"Harvey has always been such a good boy," Mrs. Summers laughed obnoxiously, maybe cursing Harvey inwardly because her own son didn't ever get accepted into the Central University. "What will you be studying?"
"Mathematics." Harvey's face was rock stoic.
"Ahahaha!" Mrs. Summers laughed again, showing her yellow teeth, with bits of green plaque sticking on it. "Tea?"
"I decline, Mrs. Summers." Harvey's mother smiled, a gracious exchange of obnoxiousity between two fat women-
"I heard your fiancé studies there too," Mrs. Summers slurped up her tea- making a noise equivalent to a cat farting, Harvey was having a hard time having his thoughts under control.
"Yes. He is studying surgery," Drusilla blushed.
"Oh how wonderful!" The fat woman clapped her hands, "My daughter is also set to be married with a surgery major too. Quite a catch, that lad. And it must be convenient for you too-"
Harvey's fists clenched, but his sister held him back with a sharp gaze.
"-having a surgeon for a son-in-law, money will be easier. After all, having three daughters and their dowries."
"Yes, that's our concern," Harvey's mother sighed, a bit tired of the Mayor's wife, hoping that Mr. Summers would come out of his study soon and be done with the work.
It took time though, the stamping of travel documents and identification processes.
"Drusilla darling, why don't you chat a bit with my daughter Agathe here? Maybe she can show you and young Harvey a bit of her jewellery?" Mrs. Summers looked at her daughter, who was physically present in the living hall, but mentally on some dimension which was-
"These people?" Agathe Summers looked disdainfully at Drusilla.
"Agathe," Mrs. Summers chided, "Pardon, my daughter is sheltered." She laughed again, and Harvey rolled his eyes. "Be off, you kids. Have some fun for yourselves."
Agathe got up, looking at Drusilla and Harvey, not even bothering to open her mouth and just nodding her proud head as an order to follow her. Harvey's fists itched.
"Hush brother, it's of no use." Drusilla held his hand again.
Agathe's room was huge- obviously, as the daughter of the Mayor, she had been born with a silver spoon in her mouth and fed with that spoon her whole life.
Probably doesn't know how to hold that spoon herself, does mommy do even that for you?
Crystal decorations hung over her four poster bed, her soft pink silk sheets and succulent decorating her window sills- the room was larger than Harvey and all his sisters' rooms combined.
"The sheets have been made this morning, so don't sit."
"Wouldn't have even if you asked." Harvey didn't hold back this time.
"Anyway, Drusilla, did you see this?" Agathe totally ignored the boy, choosing to address his elder sister instead, as she drew a satin gown with embellishments out of her wardrobe, showing it off to the siblings.
"Pray, that's beautiful! Agathe, where did you find this?" Drusilla kept up with her act, while Harvey moped around, finding great interest in succulents.
"My fiancé sent this to me as a gift. I'm sure your sends you too,"
Drusilla lifted the hem of her skirt, showing off the silver anklets with tiny bells on them- made music when she walked.
"Oh?" Agathe narrowed her eyes. "Why? I have those same ones, just in gold." She lifted her own hem.
"Maybe, they found it at the same market?" Drusilla laughed, despite a worry stabbing the back of her mind. "You said that he studies surgery too- mind telling me his name?"
"Michael," Agathe smiled obnoxiously, "I just got word from him last evening, a beautiful penmanship, I must tell you."
"Oh," Drusilla muttered half heartedly.
It's okay... it's a big world... two people can have the same name.
Drusilla's Michael was a jolly fellow, and the two were so deeply in love with each other, surely, this had to be someone else.
"Look, this is the letter he sent me!"
Agathe,
My darling bride,
The love of my life,
My beautiful beautiful lady
This heart longs for you. How much nights do I have to spend alone, for a single embrace of yours?
My heart pines for you, my darling bride. But I am shackled, my arms and legs bound by this world. How many times I imagined myself running towards you, holding you close to my heart and burying my face in those golden tresses of yours? My beautiful Agathe, I adore you.
A picture of you stands by my bedside, and every night I stare at your face, wishing just that your picture was you itself... after all, what artist can ever capture your true beauty on a canvas?
Agathe my darling, await me. For this year is going to be perilous and weary, as I drudge myself away from you, just your memories and your longings my only motivation in this journey ahead of me. Pray, pray for your lover that I finish my studies and come home back to you, and ask for your hand in marriage.
My heart pines for you.
Yours truly,
Michael.
Drusilla's knees gave way- sinking all the way down to the floor like a spineless fish.
"Sister!" Harvey screamed, rushing to his hapless sister. "What is the matter?"
Drusilla couldn't speak.
______________________________________
"Sister, stop crying, and say what is wrong!" Aggripina, the second Goldshaw sister, was furious. She hated seeing the diamond precious tears spilling out from her beloved sister's eyes.
Drusilla refused to speak.
"Drusilla, what happened?" Mother, fed up of the girl, finally threatened her with a wooden ladle to stop her crying.
"Michael!" Drusilla whimpered loudly, wiping snot on her sister's sleeve, "He- He che... cheated on m-me!"
Everyone went silent for a moment. It was really a hard sound to believe.
"Agathe Summers... she's got the same letter as mine! Even the handwriting is same, and- and she recieved the same anklets as mine! In gold!" Drusilla cried harder.
"Mother, do you think Michael hath forsaken me? Am I- I not good enough?!"
"No sister," Harvey closed his book with a loud thud, "Wait till I catch a hold of this buffoon... I'll make him regret ever being born."
_____________________________________
HARVEY GOLDSHAW
Harvey Fitzwilliam Goldshaw
Age : 18
Height : 6'
Subject Major: Mathematics
Nationality: English
Personality : reserved, hates social customs and gatherings.
Likes : books, rabbits and spending time alone
Dislikes: talking to people
Love interest : Not interested in love