Rebirth: Revenge of the Abused Daughter

Alejandro Charles Cotswold

I am staring at him making myself remember but it just made me look away because the more I look at him the more I feel oddly weird in my chest. I don’t know what is wrong with me but his voice feels like it is so familiar in my head yet I can’t remember where I heard his voice.

“Zorenia we have been looking for you. There you are.” I turn to look at who is approaching to see my mother and Elena walking towards me.

“Mother, Elena I’m sorry I was misdirected by the crowd away from you.” I said as I look at them and my mother hold my arm but when they look at the man in front of me I see her eyes widen.

“Oh, it is you again sir. We haven’t had the chance to thank you for what you did before. Let me have this chance to say thank you for helping us and helping my daughter.” my mother said walking towards the man and then bowing in front of him making the man startled and stepping back when my mother bows at him sincerely.

“It is a pleasure to help someone in need so please… stop bowing at me Madam.” the man said holding my mother in both shoulders to stop her from bowing and when my mother straightens he smiles and step back then give my mother a slight bow and a tip to his hat.

“Wait, you know him, mother?” I ask as I look at them while my mother walks to my side.

“Zorenia dear, he is that kind gentleman who had held you when you suddenly fell and he even lend us his carriage to bring us home, he even sends a doctor to see your condition. I tried looking for him but they said he went back to London so we never did get a chance to thank him for what he did for you.” my mother said looking at me then at that handsome gentleman.

My eyes widen when it hits me, his voice is familiar because I heard it while I am in pain before. I look at the man and see him looking at me. I sigh and take a deep breath before I curtsy at him taking him by surprise.

“I express my gratitude for what the kind sir did for me. I thank you and I hope I can repay you in any way.” I said as I look at him after curtsying.

“You already did young Miss. Just being my niece’s kind teacher and being able to make her change in just a few days is a big thing. It is nice to finally meet the teacher she keeps on telling me about, Miss Witman right?” he said as his niece look up at him with a smile.

“The name is Zorenia Witman, sir. This is my mother Helen and my sister Elena. Thank you so much for helping me and… Catherine is a bright kid so it is a great pleasure being her teacher.” I said and he smiles at me making me clench my fist on my dress because his smile suddenly made my heart beat so fast and I feel the hammering like I was just in a marathon.

“I am Alejandro Charles Cotswold, I am Catherine’s uncle. It is nice to meet you Miss Witman, madam, and you Elena.” He said with a smile.

“The pleasure is also ours. Oh, I am sorry but we have to bid goodbye. We must go first Sir Cotswold, see you tomorrow Catherine.” I said smiling at the little girl before I curtsy at the man in front of me who is just smiling.

“See you tomorrow Miss Witman.” Catherine said as I smile and nod at her.

Giving Alejandro one last glance and a smile I turn then follow my mother and Elena who are walking towards where Mrs. Crantock and her family are waiting for us with a smile on their faces.

“Wait for a moment, Miss Witman.” I heard that sexy male’s voice calling at me so I stop and look back just to see Alejandro walking towards me.

“Yes, is there something that matters Sir Cotswold?” I ask as I look at him and smile.

He stops in front of me as I see Catherine walking towards a woman standing on the side and to my memory I have once seen that woman when I first visited Lady Kauffman. That must be Lusena, Catherine’s nanny.

“Miss Witman I suppose this is yours.” he said as he shows me the same box Catherine was holding a little while ago.

“That is…”

“You answered the question so you deserve this for being the only one who understood Catherine from her previous teachers. It is a gift, think of it as a gift from her.” he said with a smile that made me sigh as I just look at the box reluctantly.

When he sees my reluctance he suddenly takes my hand and upon touching my skin I feel this certain heat and tingling sensation, I feel him froze as well but he acted casual about it. It must have been his soft hand; it is not just that but that warmth coming from his hand is like assuring. I look at our hand when he places the box into my hand and he slowly let my hand go.

“This is…… thank you for whatever this is kind Sir.” I utter as I look at the box.

“You can open that back home. For now, have a nice Sunday Miss Witman.” Alejandro said as he smiles again and turns to head towards Catherine.

I just watch his back as I take a deep breath and turn around to follow my mother and Elena. I look at the box as I walk, with a deep sigh I place that box on the bag I am carrying that holds the handmade wallet that my mother sewed for me. I bought my mother a sewing machine as a gift she can use at home so she keeps on sewing clothes for us and even curtains.

“I see, so Mr. Cotswold did help you. I heard that the kind gentleman has bought some properties here and even this big house. I even heard that his servants are starting their work as well. Rumors also said that Mr. Cotswold will be staying here for his niece. It is no secret that the Kauffman’s are having a problem in their marriage so it is not a doubt that he might also be here to help fix his sister’s marriage for his niece’s sake. Such a fine young man I say.” Mrs. Roselia Crantock said as we drink our tea on their porch facing their wide front yard with a high fence and a gate.

The Crantocks have a little bit wider crop field for corns too. They have 10 or 12 servants that tend to their field. My mother said that Mrs. Roselia Crantock was once a servant to but her master and now husband Mr. Crantock take her as his wife. That explains her kind and down-to-earth attitude towards those lowly status people like us. That is why I like her for she knows how to be kind to other people without finding a reason to be kind to them.

“It appears that the young gentleman fancies his niece to even decide living here despite having a brighter future in London. Mr. Cotswold is said to be convinced by the Duke of Cornwall to take his father’s previous position as the Duke of Cambridge. The young man seems undecided.” Mr. Crantock said as he sips his tea.

“Such a fine young man, many ladies will be fantasizing to be married to him surely. Who knows, fine ladies might be crowding at his home to gain his attention.” Mrs. Crantock said.

“He must be so lucky.” I said as I sip my tea.

‘Yeah right, he sounds like trouble and too much of a cutie to handle. I can’t imagine being with someone being followed by many women.’ I utter in my mind as I listen to the grown-up’s stories while Elena is walking to the front yard with the Crantocks daughter, Reka who happens to be in her same class and same age.

I am happy to see Elena playing at her age now. It is really hard imagining her growing up doing hard labor as she did back in Winterlock. I just wonder, where and who are Elena’s parents. Elena was an orphan and she was like 5 or 6 when Sonia found her on the street while crying beside some pile of trash bags. When Sonia brought Elena to the Broughtston’s house where they are staying, Sonia got punished and beaten by Lady Cornelia and Laurena. That is why they were thrown out and are forced to stay in that wrecked house while still going to the Broughtstons’ house to do their works, growing up and helping them work Elena also didn’t get away from Lady Cornelia and the others’ beating, insults, and bullying. With all the bitter memories from Sonia that is triggering my anger, I can’t really drop the idea of vengeance. Those people are so evil and too much to just let them go free and happy.

“I heard Captain Lawhitton invited you to the celebration on Tuesday Zorenia. Will you attend?” Mrs. Cranstock said taking my attention back.

“We have to; the Captain takes his time to come to our home just to invite us.” I answer and she looks at me with that kind of smile that I hated when it comes to matchmaking ploys of other people to someone you don’t really like.

“Hmnn that young captain seems to have taken a fancy to you Zorenia. He seems to be a suitable husband to you. What do you think of him?” Mrs. Crantock said and all eyes went to me.

I take a deep breath before taking a sip of my tea then smile at them with a smile on my lips but not the kind that agrees but rather it is a smile that seems to be laughing about the idea.

“He is a suitable husband yes… BUT I don’t want to be married to someone who will be leaving most of the time for war. Being in the military is surely dangerous and I don’t have the luxury of worrying about a husband in war besides… I still have matters I need to settle.” I said with a cunning smile remembering my plan of revenge.

“Hmnn the young Miss is right, life in the military is unpredicted. We don’t know if the second time they will return home the man you married will be there. As far as I know how good a gentleman the young captain is I agree that he will not be fitted to be with Zorenia who seems to be a free-spirited young woman.” Mr. Crantock said making me smile.

It is a good thing someone agreed with me and takes my side. I really can’t have a military man to be my husband though he can also be of help to my revenge but… I Zorenia have this belief about marriage being sacred. The reason why in my 22 of age I am still unmarried and never had a boyfriend is that I have this strong conviction that the man who I will marry can only be the one who can become my first and last man to touch me. I had kept my body sacred only for my husband, even if we will marry with love or not, I want to serve him as his wife no matter what.

“Hmnn I have to say, you are right. It is just a pity that the captain seems to be hoping you will return his feelings.” Mrs. Crantock said as she sips her tea and smiles at my mother.

“I tried turning him down but he said he will try to change my thoughts until I am not yet married to another man.” I said and the two older women smile and look at one another with their silly smiles.

“Well, who knows, his efforts might be paid off one day.” Mrs. Crantock said as I look in the direction of Elena and Reka who are picking some flowers into the garden of Mrs. Crantock.

‘I hardly doubt it. My mind is set to returning to Winterlock and making the Broughtstons’ lives miserable. My mind is only set for that and that alone, marriage and other things are not crossing my mind.’ I utter in my mind as I sip my tea and placing it back on the table.

When we return home after diner at the Crantocks I sit at my table and start writing when I remember that box Catherine and her uncle gave me. I take it out of my bag and stare at it before I take a deep breath. I slowly open the lead of the box just to have my mouth open wide seeing what is in it.

“You got to be kidding me! Is that man for real?” I utter as I take that item inside the box and stare into it.

I am holding a Diamond necklace with a golden chain. It is a flower design pendant that has the size of a coin made of diamond that is reflecting the light from the lamp making it shine and with these small rubies as design. I sigh as I play with the pendant before I return it to the box, seems like I will be seeing that man again. Darn it! And I thought it will be a one-time thing.