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increasingly gr ew , and Myra couldn’t have made it through the past month without her.   Myra realized how spoiled she was before arriving in the New World when presented with her daily duties .  Sh e found the simplest of task s difficult , but Lucia taught her well .
    “My mother worked for the Preston’s whilst in England but they sent her away.”  Lucia smiled, but the sadness in her blue eyes overshadowed her false display of good cheer .  “ I aim to earn enough c oin to find her one day.  That’s why I stay on here.”
    “Why was your mother sent away?  Did she do something wrong?” 
    By the wide-eyed expression on Lucia's face, Myra sense d an interesting story w as about to unfold .   She placed the ladle on to the stones of their makeshift fireplace and sat on her bedroll , Lucia at her side .  L ittle excitement was found at the Preston home, and idle chatter helped pass the time.  Actually, i t was the favorite pastime of most the servants . Some more loose-lipped than others, Myra thought .              
    Lucia stepped out the doorway and darted her eyes back and forth.  She returned and whispered, “I feel I can trust you, Myra .  Can I?”
    “Why, of course.”  Myra took Lucia by both hands and smiled. “I have my own secrets, too,” she confessed. “I think we shall be very good friends and share many confidences.”
    “I knew we’d be good friends t he moment you stuck your ton gue out at young Mister Preston, ” she said with a mischievous grin.  Lucia laughed but quickly covered her mouth so no one would overhear.
    After a short peel of giggles from them both, Lucia continued.  “Mister Preston sent my mother awa y many years ago.  I was only a babe , but he ordered that I remain with the Preston family .”
    “But why send her away?”
    Lucia picked up two wooden buckets that sat nearby on the floor.  “Let’s gather some water from the stream,” she suggested.  “I fear we may be overheard.”
    Myra followed, her interest piqued.  She wondered if Seth would play a part in Lucia’s story.  Not sure why, she secretly hoped he would.  She loved hearing stories the older servants told about him, particularly the times when he was a young lad who cared more about finding trouble than doling it out.  
    “Anvil Preston is my father,” Lucia quietly confessed once they reached the stream.
    “What?”  Myra touched Lucia's arm and shook her head in disbelief.  Myra wondered if she heard Lucia wrong. Certainly a daughter of Anvil Preston wouldn’t be a servant .   Myra wondered w hat kind of father, especially one of wealth, would treat his own flesh and blood so atrociously.   “ I don't understand such way of thinking ,” Myra began.  “Did Mister Preston's wife find out?  Is that why your mother was sent away?”
    “Oh, it ha d naught to do with her.  Mrs. Preston is a fine lad y, indeed!  She knows who I am— they all do,” she exclaimed with a showy flow of her arm.  “But unlike the others, not once did she take ill will upon me due to her husband's infidelity .  If anything, she has been exceedingly kind and generous.  Insomuch, sh e insisted I learn to read and write, and secretly em ployed a local scholar to teach me whilst we lived in England.”
    Lucia dipped t he bucket in to the water and set it aside.  A bright smile appeared as the sun shined on her remarkably fine skin.  It was then that Myra saw Lucia’s resemblance to Anvil and Seth.  Although her hair , rich as coal , was in contrast to the wheat colored hair the Preston men possessed , it was the unusual blue hue of her eyes which disclose d proof of Anvil's indiscretion.  Not the exact color sh e detected in either of their s, but the shape and determination were what most resemble d both the Preston men.  The Preston daughters possess ed features of their mother , dull red hair and list less brown eyes—l ovely in their own way , of course, but exceedingly