Chapter Seven – Revealed

At their last meeting, Charella told Augustus everything. She told him how her Father married her step mother when she was little, how he died and how she was made the maid. She tells him how they always mock and make fun of her, never let her leave the house except to go to the market and how she feels completely trapped. Augustus promises, he will liberate her. He will talk to his parents and he will make things right.

***

It’s nearly Summer, and Charella can no longer hide her growing baby bump. At nearly 6 months along, she is starting to show. Treshara has taken notice, but has not said anything. Each day that passes by Charella waits anxiously for Augustus to return. She often daydreams that he will knock on the door during tea time and whisk her away to his palace. As the Summer ball approaches, Treshara becomes more and more curious as to who the Father of Charella’s baby is.



The night of the ball, Charella’s step mother and step sisters get into the carriage. Charella waits like she always does until it departs. So she can make her way to the woods, what she doesn’t see tonight however, is her stepmother stop the carriage and climb out. Charella hurries to the backdoor and rushes through it. Her step mother follows behind her. Charella, unaware.

As Charella makes it to the forest, Augustus catches her in his arms and kisses her hard on the lips.



“It’s so good to see you Char. Look at your belly..” he says laughing. “You’re really coming along.’ he says with a smile kissing her again. Charella’s stepmother has followed her to the woods, now she hides behind a tree, determined to catch sight of who Charella has been meeting. It’s dark, the moon is the only light. They kiss again. Treshara thinks she may be sick. Then she looks once more.

“August, how much longer must we wait?” Charella asks him kissing him again as he takes her hand in his.

“Lovely, once the baby is born, the baby is the key to everything, surely my Father and Mother will not make me marry once I have a child with someone else, surely they will allow me to marry you and we will be happy together. You will be my Queen..” he says with a smile.



Suddenly, Treshara knows who this boy is. “It’s Augustus, the Prince.” she says aloud to herself, although somehow Augustus and Charella don’t hear her. With this new revelation, Treshara quickly makes her way back to the house. She sends for a carriage and continues on her way to the ball.