by Fanny Finch
They sat and waited, drinking tea, until Delia saw that the three had walked in the doors.
Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of her mother in a ridiculous hat and dripping with pearls that were better worn later in the evening than during the day. Margaret was in a nice gown of her standard pink choice. But it was rather apparent that she did not quite fit with the rest of the women in the room.
Georgette, however, was a shock to behold.
She was no longer the younger sister who brought so much annoyance to Delia’s life. She was now a young woman. She was tall and thin, but had curves that young women seemed to constantly wish for. Her hair had darkened, her skin had paled, and her cheeks had a natural blush to them causing her to look perpetually innocent.
Delia could hardly believe her eyes upon looking at her sister. It was too much of a change to believe.
Thea leaned over subtly.
“I ought to have warned you,” she said with a slight laugh.
Delia nodded and looked at Thea with wide eyes.
The two stood to greet the newcomers and Margaret threw her arms around Delia without a care who was watching. It was not proper behavior for society of such status, but Delia could hardly blame Margaret for not bowing to society’s rules. She was not of the same ilk.
Delia greeted her mother with a stiff curtsey and Mrs. Caulfield scarcely acknowledged her in reply.
Delia ignored the slight. The change was so atrocious that she realized it was not worth her energy to care who her mother had become. She chose instead to take the approach that Thea had discussed with her and was now portraying.
Thea remained tall and proud with her mother. She gave a proper, emotionless greeting, and held a distance. It was sad to see things had come to this, but Delia recognized that it actually caused their mother to wish for Thea’s approval.
It would be of no use for Delia to expect her mother’s desire for her attention. Thea was a titled woman, a duchess, so it made sense for their mother to desire her relation. But Delia simply had to hold her head high and pretend to be more than she was.
When she greeted Georgette, Delia was surprised that her younger sister, indeed, showed some affection and gladness to see her again. A smile shone from her pretty face and Delia saw how she batted her eyelashes in the most beautiful way.
“It is good to see you, sister,” Georgette remarked, garnering a flashing glare from their mother. Delia sensed that Mrs. Caulfield did not wish for the familial association to be overheard.
“And you as well,” Delia replied. “You have changed so much.”
Georgette nodded in what seemed to be an apology.
“Yes, I daresay I have. But fear not, my changes are not the same as those changes which have overcome our parents, Delia,” she whispered beneath her breath.
Delia looked at her in apparent confusion. Could it be that as their parents grew more and more obsessed with society, Georgette was growing less? Was it possible that she was maturing and developing her character in ways that Delia would never have imagined, nor given her credit for?
Once more she glanced at Thea who could not refrain from a slight grin. It seemed as though Thea had also noted the positive change in their younger sister. It was rather encouraging, to be sure.
As the five women sat and drank their tea and ate their delicate meals, Delia grew more and more confident.
It was clear that her mother was making every effort to make a name for herself, but she was not satisfied. Delia hoped that it would lead Mrs. Caulfield to a realization of her behaviors and perhaps even a change.
Margaret was entertaining as always and Thea and Georgette loved every moment of it even if it was clear to the women around them that Margaret did not belong.
Georgette was speaking intelligently and wisely. She had truly developed under the tutelage of her governess, a Miss Franklin. It seemed as though the governess was a young woman of character, one who had easily changed the ways of their sister through her example.
By the time the lunch had come to an end, and with all the stories that she and Thea had spun, Delia felt her heart lifted.
She still missed the Earl terribly. She still regretted every moment of what had happened between them. But she knew that at least she was not alone. At least she could still depend on at least three of these four women with whom she sat.
And while it was little to mend her spirits, it was enough.
Chapter 38
A thrill wormed its way through the Earl’s heart. He was ecstatic. He knew that he would soon find Miss Caulfield once more.
Arriving in Cambridge, he was delighted. And yet, he still did not know how he was going to manage to find her.
It seemed a fairly fruitless mission. After all, Cambridge was a large place with thousands of people. How was he to find the one he wanted?
The Earl decided that his best choice was to go about inquiring from the simple places. If he spoke with the post office, for instance, they might know of her sister. Or perhaps inquiring with housekeepers of nobility that he was somewhat acquainted with might prove helpful.
But still he had to confess that his attempts may not turn out.
First the Earl stopped for a bit of lunch as it had been a long trip. As he was sitting in the small tavern, he considered the possibility of simply inquiring there. It seemed unlikely, after all they were certainly many who would indulge in such a place.
There would be little chance for the employees to know anything about the sister of Miss Caulfield.
However, the Earl chose to inquire anyway.
“Excuse me,” he began, trying to interrupt the young woman who was taking food to the various customers.
“Yes? What else may I get for you?” she asked.
“I have an inquiry, actually,” he told her.
The young woman blinked in mild irritation, as though she did not appreciate inquiries.
“I am seeking a young woman who is staying with her sister here. I do not know the sister’s married name, but she previously went by Miss Caulfield,” he explained.
“You are seeking this young woman?” the young lady asked, raising an eyebrow.
“She is a governess whom I wish to employ,” he said, leaving it vague enough to not be a lie, but giving information that would spare the young woman assuming he had ill intentions.
She did, indeed, seem to lighten at this.
“Oh, I see. Yes, I do know the name,” she told him.
“You do?” he asked, excitedly.
“Miss Caulfield? I know of only one, but she is rather famed,” the young woman said with a laugh.
The Earl of Dulshire wondered what could cause her fame. Was it something bad? Did she have a poor reputation?
“Famed?” he asked.
“Well, for women like us, women who have very little chance in society, her tale is rather incredible,” the young woman remarked.
“How so? Who is she?” the Earl pushed.
“Why, the Duchess of Sandon, of course,” she replied.
The Earl looked at her as though she was mad. They must have had a misunderstanding. He was not seeking a duchess. He was looking for Miss Caulfield’s sister. It was unlikely that anyone might have heard of her, but he had hoped that at least someone would be able to give him a lead on information.
Perhaps if he gave more information, he would get better answers.
“No, I am not seeking a duchess. Miss Caulfield. She is the daughter of a merchant,” he explained, hoping that it would clarify things a bit.
“Yes, the former merchant who, like his daughter, transformed his fortunes into a grand tale,” she replied, annoyed that he would question her. She turned to leave, but the Earl of Dulshire gave a hesitant sound to signify that he was not yet finished and she turned back to him with an unwelcoming look in her eyes.
The Earl sighed in frustration.
“You can think of no other young woman by that name?” he pushed.
> “None. There are no others in this area. There is only the Duchess of Sandon, previously Miss Caulfield, the daughter of a merchant who has grown into a wealthy business man. If you are so determined that she is something other, then I fear that you must seek elsewhere. I have told you all I know,” she said, rather rudely. The Earl wanted to express to her his own identity in hopes that she might be willing to change her attitude, but he felt it was useless.
“Well, thank you. I shall ask around further. I fear we are speaking of different women,” he said, dismissing her.
The young woman grumbled something as she walked away and the Earl knew that it was likely an insult to him. He didn’t care, however. He was seeking Miss Caulfield and she was more important to him than the feelings of a worker in a restaurant. He needed to find Miss Caulfield’s sister, whomever she was.
After the lunch, he instructed his driver to take him to the postal office. Once more, he imagined that perhaps he might find answers.
“Yes, excuse me,” he said, the moment the man in front of him had finished depositing his letter. The Earl noticed a large pile of letters ready to go out for the day, and even considered rifling through them for a moment in order to look for something to or from Miss Caulfield’s sister.
“Yes?” the man working asked in reply. He looked rather sleepy and bored, but the Earl was determined and would not allow those things to prevent him from getting answers.
“I am seeking a dear friend. I know only that she is staying in the area with her sister. I do not know her married name, but she was previously a Miss Caulfield,” he explained once more.
The boy gave him the same inquiring look as the young woman from the eatery.
“You do not know your friend’s married name?” he inquired suspiciously, as if the Earl were seeking out an old lover.
“No, her sister. Her sister was previously a Miss Caulfield but has since married,” he explained further.
“You mean the Duchess?” the man asked in reply.
The Earl tutted in exasperation. Whoever the Duchess was, she was ruining all of his questioning. The Earl needed someone who was able to think past someone with a well-known position. He needed to find someone who knew the Miss Caulfield related to his governess.
“She’s not a… Listen, I am seeking a young woman, not a titled or grand duchess. She recently had a child. She has been married for over a year. I know very little of her beyond that,” he expressed.
“Forgive me, Sir-”
“I am the Earl of Dulshire,” he cut in, frustrated and craving respect.
“Right. Forgive me, my lord. But she is one and the same. Miss Caulfield, a woman of humble beginnings. She is rather famed around here,” he said, nearly echoing the words of the young woman in the restaurant.
“Do you mean to tell me it is true? The daughter of the merchant? She is now the Duchess of Sandon?” the Earl asked, suddenly realizing that perhaps it was the truth after all.
The Earl felt his heart skip a beat. How could this all be true? How was this coming to pass?
“Indeed, my lord. She is indeed. A fine young woman, very noble character. And I know she has two sisters, although I cannot say which one it is that you are seeking,” he replied.
The Earl stood motionless for a moment, trying to wrap his mind around the possibility. Could it be true?
He could hardly believe it. How was it that the woman he had cared for so deeply had managed to keep all of the secrets? How was it that she had not told him?
Miss Caulfield ‘s sister was none other than the Duchess of Sandon herself. She was the one that he had heard spoken of at the park when the men were going on about the Duke and his wealth and his marriage to a woman beneath his station.
He was entirely amazed. The woman of the famed man who had managed to recoup all of his accounts was Miss Caulfield’s older sister.
The Earl was entirely relieved to know that he could now find her. He knew where she would be, and he would be able to speak to her. If she really, truly was the same woman he was seeking, now was his opportunity to find her.
“Please, do tell me where the home is at? If it is truly the same woman, I should wish to see for myself and inquire there,” he said.
“I cannot simply give you an address. I don’t know what you plan to do with it,” the man reasoned, looking at the Earl with suspicion.
He sighed, citing the same reason he had given to the waitress and the man finally relented.
“She’s not directly in Cambridge. Out in the country. Although I did see them yesterday in town, leaving one of them fancy hotels where ladies like to drink their tea. As if drinking it at home isn’t good enough for them,” he complained.
“Not directly in Cambridge?” the Earl asked, ignoring the rest.
“Nope, in the country side. Like I said. Not too far from here. Just around the Brickshire area. Maybe a twenty-minute ride,” he informed the Earl.
The Earl sighed in relief and gratitude.
“Thank you. You have been most helpful. I shall be on my way,” the Earl told him.
“That’s grand,” the man said. “But don’t go telling anyone that I told you where to find them. Those grand Dukes and Duchesses are awfully pedantic about their privacy.”
The Earl understood why they would be. It was not always easy having a title. Oftentimes, people would come asking for things that he simply wasn’t able to give.
“Yes, well, I shall keep it to myself. You need not fret. But it is very important that I find the Duchess’s sister, so you must know that you have done me a great service,” the Earl noted.
“Well…you know, great services are often…rewarded,” the man said.
Sighing again, the Earl knew exactly what was expected from him at that point.
“I see…” he said. He pulled out a small note and handed the money over to the man who seemed somewhat disappointed that it was not more.
The Earl knew the sort of expectancy men and women had when it came to bribes from titled men. But he was not going to bow to such an expectation. He would give only what he felt reasonable and necessary.
“Thank you again for your help,” he said, taking his leave.
The Earl of Dulshire returned to the coach and got in. He was ready. He was ready to try and speak with the Duchess and learn if it was all true and if Miss Caulfield was her sister. So he ordered the coach to go towards Brickshire and find the estate of the Duke of Sandon. With any luck, it would be grand and easy to discover.
As he sat in the coach for the short journey, the Earl couldn’t help but remain in utter shock and awe. It was all possibly true. He didn’t know for certain yet, but he imagined that he could not have been told the same thing by two very different people and it not be true. If the Duchess was so famous for her rise in status then why should he not believe it?
And yet it still seemed unfathomable. Impossible. He would learn the truth soon enough. A mere twenty minutes, the man had said.
But in that moment, the Earl was jolted forward by a problem with the coach.
The horse gave a loud, painful whinny and he heard the coachman swear in anger.
The Earl immediately jumped out of the cab to have a look.
Indeed, the horse’s leg had an awkward bend to it and it was evident that a serious injury had occurred. He knew the typical solution to such a thing, but was unsure what the coachman would do.
“My lord, forgive the delay. It seems as though the injury will mend, but we cannot continue at the moment with my horse. Would you concede to wait here while I walk and seek another for us to use in the meantime?” the coachman asked.
The Earl knew what an inconvenience it was going to be. He also knew that he was very near the estate of the Duke and Duchess.
“You may seek a horse and someone to look after yours, but I, too, shall go on foot. I must get to my destination. Perhaps they would be willing to help. Come with me and you may go to their stablehand with your reque
sts while I visit my… while I carry out my own business,” he suggested.
The coachman seemed to agree and they continued on foot.
Soon, they reached the home of the Duke and Duchess, which they confirmed with the gardener outside the home. The coachman made his way to the stable while the Earl walked to the front door and knocked firmly.
Within moments, the door opened and the Earl was invited to step inside.
Chapter 39
A knock came to the door of the parlor where Delia was reading in leisure.
