3 years passed by and it was getting harder to find work that would sustain us with enough money to live off on. It was at the point where I thought all hope was gone that an opportunity arose. One where both I and Isabella would be able to live the life we should have had. It was one summer's day, I was working as a stablehand when a man in his early forties approached me.

"Excuse me, young lad? " He said to me. I stopped what I was doing and walked over to him.

"Yes, sir. How may I help you?"

"You are Guy of Gisborne are you not?"

"Yes, sir I am."

"My name is Squire Thornton and I have a proposition for you. I have been told by the lord of this manor that you have lost your family inheritance and would like to gain what is rightfully yours. That is right, is it not?"

I nod.

"Well, I am here to offer you the means for you to do so" he then paused for a moment. The pause was long that I thought he had finished but, then the words he had next would be the ones to sink my heart to my stomach.

"On one condition."

I looked at him unsure of what that condition was. Sensing my confusion Thornton continued,

"I will give you the means to help you what you are rightfully due in exchange that you give me your sister's hand in marriage"

Marriage, I thought. Isabella was only 13 years old. I could not agree to his proposition. I could not give my little sister away, she was still too young and I was hoping to wait at least another 2 years before even considering a match for her. Not only was I against giving her away because she was my own kin, I was uncomfortable because I had made a promise to our mother and to her that I would always look after her. But, now here was this gentleman offering me the opportunity to redeem the Gisborne name in exchange for me to break my promise I had made to my sister. Although I very much wanted to restore my family's name in society I wasn't prepared to give my sister away as a payment.

"I thank you, sir for you kind offer. But, I will have to decline it."

"My dear boy, do you really want to spend the rest of your life cleaning stables and living like these peasants? What about your sister? She does not deserve to live like this. She is young and needs to live a life where she can have the prospects of growing up into a lady that she is. Do you really want your sister to live like this for the rest of her life?"

Thornton was right. I did not want Isabella to live like this. I wanted her to be happy, wanted her to grow up to be the beautiful lady that she is. However, I did not want to be parted from her. I could not imagine Isabella not being there in my life. I had promised her that I would always be there for her and I intended to keep that promise.

"Sir, you are right in saying that this is the life I do not want for myself or my sister, but she is my sister and I will not give her away as some bargaining chip."

"You, my dear boy, should know better than to speak like that to your elders. I am giving you and your sister the opportunity to have the life you should have had. Instead you wish to live like the peasants."

"If it means that I can stay with my sister than yes, I wish to live like them. At least we will still be together. We may not have much, but we will have each other."

"What about your sister? What do you think she would say if she found out that you had dismissed the chance to have a better life?"

"She would say the same thing as I have just said. She would not want to give up her family if it meant being separated from them."

"Let me put the offer to you this way: If you agree to give away your sister as my wife, you will not be parted from her. You will have the chance to live together in a house that I will provide for you back in England. Thus, you will not only be near your sister but, you and she will have the means to reinstate your family name within the community. As for my part as your future brother-in-law, I will take care of her. I will give her the life she deserves. I will be a good husband to her. And as her husband I will have the power to protect her."

Ignoring the slight knot in my stomach, I believed Thornton would stay true to his word. Trusting that he would keep his word, I shook his hand in agreement and made the deal with him. Isabella would become his wife and I would get the chance to redeem our family's name.

Thornton had reassured me that Isabella and I would be able to travel together back to England for us to start our new lives. With my mind at rest the night after Thornton and I had made arrangements, I told Isabella what I done.

"Why, Guy? I'm your sister!"

"Isabella, Squire Thornton is a good man. He has given us the chance to live the life father and mama would have wanted for us. He will be a good husband to you. He will look after you. He will give you the life I cannot give you."

"But, Guy I want to stay with you. Please do not send me away to live with him."

"Squire Thornton has reassured me that once you have gone he will send me a carriage. I will be with you within a few days. I will still be here for you."

The morning arrived for Isabella to begin her new life with Squire Thornton. As Thornton had said a carriage was waiting for us. Thornton stepped out with two guards. He helped Isabella into the carriage. I was about to follow her in when the two guards that was with him grabbed me by the arms and held me back. I looked at them, struggling to free myself.

"What are you doing?" I yelled.

"I'm sorry, lad," said one of the guards, "but, you are not to go in there."

I was confused. Surely there had been some mistake. I was going in the carriage with my sister.

"Of course I'm going in there. I am travelling with my sister back to England."

Thornton walked up to me. I could see the look in his eyes. He had lied. He had no intention of letting me travel with my sister. Nor did he intend for me to stay with her. She was going be taken from me and there was nothing I could do about it.

"Well, my dear boy it was good doing business with you, but I must be on my way with my bride to be." With that response he turned around, headed back to the waiting carriage and took the seat opposite my sister. I was flung to the ground. I tried to get up but couldn't. The carriage was starting to roll away as I looked. Out of the window I could see Isabella, tears streaming down her face and her screaming out my name. I ran after the carriage as fast as I could.

"ISABELLA!" But, it was in vain. The silhouette faded into the distance and I was left there. My sister had been taken from me. The last image that I had of Isabella was her screaming my name and I was unable to help her. With a heavy heart, I walked back to the stable sat down on top of a pile hay and let the tears fall down from my eyes. I silently mourned the loss of my sister. And of the broken promise I had made.