Chapter 1: Children of Radcliffe
An extraordinary summer of Helen's life was set with her entering her uncle's manor and her aunt's social light.
The death of her father had been unexpected. The man old and gray had fallen mentally ill or perhaps that was the story that Henchard, Helen's oldest brother had told everyone in a somber voice and tearful eyes. Their Father died soon after: in his sleep under the old willow, that was when the chaos began - Helen's brothers undisciplined and greedy squandered all that their father had left them and inorder to maintain the pretense of wealth they began to borrow and came to a handsome amount of debt.
Helen's quietly-stubborn beauty was something that many ignored, including her brothers until a good sir visited from Somerset and complemented her beauty; the words, "What a gem she is among women." Where the foundation of a sinister plan- to marry Helen off to a wealthy man. By the beginning of summer Helen was in a carriage and off to London.
Among six brothers, the good fellow, Oliver, was tasked to deliver Helen to their Uncle's manor. He sat rigidly mimicking Helen's own stance.
"Are you happy?" Oliver asked in a tone that sounded rather unsure. It had not been his intended question but the boy had never been good with words.
"Should i be?" Helen answered sharply.
Oliver stumbled over words. Helen, unlike lilibeth, their sister was quite sharp with words and difficult to reason with much like Henchard and It was for this reason that they steered clear of each other.
Helen laughed her expression neutral, "I'm happy Oliver, shouldn't I be? Aren't all the ladies that are sold gay?"
"You're not being sold, you're simply getting married to help your family, think about what a good fellow this Lord Bennett may be what he could give you."
"No what he could give you and the others." She said her voice rising just a notch, "Have you even thought about who this man may be other than being a rich man. Will it even matter to you if he beats me.... "
Helen stopped and waited for a response but nothing it was as she thought they did not care if she married a devil or an angel what mattered was that he was rich. Coming this realization, Helen's heart sunk, "Huh,"
"You're going to be alright." Oliver said quietly, "It's a little sacrifice....... for family.
Oliver cast his eyes down. Henchard had made them believe that there was no flaw in the step they were taking but looking at Helen now. Oliver felt a strong guilt.
As he contemplated his decisions up to that point, their carriage came to a stop and the door was opened by the butler. Oliver was the first to get out. As he did so his eyes momentarily strayed Helen who was not looking at him and not moving.
"Hele...
"Wherever I end up, be it with a wealthy man who beats me or a simple farmer, I pray that I never see any of you again."
