by Fanny Finch
“How are you feeling today, Lady Callow?” Hestia asked. “I apologize for the drama that has happened. I did not intend to cause trouble.”
The viscountess shook her head. “Do not trouble yourself. I was not bothered by any commotion. I am, however, a little concerned about Eugenia.”
“Why are you concerned, Lady Callow?” Hestia asked, genuinely curious.
“I fear she is not going to meet the man she needs to. I had hoped your influence would help her blossom like the flower she is. But if you are gone, who will she draw inspiration from? I am not capable of being excited and dancing and doing all the things she will want to do.”
“She draws inspiration from you, I have seen it,” Hestia used a reassuring voice. “She talks about what you have said. Lady Callow, you have inspired her like no other. Your words of wisdom have given me help when she repeats them to me.”
She smiled warmly, glad to see the happy sparkle in the older woman’s blue eyes.
“She repeats what I say?”
Hestia giggled. “All the time! Why, I cannot count how many times I have told her how wise you are. You have done so much and I do believe Eugenia will be just fine without me. She is a strong and loving young woman. The right man will see that, if one has not already.”
The viscountess lifted her eyebrows and cocked her head to the side. “Oh, Hestia. Do you know something I do not know?”
Hestia laughed out loud, though softly out of respect for the lady. “I cannot say for certain. But I do believe you will have some good news soon.”
The Viscountess of Culross smiled wide. “This is what I like to hear. I am so glad you have come to stay with us for a time, Hestia. I will miss your cheerful laughter and the way you make my daughter smile.”
“I will miss you, too, Lady Callow. I will miss all of you.”
Chapter 33
“Your father is sending a carriage for you, is that right?”
“Yes, he is.” Hestia had never felt more comfortable with the viscountess than she did right then. Under the worst of circumstances, the lady had shown her the compassion she craved from her own parents.
“I am of the understanding that you are smitten with Lord Price? He is the gentleman that came to the party last night. He spent a good deal of time talking to you.”
“I did not realize anyone noticed,” Hestia said with a bit of shame. She knew everyone had seen them but that did not stop her from denying that fact. The viscountess shook her head.
“It was quite obvious to all who were observing, my dear. That is the kind of thing that cannot be hidden from knowing eyes. Your mother noticed, as well. I will not be surprised if she accepts this news without question.”
“I am so embarrassed, Lady Callow.” Hestia’s words caught in her throat. She was taken aback when the Viscountess of Culross chuckled deep in her throat.
“You look like the cat who swallowed the canary, my girl. You need not worry about talking in front of me. I will not spread your secrets. However, when it comes to the attraction between you and Lord Price, there could be no doubt.”
“I am worried that his parents will not let him marry me.”
“Because of Miss Drusilla Sirey?”
Hestia raised her eyebrows in surprise. The Viscountess of Culross laughed.
“I am fully aware of everything that is going on. I was filled in on much of it by our own Eugenia, who is so full of life whenever she returns from a party. This time, she was already home. She kept me up for hours talking after you went to bed.”
Hestia shook her head. She was not aware of any of that. She was astounded that Lady Eugenia looked so refreshed if she was up as late as her mother made it sound.
“When will your father arrive?”
“I expect he will be here any moment now. I was planning to wait on the front veranda. I did not bring any of my bags down, though. I came as soon as I was summoned.”
“I hope Nellie did not make it sound as though I was angry with you. I understand how you are feeling. When the heart wants another human being, it cannot be stopped or quelled. It can sometimes lead you astray, and you end up in a place you do not want to be, with someone you do not truly love.”
She smiled gently and Hestia knew she was filled with sympathy for her and Leander. “I do not see that here. I did not watch you all evening but when I did see you with Lord Price, you were simply glowing with happiness.”
“He makes me feel wonderful, Lady Callow. I have never felt these feelings before.”
The Viscountess of Culross nodded. “It does not surprise me, my dear. You are young and have never been in love. Now you are in love. Nurture it. You may not have another chance.”
“I do not know how his parents will feel, though. They are so determined to have him marry Miss Drusilla. Just the thought of that makes me a bit queasy.”
“I am sure it does. You must trust that what God wants to happen will happen.”
“I wish God would speak to the Earl of Coventry. I do not know if he would listen even then.”
She blushed at her rudeness and apologized in a low voice.
“Do not apologize,” the viscountess chuckled. “You are most likely correct in that assumption. The Earl of Coventry is a stubborn and greedy man. His family’s coffers are full and yet he still seeks more.”
“And he is willing to sacrifice his son’s happiness to do it,” Hestia added in a disappointed voice.
The viscountess leaned forward and said earnestly, “Do not trouble yourself with it right now, Hestia. Live for what is happening right now. You will be able to see your family again, reunite with your pets and your horse, stay in the room you have always known. Will it not be good to be home again?”
The viscountess did not know what it was like in her home, Hestia thought.
“I am hoping it will be better than it was before,” she said softly. “There is often trouble and I do like to avoid it when I can.”
“I am sorry to hear that. It can be difficult when there is not enough money to make ends meet.”
“My father does his best,” Hestia said quickly. “But sometimes, he does not make good decisions.”
Lady Callow nodded. “So I have heard. But for now, trust that the man you love will fight for you and think only about the fact that you are going home. And no matter what my husband says, you are welcome to visit and attend any parties we have. You are welcome in my home. Is that clear?”
A pleasant chill ran over Hestia’s arms. She smiled brightly. “Thank you, Lady Callow. Thank you so much.”
“You must go and fetch your bags if your father will be here soon. He will not want to be kept waiting, I am sure.”
“I will miss you, Lady Callow. Thank you for talking to me.”
The viscountess nodded. “I did not want you to go without having a chance to tell you what I was thinking. And to make sure you know you are welcome here. Eugenia would simply have a fit if you were not allowed to come to visit.”
Hestia laughed.
“You have been such a good friend to her this past year, Hestia. I am grateful for that. You have helped her mature in many ways.”
“I am glad to hear that, Lady Callow.”
Hestia took her leave, feeling as though she was walking on a cloud. If only the viscountess had been her mother. She would have prospered and been loved and happy if she was. Having Lady Eugenia for a sister would have been quite a boon.
She went back up the stairs, clutching her skirt in one hand so she did not trip. Once she was back in her room, her feelings of sorrow returned and she grabbed her bags with both hands.
“Lady Hestia, I will take those for you.”
She looked over her shoulder at Alexander, who was standing at the doorway to her room. She felt a wave of anger pass through her quickly. Alexander had started this whole ball rolling when he told the Viscount of Culross that Leander was talking to her and not Lady Eugenia.
She frowned for only a moment
and then wiped the look off her face. She used one of piety instead, which was not something she did often.
She released the handles of the bags and lifted her chin, looking down her nose at Alexander. “See that they get into my father’s carriage with care, Alexander,” she ordered. She walked to him and as she passed, she looked directly at him and said, “And perhaps in the future, you can keep your nose out of other people’s business.”
She was delighted in the red-faced look he had going into her room to retrieve the bags.
She did not feel superior to him, no matter how much she feigned it. The fact that she had the title of a lady was enough to silence even the mouthiest servant.
She was glad she chose to use it on Alexander. In a way, she was grateful to him. He had opened the door to the possibilities. She and Leander had both felt the plan to hide their feelings while they found a solution was foolish. The choice had been taken from them when Alexander spied on them and spilled the news to the Viscount of Culross.
She went back down the stairs, keeping her spine straight and her head held high. She would not look as defeated as she felt. She continued to grasp for positive outcomes in her mind so that she would not feel so terrible about having to leave Lady Eugenia’s services.
“You have been a good companion,” she heard as soon as she took the bottom step. She looked around the corner and spied Lady Eugenia, who was gazing up at the tall plant beside her as if she had never seen it before.
Hestia grinned. “I think I heard you say something, Lady Eugenia.”
Lady Eugenia smiled back at her, her dark eyes twinkling. “I said you were a good companion. I heard you had a talk with Mother. She told you the same thing, did she not?”
“She did. How did you know?”
“We have discussed your services before. You do not think she would allow someone to work as my companion that I did not like, do you?”
Hestia shook her head. “I am sure she would not.”
“I have told her many times how much I have appreciated having you here. She is not happy my father dismissed you. Or rather that you decided to leave. He had not dismissed you.”
“Not yet. But we both know that is where it was going. I just spared myself the humiliation.”
“You should not feel humiliated for falling in love and wanting to be with someone who is the proper station for you. Working did not strip away your title.”
“That is true. I am hoping for the best.”
“I will wait with you on the veranda for your father to arrive.”
Lady Eugenia came up beside her and grabbed her arm, putting both hands around her elbow. They walked side by side to the door. When they reached it, Hestia heard her bags thump to the floor and Alexander hurried to open it for them.
They stepped out into the sunlight. The light was slowly fading as the evening hours rolled in. A light breeze brushed across their faces.
Hestia looked down at Lady Eugenia when Alexander brought out the two bags and went back inside immediately.
“He is very attentive all of a sudden,” Hestia said, glancing at Alexander’s retreating back.
“He should be,” Lady Eugenia said in a tense voice. She looked up and met Hestia’s eyes. “I had a talk with him. I do not think he will be spying on anyone anytime soon. He does not want to lose his employment here.”
“I wondered if you would say something to him. I suppose he cannot be blamed. I feel there is a reason behind everything and if this exposure is what God wanted, I am willing to see what happens.”
“That is a good way to look at it.”
The two women fell silent as they watched the road ahead.
Hestia was sure there would be something good coming in the future. She was certain of it. If she continued to keep her eyes open and think clearly, she would succeed in the end.
“I am sorry my father treated you this way, Hestia.” Lady Eugenia’s voice was filled with regret. “Everyone knows you are not a common servant. You are a rare woman, one who will stand up and be independent if necessary. Even the other servants know you are a station above them.”
“I hope I did not give the impression I thought I was better than them. A servant is a servant, regardless of their background.”
“Now that is not necessarily true. You are returning to your rightful position but it was always there anyway. That is why you caught the eye of Lord Price. He mistook you for the lady you are because he saw it in your very presence.”
“Your words are always so poetic, Lady Eugenia. I will miss that.”
“I will write poetic letters to you, telling you all about my adventures.” She winked. “I have plans to see someone very special soon. I hope you will be there with your someone special, too. There is a wedding coming up, I know you have heard about it.”
Chapter 34
Leander looked up at the bright sky, noticing the sun was beginning to dip into the west, the very beginning of its descent beyond the rolling hills. The night would come and he would feel just as dark then as he did now.
He listened to his mother chatting with Miss Drusilla as they walked through one of the largest parks in London. It was off a busy street where carriages and horses trotted along, their hooves echoing off the buildings.
Leander had always considered it to be one of the best parks London had to offer. It was active, with many people walking and the nearby community of shops and homes adding to the hustle and bustle.
But inside the park, with the surrounding trees, sculptured shrubs, and various small and large fountains, it was peaceful, almost serene. The noise from nearby did little to sway his opinion of the place.
“You are quiet, my lord.”
The only reason Leander came out of his thoughts was because he had just heard Miss Drusilla interrupt his mother. The Countess of Coventry looked equally shocked and both settled their eyes on the young lady. She was looking up at Leander.
“You were lost in thought, I presume,” she continued. “May I ask what you are thinking about?”
Leander recovered quickly from his surprise and answered her. It would be the first time he remembered ever having a real conversation with her. “I was thinking about the park, Miss Drusilla,” he responded. “It is one of my favorite places to be when I need a moment alone.” He gave her a smile. “Or with company.”
“Do you come here often?”
“I have had the pleasure of walking these grounds on many occasions. Perhaps two or three times a week in the last few months. I have… needed time to think. This is where I like to go.”
“I have a place in my father’s house where I have always gone, even as a small child. It is a small space under the stairs. I used to take a pillow down there and take my naps.”
“It is good to have a place where you feel secure.”
“It helps me think when I go there now. I have spent much of my time there recently.”
“You have been thinking a lot lately?” Leander tried hard not to let any surprise come through his voice. He did not want to offend her but her behavior had never suggested to him that she thought much about anything.
“Yes. I have. I know what I am required to do. I know that my father expects me to marry into society so that our family will be linked to the elite.” She looked at him, her dark eyes somber. For the first time, he was impressed by her. “It is my role to be a wife and mother, just as yours is to take over leadership when your father passes it to you. And you must provide an heir.”
“These things are all true,” he agreed with her. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the pleased look on his mother’s face. She had slowed down some so that she was walking with them but behind them, keeping her eyes and ears open.
“We are in quite a predicament though, are we not?”
Leander looked down at her. “What do you mean?”
“You are being told to marry me and I am being told to marry you. We have not been given the choice of free will or desi
re.”
Leander was quiet for a moment. It was something he did not think Miss Drusilla had even noticed. He was beginning to see her flighty behavior was only a show. She had a brain underneath the uncouth stumblings in front of society.
“You have often told me of the rules and regulations, reminding me how I should and should not behave.” Miss Drusilla did not sound upset. She spoke plainly and without great emotion. “And I have to thank you for trying so much. It has been a great benefit to me. I know my father also appreciates your efforts.”
