This story is by Sandra Gharabaghli and was part of our 2023 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
Where did that spider go, James wondered. He was bursting with insatiable curiosity as he beheld a fantastic array of insects, lizards, and all manner of creatures in his father’s vast properties. James lived in a magnificent manor house, and he was an only child of the wealthy and titled Duke and Duchess of Somerset. His father was looking for a new tutor, for the young man had surpassed the extent of the education of his last tutors. His father had ordered research treatises from the universities which James devoured. James lived far away from any children to play with, entertaining himself with reading and studying the natural world and all the delights it contained.
One day, James accompanied his father on horseback into the village where he had business to discuss and told his son that he could look through the items in the mercantile and select a new book. His father introduced him to the shop proprietor, Mr. Thomas, and his lovely, precocious daughter, Lilly, who extolled the virtues of various items. James found Lilly quite clever and exceedingly entertaining.
“Father, might I serve Marquess Somerset tea while he decides which items he wishes to purchase?”
“A lovely idea, Lilly. Please do.” The idea that his daughter was serving tea to a marquess amused him.
Lilly prepared the tea with teacakes and served James at a small table. While they enjoyed their tea together, Lilly asked many questions about James’s interests. James really enjoyed himself, purchased a book, and promised to return. And so it was that every time the Duke went to the village, he brought James. The sound of tinkling teacups and laughter echoed as James’s and Lilly’s friendship grew and strengthened as the years passed and they grew into adults and Lilly’s teacakes became famous.
The Duke died one winter, and James took over the title; when he continued to visit Lilly and her father, he would bring them gifts. One day, James asked to speak privately with Mr. Thomas.
“I am leaving on a tour to Africa to continue my studies, but I do not wish to leave my mother alone. I thought Lilly would make a delightful companion to my mother. If you agree to let Lilly work for me and help see to my mother while I am away, I will settle a dowery on your daughter in addition to her wages. Should you become ill, and Lilly needs to care for you, I plan for you to be moved to my home and be seen by my physician and cared for there for as long as needed. Of course, Lilly must agree to this as well.”
“If Lilly agrees, then I have no objections, your Grace.”
James discussed his proposal with Lilly, who readily agreed, and her father signed the papers the Duke had brought with him.
“I know you’d like to enjoy dinner with your father, and you must pack, so I will return in two days to pick you up.” Lilly agreed and was filled with bittersweet emotions. The extra money would help her father’s business;, he could hire a girl from the village. Lilly looked forward to going to the manor house and assisting James’ mother. She was filled with sadness at the prospect of leaving her father all alone and that James was leaving the country for an extended time. She would be able to return once a week to see her father. The Duke returned and brought an extra horse for Lilly to ride. A groom had a wagon to get a trunk of Lilly’s belongings. Lilly’s father hugged and kissed her before she rode away with the Duke.
Lady Marguerite Somerset greeted Lilly warmly and was happy her son had been so thought-full. She was filled with ideas about where they might go together. James had arranged for a seamstress to come to the manor and fit his mother and Lilly with new gowns. He approved each design and fabric, and the ladies modeled a couple of their new gowns at dinner before he left.
Lilly had become a breathtakingly beautiful woman, and she had all the qualities that suited James as a Duchess, but first, he must finish his studies.
One night in the garden, he took Lilly’s hands and asked, “Lilly, I want to write to you while I am gone. You would be my connection to home and my loved ones while I am far away. Will you write to me?”
“Of course, James, I will happily correspond with you and let you know about your mother and family. I will endeavor to make my letters entertaining, too,” she said with a beguiling smile.
“I will miss you greatly, Lilly,” he bowed and kissed her hand, and they returned to the manor. James’ journey began the next day, and Lilly had tears in her eyes as she waved goodbye as he rode away in a carriage. He was her one true friend and had been her conspirator in mischief as a child. He had encouraged her audacious sense of adventure as she climbed trees with him, and he taught her how to ride a horse. They went fishing together and laughed so much throughout the years. What would she do without him?
Lilly poured herself, heart, and soul into being the best companion to Lady Somerset and helpful to all the staff at the manor who loved her. Lilly dutifully visited her father once a week, baked teacakes, and regaled him with stories about the manor’s staff. She accompanied Lady Sommerset to house parties of her friends, to the theater, and to balls.
Lilly was overjoyed to receive letters from James, and she wrote him frequent letters during his travels until one day, a letter arrived stating that his tour had been extended for most likely another year or longer. Lilly was highly disappointed as she was yearning to see James again. She noted his handwriting had changed. James made a curious request to her and told her he was returning a precious animal to her care through a female courier. Lilly was instructed to pay the woman the amount James specified, and he included information about the care of the rare lizard he was sending to Lilly. Not long after the letter arrived, so did the woman who gave Lilly the cage with the lizard. Lilly did all that James instructed as if the lizard was precious to James; it was dear to her.
Before the lizard had arrived, Lilly’s father had become ill and was now staying at the manor house, and James’ mother found him charming and entertaining, so Lilly had more free time, which she devoted to caring for the lizard. The lizard had sleek skin and to Lilly soulful eyes. She made it a soft bed with blankets and shared James’s favorite teacakes. But most of all, he became her companion, and she would put it in her pocket when she went for walks in the garden and when she painted. She put paper and paint for the lizard to paint with, and soon, she found that the bristles of her paintbrushes had vanished. Later, Lilly found a miniature portrait, the size of a cameo, of a beautiful woman.
Having named the lizard James II, she shared her feelings. “James, I fear we are all lonely, you a lizard, James, and me. I miss him so much and fear he took my heart with him when he left.”
This heartened the lizard’s feelings, for it was James in disguise. He had fallen under a wicked spell and would only change back into a man by sacrificing his life for his true love. James loved Lilly with all his heart but was unsure how he could sacrifice his life until, one day, he saw a poisonous spider crawling on Lilly’s dress. Knowing that the spider’s bite would kill him, he leaped and bit the spider to save Lilly from its toxic bite. James did not die right away but wished he could turn into a man again to tell Lilly how much he loved her, hold her in his arms, and kiss her. His last thoughts and dreams were of Lilly before he fell asleep.
James awakened to his astonishment as a man in his bedroom and quickly dressed. He ran to find Lilly, who dropped her paintbrush when she beheld him. James embraced Lilly and kissed her.
“Lilly, I love you, and it is you who released me from the curse. You have cared for and loved me as a lizard. Will you love me as a man who loves you with all my heart?”
Lilly said, “Yes, James! I love you.” And so, they were wed with family and lizards as witnesses. Of course, they served James’s favorite teacakes at their wedding, and James was no longer concerned with spiders, living or dead.
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