as she knew that he was on to her scheme. "Evelyn Mil...." She nearly said that her last name was Miller. Evelyn shook her head.
No Evelyn Miller died with mommy. We aren't good enough for a last name, "Just Evelyn"
"I am Adrian Ildaw, this is the Ildaw Manor" Evelyn's head shot up as she looked at him with wide brown eyes.
"Ildaw? I heard my mommy talk about you" She said in awe as she walked through the manor door.
As Adrian closed the door, Evelyn noticed the other rather scruffy looking man standing there. The man was looked at Evelyn with a look of shock.
"Tell me, how did you come by these flowers?"
Right then and there Evelyn told them the story as she knew it. The scruffy man's face became more and more resolute as Evelyn's story went on. As she reached the end her stomach let out the loudest rumble yet. She tried to put her hand to her stomach to try and placate it. The Ildaw's looked at her. Adrian left the room
"When was the last time you ate?" Evelyn said muted, "yesterday morning" Ginny's face looked astonished, "But it's nearly supper time!"
"You can rest here for the night" Adrian said handing her a tray full of bread, having returned from the kitchen.. All manners forgotten Evelyn shoved nearly all of it in her mouth at once. Ginny too looked at the food with longing in her eyes. Tears welled up in Evelyn's face.

You pig, this wasn't all for you! They just wanted you to hold the tray
Embarrassed, she handed what was left to Ginny. With her bottom lip trembling she said, "I am sorry. I was so hungry!" Ginny laughed, "That was all for you, not to worry. Come on you can sleep in my room"
Evelyn smiled wide, these strangers were taking her in like she was their own. She made a vow right then that her young mind would never forget the Ildaws.