The Life and Times Of Ralf Wylde! Part 23


At Castle Dargan Gavril has grown up into a handsome teenager. On his last birthday his mother had baked him a cake, but he was too old to worry about such childish things as that today.


"Father, do Alyson and Beatrix have to go home today?", he asked.

"Your sisters have been gone from their home in the village for quite sometime and have plans to return today", said Vincent.


"You've grown up into quite a goodlooking fellow. How do you suppose that happened?", said Vincent, tickling the boy playfully.


"Mother says I have your dark good looks", he said.

"Yes, you do look a lot like I did when I was your age", said Vincent.


Beatrix and Alyson were eating breakfast in the kitchen before they had to leave.

"Why do you look some gloom. You should be glad to be going home", said Alyson, "I've missed our friends and neighbors in the village, haven't you?"


"No I haven't. I wish I could stay here and not ever have to go back", said Beatrix.


"Lord Vincent isn't our father or even our stepfather. We're only guest here. So you don't have any choice but to go home", said Alyson.


Gavril came into the kitchen to tell his sisters goodbye.

"Are you coming back to visit next Sunday Alyson?", he asked.

"Yes, I'll try to come back, that is if I'm caught up on my chores by then", she said.


Gavril gave her a hug goodbye.

"I'm going to miss you", he said.


"Goodbye until next Sunday little brother", said Beatrix, "I'll be back. There's nothing that can keep me away."


Then Gavril gave Beatrix a hug.

"I wish you didn't have to go", he said.

"I wish I didn't either", she thought to herself.


Then Beatrix and Alyson told their mother and Lord Vincent goodbye.


And left Dargan Castle once again to return to the peasant village.


Rachael cried after her daughters left. If she knew about Beatrix and Vincent's affair, she would be glad that one of her daughters was gone.


"Rachael are you alright", asked Vincent.

"It's just that having my girls here the extra days makes it harder to see them leave", she said.


"If it upsets you that much to see them go, I'll ask them if they'd like to move in when they return next Sunday", said Vincent.

"Oh Vincent, that would be wonderful, but I can't let you support childern who aren't even any relation to you", she said.

"I just want you to be happy", he said.

To Be Continued . . .