Chapter 2 - Lady of the Revington House

1913, England, Great Britain

Years passed ever since that incident occurred and until to this day, I regret everything my 15-year-old self did. I pushed myself way too hard causing a big disaster for my family.

A night after it happened, my parents went home quickly and rushed to the Vaughn estate when they heard that I was sick. They did not need to guess what kind of sickness I had. They quickly fetched me from the Vaughn family and broke ties with them as well to ensure my safety. That was the last time I ever saw Gavin.

When we got home to our house, nobody spoke a word to each other. The day went on like any other days that happened in our lives and I can not help but to get angry. I expected them to tell me off or scold me but they did nothing. It just shows how much they do not care about me. 

One night while we were eating, I grabbed the plate that I was using and threw it across the room to see how they would react. They jumped out of surprise but after that no one said a thing. 

“Why will you not say anything?!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, gasping for air. 

I was coughing petunia flowers all over the dining room. I am fuming mad at my parents for not giving a single care about me and my life.

I waited for them to open their mouths to shout back at me but they just ordered the maids to bring me to my room that night. After what happened, I decided to resent my parents for life.

Two years after that incident, I was clean. The emotionless “Clara” came back. I was now capable of attending school and meeting other people but I remained emotionless. A lot of girls would often want me to join them or ask me to befriend them but I always found myself saying “no”. Because the last time I agreed to something, my secret almost went out.

Around the summer of 1912, word got around in Europe about the tragedy that of the SS Titanic and the heads of the Revington family's death. Soon, the news reached Canada. I was seventeen during that time when my Uncle from my mother’s side fetched me from Canada and brought me to Great Britain. While on the ship to England, that is when Uncle Maurice broke the news to me that my parents died in a sunken ship on their way back to Great Britain. When he told me about their deaths, I never felt grief and remorse, I just kept quiet the whole sail to England and was greeted by hundreds of people I did not know. 

They kept giving me their condolences and I returned these with a simple bow. I thought the Vaughn family would show up in my father and mother’s wake but I only received a letter from Mrs. Vaughn. 

After their wake, business came rushing in. Aunt Emma, who was my father’s cousin, was the one who instructed me about the big responsibility I have to accomplish now that my father’s gone. Since my father was the former chief executive officer of our business, the role is now bestowed upon me. Aside from that, all of the riches and the mansion of the Revington family is now under my care.

I still remember the first time I set my foot on the Revington Mansion in England. The mansion was as big as a royal palace and was made out of sturdy mahogany wood and had a Victorian architectural design. Dozens of maids and butlers greeted me with smiles as I entered the house. I was surprised to see them give me a warm welcome but I assumed it was because my parents had not given them the chance to instruct them about how they should approach me. 

I spent the rest of the remaining months of 1912 training and familiarizing myself with the different businesses my family holds.

“Now that you are the new head of the Revington fortune, you must create an impression on your family’s partners or they may lose their trust in the Revington house,” Aunt Emma reminded me.

I memorized every house and names that are important and well-known in the country of Britain. I studied the way they communicate and a lot of information about them so I’ll know how to discuss business with them.

There are about four crucially important houses in the English aristocracy. All of them are coming from four different islands. The Revington's food production and restaurants, the Campbell’s textiles in Scotland, the railroads of the Quinn family in Northern Ireland and lastly, the Vaughn’s oil and steel in Wales.

The Revington, Quinn, Campbell, and Vaughn families are the top known families in Britain aside from the royal house of Saxe-bourg and Gotha. 

I spent quarter a year learning about our business and how it was run. I visited our establishments and how they run the things around the company. My family provided food not just in Britain but around Europe and America as well. Our business has the most in-demand products the world could ever look for.

After preparing myself for the reopening of our business and house, the time has come for me to introduce myself to the people. And that time comes tonight.

Tonight is the annual welcoming ball and the start of the social season. Important people around Great Britain, France, Spain, Denmark and United States of America will all be arriving for the ball organized by the royal family.

“Miss Clara, would you rather wear red or blue for the party?” A maid held up two different gowns in front of me making me choose. 

I pointed my index to the red and gold gown. This represents wealth and prosperity. They quickly dressed me into the luxurious gown I chose. A whole bunch of diamonds were worn around my ears and neck to add more bling on my features and with a snap, I was ready for the ball.

“You look just like your mother, Miss Clara!” The younger maid spoke, earning a nudge from the older maids. I gave them all my gratitude before riding my carriage.

The coachman rode to Buckingham Palace where the party was going to be held in. The royal family will be attending as well.

The butler guided me down the carriage and led me inside the enormous ballroom of Buckingham Palace. The royal announcer talked with my butler and without wasting a second I heard my name called out into the ballroom making my heart anxiously skip a beat.

“Miss Clara of the Revington House!”

The trumpets soon made a regal sound. I walked down the golden staircase and led myself to the ball. This was my very first debut to the public and I can not help but to feel utterly nervous, especially when I do not know who to mingle with. 

“Miss Blair of Campbell House!” The court announcer bellowed, making the other people face over the stairs where a young curved lady with an emerald gown entered the ballroom.

Behind her were two young men who had the same stance, red hair and an oddly same face. Before I could even comprehend who they were, the announcer already spoke and introduced Finn and Franklin Quinn, heirs to the Quinn fortune. 

I looked around the room waiting for someone to arrive but sadly, the person I was looking for was not here. I sighed before mingling with different people. Different business partners and investors came flocking over my side. As usual, condolences were the first thing they said to me but they were also replaced with welcomings and business talks which I prefer more.

“Miss Clara of Revington House,” A baron introduced me in front of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom and their children. I bowed before them to show my respect. 

“It is lovely to see you, Miss Clara. We are so sorry for the news about your family.” The Queen gave me an apologetic smile.

“We wish you the best in the world of business,” The King remarked before leaving me to mingle with other guests.

After talking a lot, I slowly felt my stomach churn indicating that I was hungry. I took my way to the lavish buffet table and grabbed a small plate to put different kinds of food from Europe.

“You must be Clara Revington?” A Scottish accent in front of me spoke, making me shift my attention to her.

“It is Blair.” She gave me a sly smile and held out her hand. I looked at her outstretched hands for a while before she got the memo and took it back.

“Not a big talker, eh?” She chuckled.

“Let me guess, aside from people congratulating you for taking over the Revington House, they are also showering you with condolences are they not?” Blair guessed.

“Yes, they are. But I do not blame them for they just want to empathize with me,” I replied.

“How can they empathize with someone who does not even grieve for their own parents?” 

My eyebrow rose up because of what she said. “I beg your pardon?”

“Do not lie, Miss Revington. I was at your parent’s burial last year. When everyone was bawling their eyes out, their daughter was the only one who never shed a tear,” she remarked, making me fall back and out of words. I took every courage I had to remain calm to think of an immediate response. 

“People have their own way of grieving, Miss Campbell,” I shot back but this answer of mine earned a smirk from Blair.

“Really? Does that include smiling as your parents are being buried?”

I stopped breathing for a few moments of shock that came from Blair’s mouth. My hands were fighting it’s way from fidgeting and my feet wanted to run away. I froze on the sight with eyes narrowing each second. 

Was I really smiling that time? Why can I not remember?

I snapped out of my thoughts when Blair let out a gentle laugh and gave me a genuine smile.

“Do not fret, Miss Revington. I understand how you felt.” Those were the words she left to me before she walked away from me.

She left me standing and blankly staring into emptiness, still thinking about the words she said to me when I felt a sharp tap on my shoulder from behind making me look back on two red headed boys. Both of them curtsied to me and led out their hands.

“Would you like to dance, Miss Clara?” They both asked at the same time. Before I could reply, the one with blue eyes turned on the other.

“Hey, I asked her first!” he scolded the other one.

“And do I care?” The one with green eyes snubbed his brother and turned to me, “Trust me, I am a far better dancer than anyone in this room.” 

I scrunch my nose because of what the green eyed said so before he could complain, I grabbed his brother’s hand as he led me into the dance floor, leaving his brother dumbfounded.

“I am honored you picked me, Miss Revington.” He gracefully bowed down before softly placing his left hand on my waist and his right hand on mine.

Both of us spun gracefully in the music, twirling to each melody as both of our feet swayed in harmony. His strong arms were able to support me and thus, the result of such beautiful movements that made others look at us. On the last note, he spun me before letting my hand go and took one last bow. 

“I am glad we get to share such a beautiful dance. I am Franklin Quinn, heir to the Quinn house.” He smiled but was cut by his twin brother’s presence.

“Yes, yes. We all know how great of a dancer you are but anyways, we all know that I am the better twin.” Franklin rolled his eyes on Finn’s remark. Both of them bid their farewell before moving on with the night’s festivities.

Hours go by, the night has officially ended and people are retreating back into their carriages.

“It was a pleasure to meet you,” Blair remarked before going into her own carriage.

“May our paths cross again, Miss Clara,” Finn and Franklin said.

My butler opened the backseat for me and helped me to go inside. I sat comfortably on the back and removed my gloves that were itching on my arms. I laid my back down on the red velvet cushion and sighed. 

Suddenly, as I placed my hands out to the seat. It touches an odd stick that was quite not noticeable because of the darkness. I laid my hands out on the street for night light to see what I was holding. My eyes widened with realization when I saw what I was holding.

It was a dandelion.