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"When will this lesson end?" thought Genevieve as she took a break from her school work in the bright room overlooking the front lawn. The room had been converted into a schoolroom for her eldest brother Alder and had continued to be used in that unfortunate manner ever since. Along with her three brothers, still at home, Genevieve spent anywhere from four to six hours a day being tutored in the necessary subjects. Her father, Lord Percy, was a stern and wild tempered noble, who since the passing away of her mother a year ago had begun to spend more and more time locked away in his library. This was of course unless he was not in one of his frequent bad tempers, which he usually took out on the children.
"All of my children will be well versed in every necessary subject," her father stated very firmly whenever the subject of their schooling was brought up. Over her seventeen years, Genevieve had learned not to bring it up. This like most of his other opinions, was one he would not budge on at all and questioning his authority tended to anger him.
Genevieve was a strikingly beautiful young woman of seventeen, with smooth skin, turned golden from the many hours she spent outdoors. Her light brown hair cascaded straight down her back till just bellow her shoulders and allowed her brilliant blue eyes to sparkle in contrast. Due to her father's noble status she often found herself dressed in elegant dresses which often got in the way during her outdoor excursions. Unlike most other young ladies her age she despised court and the politics involved and felt more at ease outside than indoors.
Focusing back on her writing assignment she hurriedly finished the last line and handed it over to Mr. Baines, the family tutor. Quickly glancing over her work, Mr. Baines dismissed her, "That will be all for today, Genevieve. Good work." Gathering her things together Genevieve nodded and made her way to the door carefully avoiding the envious glares of her brothers that she knew they were shooting her way. Closing the door quietly she breathed a quiet sigh of relief and ran down the cold stone steps.
* * * * *
Running out into the garden through the solid stone arch Genevieve slowed her pace to a brisk walk. She could hardly wait to meet Ethan in their special spot by Balyfern Pond.
Ethan, her best friend lived, on a neighboring manor and was also the child of a noble. The manors were both located in a rural area, isolated from the surrounding manors by a day's journey. Living isolated from most other youth they had grown up together and become the closest of friends. When her mother had been alive she had always encouraged their friendship, teasing Genevieve, "One day you're going to look around and see him in a whole new light. He's the perfect boy for you, remember that." Her mother's death a year before had been hard on Genevieve but Ethan had helped her through it and now it was beginning to hurt less.
"Things have certainly changed this past year," thought Genevieve as she continued to make her way through the garden.
Her father had been the one to make many of the changes this past year including forbidding her to see Ethan. While her
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