Immortal Beloved

**Still not mine, still not beta\'ed, I proof read it again and it sounds ok, I hope it is.
Review if yee feel it is worthy. ~Raven**


Chapter 1 -1825 “where it all began”


“Father I will not marry him!”

Mr Granger stood, rubbing the bridge of his nose; he looked up at his eldest Daughter Hermione.

She stood in front of his desk her arms stock straight to her sides, her small fists clasping open and shut.

“You don’t even know him child.” Mr Granger places his hands on the wooden surface.

“I know enough about him to know I will not marry him.”

Hermione turned her back on her father and walked over to the day seat near the window, she sat down and placed her hands on her lap, her head bowed slowly.

“Oh my dear Daughter, I think only of your future happiness, the match with Lord Snapefield’s eldest Son would have you set for life.”

Mr Granger walked over to his dear daughter and sat next to her, taking her hand in his.

“I know this father, but I do not love him, and never will.”

Hermione felt the squeeze of her father’s hand as she turned her head to look at him.

“Everyone must understand that I will not marry unless I feel the utmost love for my future husband.”

“I have met Lord Snapefield’s Son and he gave me no impression of being a gentleman.”

Hermione looked at her beloved father her eyes begging him, and her words joined her look. “Please father, do not make me marry this man.”


Mr Granger sighed softly, he knew that Mrs Granger would not like this one bit, but if he was to keep his daughter and have her be happy then he would have to agree.

“Yes my dear Hermione, you do not have to marry Lord Snapefield’s son.”

“Oh Father!”

Hermione flung her arms around her father’s neck kissing him slightly on the cheek.

“Thankyou Father, you do not know how much this means to me.”

Mr Granger patted Hermione’s hand smiling.

“Yes dear I have some inkling that it has made you happy.”

“Now off you go but do not tell your mother or your sisters, I will break the unfortunate news to them myself.” Mr Granger rolled his eyes then smiled at his daughter.

Nodding her head Hermione stood and left the room, the heavy feeling in her heart had lifted and she felt like she could fly.

******

Hermione made her way up to her room; she could not stay in the house much as the day had turned bright and sunny, a perfect day to go for a walk in the woods.

Changing in to her outdoors gown, she skipped down the stairs tying her bonnet around her chin, as she made her way past the morning room, the sounds of her mother and father talking, made her smile.

It would seem that her father had told her mother of the decision not to marry Lord Snapefield’s Son, Hermione listened in quietly from the door, she could barely make out her mother’s sobbing, and the sound of her father’s muffled responses.

At the age of one and seven, Hermione was fast becoming far too old to be married to any eligible suitors.
If she did not find a match soon, she would be forced to take up the role of companion to an elder lady, or governess to some richer family’s children.

Neither of these roles suited Hermione well, she was far too educated for a lady of her station, and far too free spirited for any proper young Lady of the village.

Her two younger sisters, Mary and Elizabeth where still young enough not to worry about being married off to some local lord’s son, and sometimes Hermione wished she was still to young as well.

Making her way out of the front garden of the manor Hermione was still thinking about her sisters when she was brought out of her thoughts by the village Vicar.

“Good Morning Miss Granger.” The Village Vicar tipped his head as he bowed in greeting.
Hermione curtsied, and then smiled at the lovely older gentlemen.

“Good morning to you too Father Connell, I hope you are fine this lovely day?”
Hermione liked the gentle old Priest, he was kind and not to over bearing.

“Aye Indeed I am Miss Granger, how does your parents fair, well I hope?”

“Oh yes Father, my Dear Father is well, Mother has recovered from her illness and is now well enough to take a turn around the garden, she said she hopes to be able to make it to your service this Sunday.”

“Oh wonderful to here my child, please tell your Mother that I will be very glad to see her back within god’s house.” Hermione nodded with a smile.

“Well I must be going I have to meet with the Croft family to organize the wedding of their eldest Son next week. I bid you good day Miss Granger.”

The Vicar bowed again then made his way past Hermione and continued down the lane.


*~*~*~*~*~*~

The sound of the horses beat out a dull thud across the hard ground, the riders made their way across the landscape, a blur of darkness and light.

Beating the side of the horse with his crop the rider pushed his mount over a low cluster of bushes, the horse took to it with expert grace, it’s low snort of pleasure the only thing that gave away it’s enjoyment of the race it was having with the fellow mount.

The rider galloped down the narrow lane way, he turned his head slightly to see if his associate had kept up the chase.

Master Sheldon Snapefield slowed his mount from the thundering galop to a more relaxing pace allowing his elder brother time to catch up.
It was not unusual for Edward to lag behind when they went out for a ride, over the years Sheldon noticed that his Brother’s performance in many things had become sloppy and not up to the normal standard that their father had expected of them.

The lack of interested that Edward had shown, made Sheldon worry that his brother had taken more to the drink and to gambling, then to anything of importance like taking over the family estate and attending to the business their father had set in motion for him.


Sheldon looked over the gradually gaining form of his elder brother, He noted that Edward had let his hair grow long again; the dark blackness of it reminded Sheldon of their dearly departed mother.
His brother’s nose still had the normal point that ran in the male Snapefield lines, he was not much taller then Sheldon now.
But the most distinct thing about Edward now was the look of distain that marred his once cheerful features.

“Your riding has grown sloppy brother; I seem to be able to beat you more then I once could.”

Sheldon called out as Edward rode closer, he turned his horse around and trotted up for where Edward had pulled his mount up.

“There is nothing sloppy about my riding, my horse is much older then yours and does not like to ride so hard.” Edward Sneered at Sheldon.

Sheldon laughed heartily, “Oh Edward, you lie so badly, your horse is as young as my own, you where not trying, that is the truth.”


Watching his brother dismount from his horse, Sheldon noted that Edward did not seem to have much of a spring in his step either.

“Is it true what I heard Father talking about in the breakfast room this morning? You have been betrothed to Squire Granger’s Eldest daughter?”


Edward brushed some dirt off his riding jacket then looked over at his younger brother.

“You heard correct Brother; I have been made a match to the fair Miss Granger.”

Sheldon cringed at the venom in his brother’s words, having not met the lady in question Sheldon could not tell if the match was good or bad, but from his brother’s reaction to the subject, it would seem that it was a bad one indeed.


“Are you not excited brother, I have heard she is one of the beauty’s of the village.”

Sheldon walked his mount along side his brother’s, looking at Edward’s profile, Sheldon could see the word’s forming in his brother’s mind, it would seem that Edward had found fault with this young lady and was about to bring down his opinion.

“I would be more excited by marrying the queen then that fool of a girl, she is too out spoken for my liking, but alas father sees fit to make it my role in life to marry the little chit.”

“Does she not have proper breeding and station, I am sure father would not have picked such a girl if she did not at least have these?”

Sheldon was intrigued, a girl that his brother found undesirable, he would have to seek her out and see for himself.

“Oh yes she is well bred and is in high standing for this small village, her down fall is that she is far too learned for my liking.”


Sheldon’s interest in meeting this young woman grew greater the more Edward spoke of her.
Edward was an educated man, as was he; their father had made sure of this.
In his younger day’s Edward would have made it his business to find stimulating conversation, from any of his circle of acquaintances.
He could remember their dear sweet mother hoping that Edward would marry a lady that was able to stand her ground in a conversation with Edward, but it would seem now that as he grew older Edward found women with some form of a mind, boring and disagreeable.

“Have you told father of your decision yet?” Sheldon glanced over at his brother again.

“Not as such, I think I might tell him when we return to the estate today, that is if he is still there.”

Absently patting the neck of his horse Sheldon nodded.

Seeing that the conversation had finished for now, Edward remounted his horse, setting himself more comfortably in the saddle; he turned his head to his younger brother.

“I think I will return to the estate, I’m sure you can follow in you own good time Sheldon.” With that Edward kicked his heels in to the sides of the horse and rode off.

Sheldon’s inner thoughts had taken him away, so he had not heard his brother’s comments, and barely noticed when Edward rode off.
He stood still, his fingers rubbing the neck of his horse; the stillness of the day had left neither sound, nor a breeze in the air.

The peacefulness made the sound of a twig snapping echo loudly, pulling Sheldon quickly out of his thoughts; he turned towards the sound and came upon a young lady standing not to far away.


“Oh, did I startle you sir?” the young women smiled quickly as she went in to a short curtsy.

Sheldon gave the young women a quick once over, she was tall, but not too tall, with bright brown eyes, and a warm blush over her cheeks that came from a good walk in the fresh air.

Bowing in return Sheldon shook his head. “Not at all Miss…” Sheldon stopped he had no idea who she was, having never set eyes upon her before this moment.
The young women noticed the gap and smiled once more.

Sheldon was taken in by the wonderful smile the lady had, it would light up her whole face.

“I was deep in thought, all most anything would have startled me so I do not hold it against you.” Sheldon grinned as the young women blushed slightly.

The young women walked slowly over to Sheldon’s horse and ran her hand over the neck of the beast, her glovend bnd barely touching the sweating animal’s flesh.

“You ride a find looking animal Sir.” The young women’s hand moved to the horse’s face, and started to brush the area between its eyes.

Sheldon looked over the women again, he was able to see more of her as she was so close to him, her hair was curled in what was the fashion for women these days, but the colour was unusual, it was neither black like his own, or gold like some of the women he’d seen in London.
It was more of a dark reddish brown, not unlike the colour of his horse’s mane.

“Do you ride?”


“Yes, but my skill is very poor, I wish I could ride well, it seems so “ the young Women paused, her eyes rolled up to the side slightly as if she was looking for just the right word to explain her feeling.

“So, freeing” She lent down and kissed the horse’s nose quickly then let out a very beautiful laugh.

Sheldon was captivated with this fair lady in front of him; he had never met such a free spirit before.


Moving away from Sheldon, the young women looked up at the sky; Sheldon looked up as well.

“I must be going now Sir, my family will wonder of my whereabouts’; I bid thee a good day.” She curtsied then turned and headed in the opposite direction.

As if in slow motion Sheldon bowed, watching her move away; he kept watching her then a thought came to mind.

“I have no idea what her name was.”

He called out after her quickly. “What is your name?”

Sheldon was not sure if the Young women had heard him, until a soft sound floated back.

“Hermione”