The Heart of Society Ch. 1

            The year was 1775. The peasant Kacelyn walked through the back streets of New York. She had decided this was the night she would die. Dressed in a stolen dress, from her father the tailor, she wandered endlessly. She hoped with all her heart that a stranger would just jump out of the shadows an kill her. She had no will to live.

            With this being the worst part of town, it didn’t take long. She heard a sound behind her. It was a large man, dressed in a black hood. She could smell the strong scent of alcohol and noted the presence of sin just glistening all over him. She couldn’t see his face, but she knew whoever it was would be her helper to the afterlife.

            She said nothing as he pushed her against the stone wall of the back alley street. He started to have his way with her. It was disgusting and this would forever scar her.

            But just then there was a shout.

            “Son of evil step away from that woman!” a male voice said. She heard him draw a sword. Her murderer pulled himself off and ran into the shadows from where he had come. She slid to the cobbled street.

            “Miss, are you alright?” the person said helping her off the ground.

            She looked into his eyes, dimly lit from the street lamp a few feet away. They were lovely amber brown and his hair was long gorgeous. He was dressed in a rich mans clothes.

             “Y-y-yes, sir.” She shook as a cold burst of wind soared through the city.

            He looked her over.

            “You poor thing! Here, let me wrap you in my coat.” He took off a long blue jacket and put it around her shoulders. “Come with me to my home. I shall take have my servants tend to you at once.”

            He walked her through the maze of streets.

            “What is your name, Miss?” the man asked. Kacelyn had never seen anyone so beautiful. She didn’t want him to know her real name, or where she had come from.

            “Anne Marie.” She lied to him.

            “You’re dressed in such finery. Are you from a wealthy family?” he asked.

            “Yes, but we are not from New York, we’re from…” she pondered her head for a place far off. “Philadelphia.”

            “Philadelphia? What are you doing so far from home?” he questioned.

            Her mind raced.

            “I was to be wed to a lowly soldier, because no one else wanted me. So I fled.” She said furthering the lie.

            “Why would no one want you? You are a beautiful girl!” he said astonished.

            “I have no womanly skills.” She frowned. It was true. All Kacelyn could do was write. It’s all she lived for. But no would read it because of her social status.

            “Oh, I see.” He smacked himself in the head. “Dear, me! Where are my manners? I have not told you my name! I am Cheric Bennett, son of Arthur Bennet, the trading tycoon.”

            “Very impressive, Mr. Bennett. Will you inherit it?” she asked.

            “Alas, no. I am the youngest of three sons. I still live with my mother and father. I was to married this past December but my fiancée was betrothed to another.” He sighed. “I loved her with all my being.”

            “It will be alright, Mr. Bennett.” She said placing her arm on his. “I too had a love… but he wanted nothing to do with me.” She frowned.

            “He was mad. You are beautiful!” he exclaimed.

He was the man who had taught her to write. The school teacher named LaHaye. She did not know his first name.

“Yes, well beauty is only skin deep.” They kept walking.

 They drew nearer to the rich section. The houses became bigger and the streets were adorned with shrubs and flowers.  The tow of them stopped in front of a huge mansion. Kacelyn looked up amazed. It was huge!

            “It’s a bit too small for my liking. I’m sure you’re used to better in Philadelphia.” He told her.

            She thought of a lie. “Yes, my home is two times bigger than this.” She said.

            “Well, I hope us New Yorkers can make you feel at home.” He opened the gate and they went onto the grounds.

            There was a huge garden entrance and a fountain shaped like a mermaid. It was enchanting. There were flowers and trees of every shape and size imaginable. A fat brown cat jumped from the bushes and frightening Kacelyn.

            Mr. Bennet reached down to pick him up. “Norton! How dare you scare my guest!” he laughed petting it. Kacelyn smiled.

            A servant ran from the house entrance.

            “Master Cheric, your mother is looking for you in the drawing room.” He said.

            “Very well, I shall make an appearance.” Mr. Bennet said. “And prepare a bath and room for my guest Miss….erm…” he looked to Kacelyn.

            “Miss. Potts.” She said looking to him. She had used her grandmother’s maiden name.

            “Yes sir.” He said hurrying off.

            “Potts?” Mr. Bennett asked.

            “Yes.” She said quickly.

            “As in the Potts Ironworks Company?” he asked. Her eyes grew wide and she searched her mind.

            “Ummm… yes, of course! What Potts did you think I was speaking of?” she eyed. He chuckled.

            He walked her up the steps.

            “Well, welcome to my home.” He said pushing open the doors.

            Kacelyn’s mouth dropped.

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