Read Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall for Free Online Page A

coming to Eyre Hall for Christmas with Mr.
Greenwood and his son Dante, because her fiancé is adamant that Dante should
marry you! I know my mother would never force you to marry anyone, but how dare
Adele interfere in your future! I hate Dante already, although Adele has
written pages of his virtues and abilities, and she would have me champion her
cause. He does seem an interesting fellow. He is an artist, a painter and sculptor,
who has acquired some fame in Italy, and is keen to make a name for himself in
London. It is out of the question. You cannot move to London. If you marry, it
must be someone local. I could not bear to have you far from Eyre Hall. In
fact, you must stay at Eyre Hall. Whoever I have to marry must accept the
arrangement. Both our spouses must accept that we can never be parted. I know
it sounds like madness, but no one would think it strange that cousins should
be so close, would they?
    I can imagine your perplexed and
angry face as you read my lines, but you know I am right. Whatever we have to
do and whoever we have to marry, we will always love each other more than
anyone else will. Always. We must find a way to do our duty and not give up our
love.  
    I was too enraged to think coherently. Adele
was organising my marriage to suit her needs. No doubt, my marriage to Dante
would secure her own marriage to the slippery Mr. Greenwood. On the other hand,
John was trying to find a way of securing my physical and emotional attachment
to him forever, without any hope of a future together as husband and wife. I
should be content to watch him marry and have children, and be as near and
available to him as possible. What a scandalous arrangement! How could I agree?
What could I hope for if I did not agree?
    Beth interrupted my thoughts, asking me
to go down to the drawing room to see Jane. I composed myself and walked down
meekly as a lamb to the slaughter.
    ****
    When I arrived, Jane was looking out of
the window and John was looking intently into the hearth. They both looked up
with concerned expressions as I entered. Was I the reason for their distress?
    “Annette, I have received a letter from
my cousin Mrs. Fitzjames. She would like me to visit before Christmas. Would
you like to accompany me?”   
    “Of course, Jane,” I replied. John shot
me a dejected glance.
    “We’ll be leaving this afternoon. Will
you have enough time to prepare your luggage?” I nodded, and John jumped up
from his chair in protest.
    “Couldn’t Nell go with you?”
    “Nell’s a child, John. What good would
she do me? She would be a responsibility, not an asset.”
    “I’ll be alone at Eyre Hall until you
come back, Mother. I didn’t come home for Christmas to be alone!”
    “Don’t be dramatic, John. Adele will be
coming in a few days’ time, and I am sure you have friends you can visit. The
Jackson’s will be only too happy to see you, and Phoebe and Clarissa will be
arriving soon.”
    “Clarissa is coming too? She is a child,
a pompous spoilt child! Will I have to entertain them both?”
     “I’m not sure what’s come over you
since you arrived, John, but whatever it is, you will compose yourself and
behave respectfully. The world does not revolve around you. You will consider and
provide for the well–being of the rest of the members of the household, and all
our guests, including Phoebe and her sister.”
    His mood suddenly changed as he
approached his mother and placed a kiss on her cheek. “I’m sorry, Mother. You
are right, of course. I just didn’t want to be alone, that’s all.”
    “Come with us if you like,” suggested
Jane as she stroked his unruly hair.
    “No, thank you, Mother. You go with
Annette. I’ll keep myself busy until you return.”
    Jane left to start her packing and John
approached me. “Say something, Annette,” he said, grabbing my hands and staring
into my eyes. “Anything.” I was silent but he insisted. “Please.”
    “John, I will write you a letter before
I