The Forbidden Fruit

A week had passed. My job hunting had been all in vain. I was unable to get a job. In my mind, I had thought many employees would be searching for workers due to the decrease in population, but my notion had been wrong.
We still had money, but I was overly cautious. I knew that I could never be too safe. Albert had been coughing violently over the past few weeks and I knew those symptoms too well. I prayed it was only a cough like he claimed it to be, but one could never be too sure. Mother had said the same, yet she was sent to an early grave. When the time came, I was hoping that maybe I could use the money we had to buy the proper medicine for Albert.
"Sister," Gwendolyn called out as she waved a letter with a seal on the back, "it is addressed to you."
It was from a noble. I hung my coat to dry and took the letter from the thrilled Gwendolyn. I could understand her excitement. We seldom received any letters. The rent and tax collectors would show up at our doors. It was written in a neat cursive handwriting and the bottom was signed Darius Rutherford. I had not heard of him before. I wondered what business he had with me and why the urgency.
I prepared some stew and bread for Gwendolyn and Albert's supper. The whole time I was thinking of the letter. A nobleman had written a letter personally addressed to me a mere peasant.
"I shall retire for the night," I informed Gwendolyn as I lit a candle for the bedroom.
"I will join you shortly," Gwendolyn said as she washed the dishes, "I am going to wait for brother to return."
As soon as she finished the sentence, there was a cough from outside. It was Albert. He entered and was welcomed by Gwendolyn's embrace.
"Brother, Elise received a letter from a nobleman," she told him as she resumed doing the dishes.
"Is that so?" he said as he looked at me, his tiredness evident in the dark circles round his eyes. He yawned and broke his bread, "who was it from?"
"Darius Rutherford," I said as I put the candle I had just lit on the table, "he wishes to see me tomorrow. He will send a carriage for me. Do you know of him?"
"He is the owner of every cottage at this side of town," Albert sighed, "how are you not aware of this? Father used to work in their Manor. The Rutherford's have helped us countless times without our knowledge. There are many times they let us go without paying rent. Mr Rutherford surely is a kind man, but people never see him. Consider yourself privileged sister."
I smiled as I remembered reading his beautiful handwriting. Each letter skillfully stroked onto the expensive sheet of paper. "He must be an old man", thought I.
"Goodnight," I said to everyone before exiting the room. I could hear Gwendolyn asking to know more of Mr Rutherford. Albert seemed more than happy to quench her thirst of curiosity with the knowledge he had.
I lay in bed wondering what the morrow held for me. I shut my eyes as dreamt a dream...