5 Chapter Four

April 22, 1835

Caroline's eyes flutter open and, although the curtains are drawn, light floods in from the window near her bedside. Caroline lets out a yawn as she sits up to look around the room. It takes a moment for her to recognize her surroundings, but upon doing so the realization sits in: she had really been sent off to marry the Count. She knew it was coming, she was well past of age, but it didn't feel real until this moment. She stands up to stretch before walking over to the windows and pulling open the blinds. In that moment, as if sensing Caroline's grievance, Milly bursts open the door in quite a hurry.

"Good morning-"

"My lady, who drew open the curtains? No one told me you called." Milly asks in a panic, walking over to her.

"I did-" she once again cuts Caroline off.

"You shouldn't do such things; if you need anything, all you must do is ring for me," Milly exclaims.

"It's alright, I'm quite capable of opening curtains," Caroline says, sternly.

"My apologies, I didn't mean it that way-" Milly says in a low, hushed voice. She begins to shake like a scared rabbit. Caroline takes notice of this and attempts to comfort her.

"It's fine," Caroline says, "is the Count still in? I'd like him to join me for breakfast."

"That's actually why I came to wake you," Milly says, "the Count is preparing to leave, so I've come to dress you to say goodbye with everyone."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner!" Caroline yells.

"I'm sorry, my lady," Milly says meekly, "I'll find you something to wear right away!"

Milly runs off to Caroline's closet. A few minutes later she comes back with three different dresses.

The first was a long, dark blue dress, similar to the one she arrived in, but it was a little too plain; she needed to look her best if this was to be the last time she would see her husband-to-be for nearly three weeks time. The second was a little more extravagant than she was used to; it was a pale yellow with white accents studding it from top to bottom. The last dress was a dark emerald green with corresponding light green accents. Green wasn't normally a color she would choose, but it matched her favorite necklace perfectly.

"I'd like to wear that one," Caroline says, pointing to the third dress.

Milly purses her lips, signaling that it isn't her favorite; nevertheless, she helps Caroline put it on. She pairs it with dark green flats and the emerald necklace Caroline had worn the day before. Milly quickly puts Caroline's hair in a tight bun before leading her out of the white Lily Wing down to the first floor. As they make their way down the stairs, Caroline spots the Count in the mix of all the chaos. She squeezes past the crowd of servants making their way outside, leaving Milly behind.

"Please wait!" Caroline shouts as the Count turns to leave the manor. He stops in his tracks and turns around to face her as she makes her way over to him.

"Nice of you to grace us with your presence," he says coldly.

"I'm sorry for my absence," Caroline says, nearly out of breath.

"Well, you made it just in time. I'm about to leave."

"About that, I was hoping we could have breakfast together before you left," Caroline says, her eyes glimmering with hope.

"I-" he's cut off.

"We're all packed up, my lord." A soldier, around the same age as the Count, who Caroline assumes to be his guard, interrupts him.

The Count turns to face him. "Let's take our leave then." The soldier nods in agreement. He bows to Caroline on his way out. She reluctantly follows them with Milly not far behind her. As they exit the building, the staff stands in two rows on both sides, arranged as they had been when Caroline first arrived at the estate. The Count walks over to his carriage, not once looking back at her. The soldier sits next to the driver as he hits the reins before the carriage is pulled by two black beauties down the driveway. As Caroline waves goodbye, she can’t help the feeling of loneliness and solitude sink in, for with the Count leaving she was truly alone at the Van Estate.