"The Garden Club"
Three days after the infamous Blackwell party, high society was up in a rupture. Nobles and commoners alike could not believe the reveal of Resena Blackwell, the long-lost daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Blackwell. The most lurking question was where she had been. All over, people speculated where Resena was these past nine years.
"Maybe she lived in another country?" Baroness Reba Luis, wife of Baron Donald Luis said on day as she spoke with Baroness Jenna Race, wife Baron Darren Race at the garden club society in Conland.
"That's a thought! Even so, I would have expected her to show up to at least one high society event, she didn't even have a debutante ball."
"Very true, and I never saw or heard about her in any of the private schools, charm schools, or etiquette classes. Very strange indeed."
Just then Clare Hanbor, wife of Martin Hanbor walked over to the table.
"Hello ladies, sorry I'm late! Martin wanted me to see him off this morning, he's got a meeting with Julius Spencer and wanted to make sure he had everything he needed."
As Clare sat down, she noticed the gazette on the table with Resena's picture on the front page.
Smiling. "The paper is still making a spectacle out of that sweet girl I see."
"Understandably! This is big news! The Blackwells were Duke and Duchess of the imperial capitol, and no one knew they had a daughter or where she's been!"
Baroness Reba exclaimed as she sipped her tea.
"Honestly, it really is a wonder! Maybe she lived in another continent?"
Just then, Clare had a puzzled look on her face.
"What made you say that, Jenna?"
"Well, no one knows where she's been, so I just figured-"
Before Jenna could finish her sentence, Clare raised her hand.
"I know where she's been."
As if they were twins, both women snapped their heads, eyes bulged, in exclamation! Did Clare have the answer to the most asked question in Conland?
"Where? Where has she been? How do you know?"
Reba's face lit with excitement as she and Jenna waited for Clare to answer.
"Yes Clare, tell us what you know! Don't keep us in the balance."
Clare took a sip of the tea the waitress had just placed on the table.
"She's been with the Lansters."
Both women shrieked! The Lanster?! How? Why?
"Wait a minute Clare are you sure? The Lansters?" Jenna asked in shock.
"Yes, that doesn't seem to make sense. Are you saying she's been with them this entire time?" Reba sat up straight, anxious to hear Clare's answer.
"Well, she's Larna Lanster's niece."
!!! Both women could hardly believe their ears! No way was she the niece of Larna Lanster.
"Now wait a minute Clare, that's just impossible! No way Larna had her niece this entire time! I've literally been to the Lanster Estate multiple times! Not once have I ever seen that girl."
Reba began to get defensive; she and Larna were the closest of all the women. Jenna sat silently awaiting Clare's response.
"To tell you the truth, I didn't believe it either. When Martin first told me at the party, I thought he was already drunk, but then, a woman named Ella confirmed it."
"Who's Ella?" Jenna asked quietly as she stared on in shock.
Clare took another sip of her tea, this was the part of the story that would be a little uncomfortable; thinking back, Clare could hardly believe it herself when she'd first heard the harrowing story of Resena Blackwell.
After Martin finished speaking with Spencer, he took one more look at Resena. Suddenly, his face turned white, all night it was troubling him, he knew he'd recognized that girl from somewhere before. Martin scanned the ballroom frantically looking for his wife, Clare was speaking with Baron Luis' wife when he finally walked up to her.
"Hello Baroness Luis, you look lovely this evening."
Martin smiled at Mrs. Luis, his face now relaxed, Clare however could sense something was wrong as her husband smiled on.
"Oh, thank you Martin! I was just telling Clare I finally got to visit that lovely boutique she's been telling me about. I'm glad I finally got a chance!"
"Well, they most certainly did you justice. Do you mind if I barrow my lovely wife for a moment?"
"Absolutely! Clare, you'll be at the Garden club in a few days, right?"
"I certainly will! I haven't had a chance to see her this evening, if you catch Jenna before I do tell her I'll see her at the club as well."
Both women hug each other and bid farewells; just then, Clare turned and looked at her husband. His face now showing concern.
"Martin what's wr…"
"I need to talk to you, walk over here with me so no one will hear us."
Martin pulled Clare over to a corner, the entire ballroom was filled with music, talking, and dancing so he was sure no one would notice them.
"Okay Martin, you want to tell me what's going on? Why do you look so startled.?"
Martin took one more look around the crowd before he spoke. In quiet tone, Martin finally responded.
"I know who that girl is."
"You know who what girl is?"
"The Blackwell girl! I've seen her before!"
Clare looked confused, even if Martin was sure he'd seen her, what was big deal? She was noble so there was always a chance she would be at certain events.
"Martin, I don't understand, why is this a big deal? She's a noble after all so she-"
Once again, Martin cut his wife off.
"No, that's not what I mean Clare, I didn't see her as a noble, I saw her as a lowly maid being abused."
Clare could hardly believe her ears. A maid! Who would dare keep the daughter of the prestigious Blackwells as nothing but a common maid?
"Martin, you're not making any sense! There's no way anyone would make the daughter of Dr. Blackwell a servant. Who on earth would be that ridiculous? Where is it do you think you saw her?"
"She's the niece of the Lansters."
GASP! Clare could not believe it. Did he just say the Lansters? Clare took a step back.
"What do you mean she is the Lansters' niece? Are you talking about Larna and Delvoy?"
"Who else would I be talking about Clare!" Agitated, Martin's voice began to rise.
"Keep your voice down! Martin what the hell are you talking about?"
Martin proceeded to tell his wife about a day he'd visited Lanster for business. Clare stood in shook, she couldn't believe what she had just heard regarding her longtime friend Larna.
"Martin, this doesn't make any sense! I know Larna! You know the Lansters! There is no way she had a niece, and I didn't know."
"I know what I saw Clare, make no mistake, that girl is their niece. She confirmed it a few moments ago."
None of this seemed to make any sense. Why had the Lansters kept Resena Blackwell a secret all of this time?
"Martin, even if what you're saying is true about her being their niece, I cannot believe they would turn her into a servant that they abused."
Sigh. "Clare, don't you think it's strange they aren't here? Just about everyone we know is at this party tonight and yet her own family is absent."
Just as Clare was about to answer, Julius began his proposal to Resena. Afterwards, everyone began to make their way to the courtyard for the fireworks display. As they began to walk outside, Martin whispered to Clare.
"We'll talk about this later."
As the fireworks display began, Martin walked away to speak with one of his colleagues, just then, Clare felt a tap on her shoulder. Startled, she spun around to see a woman smiling at her.
"My apologies for startling you Mrs. Hanbor, my name is Ella Su'Chris. I believe you were just speaking about Lady Resena?"
Reba and Jenna sat in shock, they could not believe what they just heard. The person they have known for over 20 years, how could she be so cruel to her own niece.
"I just don't understand it." Jenna whispered as she dapped her eyes from light tears. "Who could do something like that to a child?"
Reba's face began to redden, she and Larna had been friends from the very moment she moved to Conland. All the birthdays, outings, holidays, all the time they spent together and yet she never knew of her own niece.
"There must be something missing. There is no way my friend would ever abuse a child! Much less her own niece!" Tears began to form in the corners of her eyes, how could Clare say something so cruel?
Clare began to grow frustrated, she knew Reba would have a hard time accepting this information but completely denying it was growing tiresome.
"Reba, don't you think it's strange the Lansters were not at her party?"
"No, I don't! Maybe Larna has been sick! Or Marcell, we don't know why-"
Clare held her hand up, this conversation was going nowhere, Reba was in too much denial. "Then why don't we ask her ourselves?"
"What do you mean?" Reba's face snapped up as Clare stared at her.
"The annual Tea Party will be in two weeks, let's ask Larna about it then."