The Merchant's Daughter -a preview of Chapter One (Patreon)

THE MERCHANT’S DAUGHTER, OR, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST; A RETELLING

CHAPTER ONE:

Dunstan of Careth was a very blessed man. He had started his life as the son of a miller but chance had it that he grew up to eventually find his trade in the mercantile world. By the young age of twenty four, he was rather wealthy for a man his age having found much success in his choice of business.

Anyone who had the privilege of doing business with Dunstan could easily describe why it was he was so successful and profitable. He was charming, easy to talk to, fair in business and in all honesty was quite handsome in his features. Many a time people had commented that he had a trustworthy face and that they had not been wrong in their findings later on when they got to know him some.

By the time he was nearing his twenty-fifth birthday, Dunstan had already met his wife-to-be Catherine and the two had grown rather fond of one another in a very short period of time. One rather hasty betrothal later, the two soon married and less than a year from then had shared in the joy of welcoming their first child; a girl they named Annaliese. The couple’s joys continued over time; Dunstan’s business and trade only increased in wealth and his bride welcomed two more children separately into their lives: both girls whom they named Celene and Linnette.

But then, tragedy struck. Upon giving birth to their fourth daughter, Catherine fell ill and died. Heartbroken, Dunstan treasured the child with even more affection than his other daughters. His wife had given her life so that this “little beauty” could live and so the name was given to the child in memory of Dunstan’s first words about his youngest.

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-Brittany