1- The Adventures of Eliza Jane Andrews -
Prologue
Eliza stared dully out the dusty windows, caused by the early summer drought. The curtains around the windowframe were tattered and dirty, making the room feel very unwelcoming and grey. Sighing, she sat on the ottoman next to the windowpane, and softly banged her head against it. This type of surly attitude was uncommon in those days, but Eliza apparently didn't care, because she flattened her party dress and crossed her legs in a very unlady-like way. She scowled at the everyday hubbub on the Parisian streets, watching cheery-eyed people walking in a brisk fashion, occasionally bowing to a passer-by. The sound of horses carrying travelers in carriages filled the square below, adding to the normal morning chaos. 'The days move so slowly... ' Usually, whenever she was confronted with a day like this, she would retreat into her imagination, where action and adventure would drift across, slowly envelopping her in their world.
But today, she didn't feel up for it.
"Miss Andrews?" said a motherly voice. Eliza stared blearily at the intruder.
"Yes Hanna?" Her childhood nursemaid looked at her anxiously, her attentive eyes staring at Eliza's chapped and dirty knees. This caused the caregiver to glare at her not unkindly as she made her way into the room.
She put her hands on her hips in obvious annoyance. "You'll be no man's wife in such a state, dearie. You go get washed up before I clean you inside and out." Eliza didn't have to be told twice, due to the fact that Hanna never made up threats on the spot.
As she ran down the stairs two at a time, she was stopped by a beautiful women, holding a fan as if it was a dangerous weapon.
" 'liza, honey, you forgot your fan!" she said crossly. "Why do you always make me look bad." she added, picking up the sides of her dress and petticoat angrily.
Eliza stared hard at the lady. "Sorry, sister." she spat the last word in the other woman's face.
"Now now, Elizabeth Jane. You know how angry mother gets when you put on your boyish airs. Just take the fan and get on with whatever you are supposed to doing." she smirked, and made her way up the stairs, her beautiful pinafore hoopskirt following her.
"Stupid, pampered old coot." Eliza muttered, nearly knocking down a maid. The girl looked at her, alarmed at such behavior. Eliza sniffed, and pranced around the poor servant.
As she was making her way to the kitchens, she heard a door quietly open from the back of the house. Turning around, she immediately recognized the stranger.
"PAPI!" she yelled exuberantly, launching herself onto the old man. The adult chuckled, amused at such a warm welcome. Gently nudging her off, he threw his bunched-up coat at a nearby wooden coat-hanger, and got lucky. He turned away from the coat and steered the over-excited girl to the family room.
Eliza launched herself into one of the chairs, forgetting all about her lessons on Victorian manners and proper etiquette. She looked at her grandfather, grinning madly like an idiot.
"So, Papi, where have you been?" she asked eagerly, holding her head up with her fists. She always looked forward to Papi's homecoming, because she knew that her grandpa always had a wild, fantastical story to tell her.
The old man scratched his head. "I don't know, Liz. I say, young lady, you are simply getting too old for these stories."
"I am not too old, Papi. I'm only fourteen." she pouted, showing her bottom red lip in annoyance. At this, the man started laughing. "All right, all right I'll start."
Eliza listened eagerly, as her grandfather's face began to change.
"As usual, I was preparing for one of my trips when a young lad approached me. Being the courteous gentleman that I was-" he was interrupted by a fit of giggles. Eliza hiccoughed in between giggles. "C..conti-hic-nue..."
"As I was saying, he approached me and told me about an offer of a lifetime. He told me of a certain treasure that he had encountered, whilst partaking a journey of his own.
"He apparently informed me about a certain treasure box on an unidentifiable island. For some reason, an unknown stranger made it impossible for him to be able to reach the treasure, and he was forced to leave the island on his ship.
"And that was when he offered me five thousand pounds in exchange for my services." he finished.
"What kind of treasure, Papi?" Eliza asked eagerly. This story was unlike all the other stories that her grandfather had told her about.
Papi coughed. "A treasure that is worth its weight in gold, apparently, my dear."
The girl stared, awed at her grandpa's last statement. She came to a realization. "I get it, Papi! He wanted you to find it for him, didn't he?" she exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
The man chuckled. "Hold your horses. I told him that I would help him, but only on one condition."
"And what is that?"
"That I would be able to bring an assistant, of my own choice of course." he smiled genuinely at the shocked teen, with a knowing look etched across his face.
I hope you enjoyed it! This is my first fiction work on FictionPress!