Soft hum and a sweet melody floated through the air. It carried longing and young vibrancy.
The gentleman on the horse drew the reins and jumped down, he left the animal tethered before he followed the sound of voice. Like a carefully crafted magic it drew him in, and he continued to follow it until he got to a small clearing.
He stopped and stood still to watch in stunned silence. On the bank of a small river was a young lady, she had water dripping out of her copper-red hair, clear evidence that she just came out of the water.
The waning sun casted a glow on her face that made it hard for him to see it but his eyes traveled down her bare back.
He swallowed hard at the smoothness of her skin and a sudden heat traveled to his groin as he imagined touching her.
He breathed in sharply and he took a step closer and that caused him to step on a dry stem.
The sound of a breaking twig made her stop suddenly and she turned her face to see him.
Their eyes met for a few seconds, her emerald ones met his before she let out an ear splitting scream at the realisation of what just happened and he took off in the same direction he had come from.
She scrambled to pull her clothes over her body, the appearance of a stranger had interrupted the special moment she was spending enjoying the water basked in the golden hour.
"Little Miss Ellie". A voice called in the distance before she heard rustle from within the forest before her handmaid stopped in front of her while panting.
"The carriage just arrived!" She announced excitedly while pointing in the direction she had come from.
Ellie's expression brightened and she happily put on her clothes, pushing away the stranger out of her mind like he never existed.
Her handmaiden walked behind her to help fasten the zip of the dress. Like many old ones she owns, it was rapidly losing its vibrancy and beauty.
The carriage the maid had come to announce was what she had been waiting for since the last two weeks after her grandmother was buried—the only member of her family she had left.
"I wonder what delayed them to arrive so late". She thought out loud and brushed her hand down over the hem of her long dress.
"I also wonder, the foot man looked like he survived a storm and a stroke!" Her maid replied and she let out a soft chuckle before they both walked away from the river hidden within the forest.
The gentle sway of her hips as she stepped over a fallen log was only a drop of her beauty.
Her name, although unpopular and without a title or fortune to it, was Elliena Daisy McHale.
Her father, Collins McHale was once a wealthy businessman but he lost most of his wealth after a bad business season, the evidence of their wealth could be seen around their estate that was also a ghost of itself.
Despite this, Ellie, little Miss Ellie like her father always called her, carried herself with the grace of a proper lady. She studied well and wished to fall in love and get married to who her heart chose.
Even though she is just nineteen, she has experienced her share of rainy days and she is not as innocent or naive as she looks.
Her father died before her fifteen birthday and since then she had lived with her only grandmother, her father's mother until she passed away from a cold two months ago.
Before his death, her father had told his old friend to take care of her if anything ever happens to him.
Seeing that she has no family left, he adopted her and sent someone to bring her over.
Ellie doesn't know the extent of his riches and wealth until her eyes rested on the grand carriage in front of their old villa. The detailed design on it and the gold colour it was painted in made her curious.
"Is that it?" She asked her maid with an arched eyebrow.
She studied it well with a frown.
"Such a luxurious carriage". She thought but despite her curiosity, she did not gawk and only walked into the house.
Except for her handmaid, the only servant left on the estate was their old house keeper.
Ms Kate, never married and has no children. She looked after Ellie ever since she lost her mother to tuberculosis at three.
Ms Kate was waiting by the door when Ellie got inside.
Her old face broke into a wide smile, a smile riddled with sadness.
"I have told you to stop going to that river alone, it is not safe Miss". She nagged as soon as Ellie got closer.
"The gentlemen said they are not spending the night here but at an inn a few hours from here. I have your things packed for you. Don't keep them waiting". Ms Kate explained and Ellie paused to think about what she said.
She could not blame them, their house was in its worst state and it has stopped running properly for years now.
They barely survive and make do with little money from renting out to farmers.
But despite that, Ellie hesitated. She looked at the little chest that her things had been packed. She doesn't own any luxury items and her five dresses are fighting for their lives as she has no means of replacing them.
Her eyes welled up with tears with the thought of leaving everything behind, the house she grew in, the simple life she had grown to love. Her only friend and handmaid.
Even though she had been waiting, nothing prepared her for the exact moment.
"Now, don't delay them any further". Ms Kate reminded her in a stern voice to stop herself from getting emotional but when Ellie hugged her, she stopped and stood still.
"You just remember to always write to me always, this kind of life doesn't suit a fine young lass like you". She said with a wide smile and flashed her teeth.