A Love Story in London (short version)

Vivien Alexander has everything a girl could ask for, until her father gets remarried.What happens when her new mother wants her dead?

The thick, fog crept through the many streets of London, England. People far and near were celebrating something very special. Something special indeed, as it was New Years Eve of 1924. However in the country by the name of Buckinghamshire in an estate called Notley Abbey, a little girl was born to a wealthy Lord and his Lady. The girl was born just as the stroke of midnight could be heard.

Resting peacefully in her mother’s arms, Lady Alexander and Lord Richard Alexander looked down at their sleeping daughter as they began deciding on a name for their new bundle of joy. Natalie and Richard went through many names before deciding on the name Vivien Rose Alexander. Vivien came from Natalie’s side of the family for it was her mother’s name. While Rose was Richards Grandma’s middle name. The two names fit just perfectly together. For you see, Natalie’s mother died when she was just a little girl. Unbeknownst to her new born daughter, the same fate would come to her as well. 

The Lord and his family were such a happy family. They were what a young family should have been. At just 26 the two had everything they had always wanted. A daughter they could spoil, a lovely home and the love of each other that could surpass anything. Happy with their new daughter, life was just perfect for them. Until one day things would go amiss. Just five months after the birth of their daughter an outbreak of tuberculosis swept over London. Confined to her bed, Natalie lay dying from this terrible disease. 

Rain beat down on the lovely stone home as a storm could be heard in the distance, while death lingered in the master bedroom of Notley Abbey. Knowing that her life would soon be over, Natalie called for her husband who had their daughter in his arms. 

“Our little girl, our precious little girl,” Natalie said in a weak voice as her daughter rested in her arms maybe for the last time. Tears sprang to her lovely blue eyes as it dawned on her that she would never get to see her daughter walk or hear her say her first words. Natalie would miss so much in Vivien’s life.

“Raise her well.” Natalie said taking her husband’s hand as she looked up into his face.

“I will always love you,” Richard said as his hand rubbed up and down her warm cheek. Looking into her eyes he saw the love he had always seen for the past four years. Lowering his lips down to hers they shared one final kiss. As the kiss broke Natalie’s eyes shut as she laid her head back onto the pillow.

Over the next few months Richard would go out with many lady friends, but none of them made him truly happy as Natalie used to. Richard began to think he would never find another wife. Would he ever find another mother for Vivien? This soon began to eat at him night and day. 

While Vivien was learning how to walk and talk Richard knew he needed to find another wife and soon very, very soon. 

Finally after looking and almost giving up his hopes he found a woman that resemble Natalie, not in looks but in her kindness and in spirit. Just a few weeks before his little girls first birthday, Richard was married to a much younger woman. Catherine Canon was a very lovely lady. Talk went around that she was the most beautiful woman in all of England…or so they say the fairest one of all.

17 years later…

The bombs went off one after another as the smell of death lingered in the air. People could be heard screaming and crying for their loved ones as the Nazi’s came through the streets of London. Sirens could be heard in the distance as help arrived for the wounded. It was 1942 and the war was upon England.

“Must you go again father?” Vivien asked as they walked the grounds of Notley. She knew the many people of the Army needed him, but she needed him just as much.

Richard turned to look at her just as he had done when she was a little girl. “Vivien, I have to go. The Army needs me,” While doing this he could see so much of Natalie in her. “You look and act just like your mother,”

Vivien smiled at this. Whenever her father spoke her mother’s name she could see a light in his eyes return. Something she rarely saw when he was with Catharine. “What was mother like?” Richard didn’t answer as Vivien found him thinking of those times. “Do I have to beg you for a story? Like I once did?”

Sitting on the small stone bench that sat under the big oak tree Richard began the story. “Your mother and I met when we were very young, as a matter of fact just a few years older then you.” Vivien smiled at this she knew her parents were very much in love. Before either one of them knew it, it was rather late.

“Oh, father I’m going to miss you so much,” as she gave him a hug, a tear ran down her face and onto his jacket. For all Vivien knew this could be the last time she would ever see her father alive.

Breaking the hug, Richard could tell she had been crying. Handing her his white handkerchief she dried her tears. “I’m not that far away all you have to do is think of your mother and I”

Vivien knew this. She always knew her parents love was with her.

Watching from a second story window that just faced the east of the garden Lady Alexander looked out with a scowl on her face while bitterness filled her heart. Oh, how she despised her stepdaughter. She was always so sweet and kind. It just made her sick to her stomach. To make matters worse she was getting prettier each day. Every time Catherine would see one of her friends out and about they would always tell her 

“Your stepdaughter is just so pretty. You must be so proud of her.” 

Catherine was everything but proud of her stepdaughter. Why did she have to be so pretty? 

Before Lady Alexander would know it Vivien would be the most beautiful woman in all of London. Lady Alexander couldn’t let that happen. As a matter of fact she wouldn’t let that happen even if it was the last thing she ever did.

A little while later Vivien and her father headed inside. Walking up stairs Vivien got ready for dinner. Heading around a corner Vivien bumped into her stepmother. “I’m sorry stepmother.” Vivien apologized.

“What have I told you t call me?” Catherine asked as her eyes went small.

“That’s better,” Catherine’s cold voice shot back which sent chills down Vivien’s spine.

Resting a hand on the door she opened it. Vivien saw her little orange tabby kitten sitting on her bed. Going over to her bed she sat down as she put the kitten in her lap. 

“Oh, Callie, what are we going to do?” she asked while a few tears sprang to her eyes. Vivien buried her lovely face in the kitten’s fur she tried to hide her true feelings. However there was one reason why she didn’t want her father to go, for she knew how Catherine could be. 

 “I’m sorry Catherine,” Vivien said as she looked back at her stepmother. 
 

The following day Richard was scheduled to leave. Walking downstairs he found Vivien picking at her breakfast. “Vivien, darling why so glum?” he asked as he approached her. 

“I don’t want you to leave.” Her voice came as her eyes drifted up towards her father’s face. 

“You knew this day was coming,” Richard said sitting down next to her. 

“I know I just didn’t want to believe it would be here so soon.” Tears clung to her long eyelashes, while she tried to keep herself together. “What happened to your 48 hours?” Standing up she dabbed her eyes.

“They called last night. Telling me I was leaving today.” Richard answered as he tried to be calm at all cost.

“But you can’t go now.” Vivien said in fear as she found her hands going into fist. Turning on her father Vivien walked out of the room and onto the patio. How could her father do this to her? She had already lost one parent she couldn’t bear to lose another.

“Viv, don’t do this to me.” Richard said as he stood in the doorway. “I know you're upset that I have to leave, but the sooner I leave the sooner I will be back.”

“But what if you don’t come back?” Vivien asked looking up at him with eyebrows raised while the question remained unanswered. Richard didn’t know how to answer this question.  “You can’t even answer that one,” Vivien answered for him before he got a chance to try.

“Not all questions can be answered Viv,” came his response as Callie came and sat on Vivien’s lap. 

“I suppose not,” Vivien answered back as she could feel herself giving in, as a sad sigh escaped her lips. 

Moments later a car horn could be heard out front. Vivien’s head shot up. No, it couldn’t be time already?  Getting up Vivien placed Callie at her feet and walked with her father to the front door.
For the next few moments would be the hardest and worst for Vivien. She could just hear all the gun shots and cries of the wounded as she approached the door.

“Be good my darling and I shall be back as fast as I can.” Richard said kissing her forehead. Giving him one final hug Vivien told him how much she loved him and how much she was going to miss him. Opening the door Richard tilted his hat towards his daughter and disappeared down the walk way.

Resting her hand on the smooth glass Vivien watched as her father left. “Daddy,’ she mouthed as she couldn’t find the words to say. Still looking out Vivien didn’t even notice that Catharine had entered the room. “He left, did he?” she asked. 

“You would have known if you would have had the decency to say goodbye.” Vivien said as she turned and faced her stepmother.

“My, my, my after her dear father leaves the real person comes out doesn’t she?” Catherine asked as she tossed her hair behind her. “Pull in those claws. I can tell you I have no true feelings for your father.”

“Why?” Vivien asked in a cry while she tried to prepare herself for the answer that was to come.

“Why you ask? I will tell you why. When I married your father I married for money, for power. I married for a great deal of things,” Catherine muttered “I for one didn’t think you would be part of that package. I should have sent you to boarding school when I had the chance.”

“My father wouldn’t have sent me to a boarding school. You would have never gotten away with it!” 

Catherine laughed at this. “You silly girl, you don’t know much do you?” 

“I know plenty, my father gave me the best tutors,” Vivien shot back as she knew she spoke the truth. 

“If you know a lot then why don’t you do as you’re told?” Catherine said coldly. This girl rarely did as she was told let alone doing it on her own. 

“I don’t know what you mean?” Vivien said. She found this rather infuriating “I do as I’m told.” 

“Then get cleaning those dishes. They won’t clean themselves you know.” Catherine pointed in the direction of the kitchen. 

“No, I won’t.” Vivien yelled as she began walking to the door. However, Catherine beat her to it. 
 

“You will or your kitten will go for a swim in the river.” Catherine shot back as she took Callie from Vivien’s arms.

“No,” Vivien cried as she tried to get Callie back.

“Then get busy.” Catherine commanded as she yet again pointed toward the kitchen once again.

Going into the kitchen with her kitten in hand Vivien got busy. Her life would be changed forever, at least until her father got home, however her father wouldn’t be taking his daughters side so easily.

“Vivien, we need to talk.” Richard said as he came over to the window seat. “What has gotten into you, young lady?” Of all nights this night had to be the night things turned bad. His first time home in a few months and things were getting ugly.

“Haven’t you believed anything that I’ve told you?” Vivien blurted out before she could catch herself. Apparently the letters that were sent did no good.

“Vivien, I’ve had so much going on it’s hard to keep things straight at the moment.” Richard answered. “What exactly do you mean?” 

“You didn’t believe anything that I told you when I wrote you those letters.” Vivien spoke. She knew this to be true. “Catherine is so mean to me. You can’t seem to get past how pretty she is to see that. To make matters worse, she doesn’t even love you father. I’m the one that’s always loved you.  You’re away all the time so you don’t notice it”

“Vivien, that’s enough! What I think is that you’re trying to get your way, because you’ve always gotten your way with everything. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that. Maybe I should have told you know a few times. Then maybe we wouldn’t be in this right now.” 

“I suppose you think I should have never been born either.” Vivien cried.

“That’s not what I said and you know it.” Richard yelled. Following Vivien out of her room Richard watched as she ran out the front door down the walk way of Notley. The following day wouldn’t be much better. For you see Richard was called back to the front.

“Please, father, come home safe and sound.” Vivien said as she hugged him. “I don’t know if I could bear it if anything happen to you.” 
 

“Nothing is going to happen to me.” Richard said kissing his daughter goodbye.

Waving goodbye Vivien smiled at her father. When he was out of site Vivien headed to her mother’s rose garden, however Catherine spotted her soon after. “Where do you think you’re going?” she asked in a cruel voice.

“Out to my mother’s rose garden, the roses need tended to.”

“The inside of this house needs attenuated to.” Catherine yelled as she took hold of Vivien’s arm. “You are to clean this kitchen from top to bottom. Or your kitten gets it.”

“What do you mean?” Vivien asked raising an eyebrow. Pulling out a cage Vivien saw her kitten. “OH!”

“Do as you’re told or she dies.” Catherine yelled as she walked out the room. Her evil laughter followed thereafter.

Putting a hand to her mouth Vivien watched as her stepmother departed with her kitten. Trying her very best not to cry she tried to hold back the tears. “I won’t cry. I won’t cry.” Vivien told herself. Sucking it up she got to work.

The following day while Vivien began working on her chores she could hear voices coming from the drawing room. Leaning up against a wall she began listening. 

“Lady Alexander, I hate to break it to you but you are no longer the loveliest in all of London.” Max the butler said as he found Catherine looking into a gold mirror surrounded by diamonds.

“You think I don’t know that!” Catherine yelled as she glared at him from the mirror. Throwing something on the floor it made its way over to Max. “I want you to take that and kill her.”

Hearing those words Vivien drew in a breath as she listened from the next room. She knew her stepmother disliked her, but not to the point of killing her.

“As you wish,” Max said as he knew he couldn’t do such a bad deed. Running from the room Vivien knew she had to get out of the house…alive. Finding the key for the cage Vivien got her kitten along with some other things and was out of the house and no time.

Walking swiftly down the steps and down the walkway Vivien could feel her nerves tighten. A few moments later she was in a taxi bound for London.

“MAX! where is Vivien?” Catherine yelled.

“I don’t know madam.” Max says.

“Go out and kill her like I told you to.” Leaving moments later Max knew he had to do something and quick.

Standing on Waterloo Bridge Vivien along with many others began making their way through London. Before long Callie’s ears perked up. “What is it Callie?” Vivien asked.

“Air Raid,” Someone yelled. Running Vivien found the Underground packed with people.

Pushing her way through Vivien found a spot and stood quietly. There was so much shoving that Vivien accidently bumped into something or was it someone. Turning some she saw a young man standing there. “I’m sorry.” Vivien said.

“The fault is all mine. I should have been watching where I was going.” The young man smiled at Vivien with kind eyes.

The attack went rather fast once the two got talking. Vivien learned that this young man Laurence Kent was placed in her father’s troop.

It seemed at the end of the attack that Vivien was beginning to fall for this young man. However this wouldn’t be known until morning. Walking down a side street Vivien came to bakery. Walking in she was hoping to find shelter for the evening.

“Sorry Miss, but we are getting ready to close.” The older girl said turning towards her.

“Oh, please, I seem to be lost.” Vivien says.

After a little while the seven sisters tell her she can stay. After a hard day and learning the seven sisters names Vivien went to bed. Waking the next morning she went down stairs to see Larry standing at the counter. Before leaving he hands Vivien a small white letter.  “I will be thinking about you always,” As he kissed her hand.
 

This took Vivien’s breath away. Why did she feel like she was going to pass out at any moment? Hearing the horn yet again Larry left, only looking back once

Vivien found tears in her eyes as she watched him leave. Not knowing if he would ever come back or if the war would seal his fate.

Reading the letter made the tears that were on the edge of her eyelashes came without warning. It was such an awful day for him to leave. The words of the letter made her want to run after him.

Weeks go by and the only thing that is keeping their love strong are the letters that are sent every week with high hopes in the air that one day the war will end and they will be together forever. However one faithful day could make that come much faster than planned. Or does it?

“Don’t touch it.” Screams the youngest of the sisters, coming from the backroom Vivien see’s the sisters around a table.

“What’s wrong?” Vivien ask.

“She was running across the wet floor when she slipped and broke her arm.” The eldest sister tells Vivien. “Will need someone to watch the shop while we take her to the Hospital, you must remember not to let anyone in,”

“Yes, I know.” Vivien answers as she knows what to do and what not to do. After one of Catherin’s friends saw her mailing a letter they couldn’t be as careful as they were before. Before she could go and come as she pleased.

A few hours later a knock came to the bakery door. Looking up from the letter Vivien was writing to Larry she waited to see if it stopped. Everyone knows this bakery is closed on Sundays. Vivien told herself as she went back to writing the letter. She hadn’t heard from Larry in a few weeks now and she was becoming rather worried. Hearing the knock again Vivien went to the window. “Can I help you?”

“Yes, I’m a young soldier’s mother and I seem to be lost.” Catherine says smiling at Vivien.

“If you’re looking for the hospital it’s about ten miles away.” Walking away from the window she goes back to her letter. Any other day was fine, just not today.

“Oh, know I’m here to see you my dear.” The lady begins. “It’s about your father and your love.”

At hearing that Vivien didn’t think twice she opened the door and let the lady in. “What news do you have?”

“Your dear father has been injured. His leg was blown off by a bomb.”

“Oh poor father,” Vivien said feeling sorry for her father. “How is he now?”

“Not well I’m afraid.” Catherine began as she knew she had her stepdaughter’s attention. “As for your love he was killed in battle a few weeks ago.”

“No, that can’t be. I won’t believe it.” Vivien cried as she put a hand to her mouth. How could this be when they were going to spend forever together?

Taking out the red apple from her basket she looked at Vivien. “Come here child,” she called out as she reached for her hand, coming over to her Vivien put her hand in hers. What could this woman offer her that would make her life happy? Nothing, she had nothing that would make that happen. “This apple will give you whatever you want, anything in the world you can have.” Catherine said as she could tell Vivien was thinking of it. “It can even give you your hearts true desire,” placing the shiny apply in Vivien’s small hand.

Looking down at the apple Vivien began thinking…her hearts true desire. She could have what she had always wanted, but then she really couldn’t because he was dead, killed by a bloody bomb, if only they weren’t at war. On the other hand though could they still live happily even if it wasn’t here on earth? “If Larry really is dead then I would rather be with him then be on this lonely earth without him.” After all there wasn’t anything else to live for.

Taking a deep breath Vivien put her lips to the apple and took a bite. 

Feeling her blood go cold and her body go limp, Vivien tried to do her best to stay standing. “What did you do to me?”

Laughing a deep laugh Catherine removed her hood to reveal she wasn’t who she said she and before Vivien stood her evil stepmother. Watching as her stepdaughter died Catherine left moments later with her plain carried out.

Smoke, gun shots and cries of hurt could be heard through the many miles of fighting. Sitting in a nearby tent Larry began to wonder if he would get another letter from Vivien. Going through the many letters that had been written Larry’s eyes fell on the last one that he had received. April 25, 1942. It had been at least two week since he had heard anything. Taking his hat off he shook his head. The war had really taken a toll on him. The lack of sleep, food and water was really getting to be too much for him. 

Looking down at his dirty, callous, scared beaten up hands. They were the hands of a fighter. A man fighting to get back to the woman he loved. The rain began to beat down on the old cream colored tent. With drops of rain falling on his hands he wiped his brow as he drew in a breath. 

“Lar, come have a cigarette with us.” Andrew called out as he and some other soldiers sat around a small table with a game of cards going. 

Feeling his heart heavy with sorrow Larry got up and joined the game. Maybe this was all he needed. “I’ve never seen you this down before.” Tommy said as he placed a chip in the center of the table. 
“I’m just ready for this bloody war to be over.”Larry answered in a frustrated voice. He had been away for nearly two months now. It was time that he returned home and stayed there. Taking out yet another letter Larry studied it for a little while. The rain had smudged the ink of Vivien’s pretty hand writing. 

Getting lost within those many words that had been exchanged between them so long ago Larry didn’t hear the army jeep stop in front of the tent. “Report to General Smith. He has your assignment.” A man yelled as he entered the tent with rain dripping off him.

Laying their cards down the men headed out. “Love is going to have to wait.” Andrew yelled as the plain engine over took the silence. 

Putting his hat on Larry left with the others to carry out their mission, never knowing if he would see this place or his love again. 

A few days later Larry was to come home to find things not as he had left them. He soon learned about what happened that faithful Sunday. If only he would have known he would have came home the moment it happened.

Knowing that Vivien was the only girl for him he knew what he had to do. Lowering his mouth to hers he knew this had to work for if it didn’t then there was no hope. He prayed that it would work. If it didn’t he didn’t know if he could live without her. Moments later Vivien woke. She looked just as he had left her all those months ago. They soon were to live happily ever after.

However that’s what they always want you to think. As their happily ever after was getting started. Richard commanded that Catherine was to be put to death in a German Camp.

This unfortunately was never to happen. She would come out alive and would be plotting her revenge and it wasn't something people would forget.

 

The End 

 

Reviews

[LadyKarissa]

This story sounds like a book I am putting together for a publisher. It is called Return to Misslethwaite Manor. It begins after WW One and ends in 1960.
It is a sequel to The secret garden. this is very good. Lucie