by Fanny Finch
“If not for Lord Price, your father would not have recovered his fortune.”
“He is on his way and progressing nicely,” Hestia agreed. “But he has not recovered yet. I wait for the day when he no longer gambles with the family’s money.”
Hestia was only comfortable talking about such personal matters to Lady Eugenia and Leander. She relied on them because neither would pass along information to anyone else. When she spoke to them, the news stopped with them.
“Has he continued doing that, Hestia?” Lady Eugenia’s voice was sorrowful.
“Not as badly as before. He is learning. Lord Price is helping him.”
“Yes, that is good. That is very good. And I know your mother must appreciate it.”
“She adores Lord Price,” Hestia laughed. “She truly does. As do my sisters. They are quite jealous, I think.”
The two young women laughed at that, linking arms to turn and walk the other way around the lawn. Hestia’s black slippers brushed through the green grass almost silently. The feeling that she was walking on air had not stopped for her.
She was told she was glowing, radiant with happiness. She felt it with Leander. He was a man of strength and valor.
“I am sure they will find the men for them soon.”
“They are unhappy because I am marrying before them and they are older than I. But I cannot help it. If there was ever a situation that was not prime to find a husband, it was mine of last season. I bumped into my future husband.”
Hestia laughed again.
“I told them they should try bumping into someone but it has to be real. They cannot force the accident. It has to be genuine.”
“Oh, Hestia!” Lady Eugenia laughed. “I can imagine Virginia bumping into a gentleman and seriously hurting him or behaving in an overdramatic fashion. Perhaps it was not the wisest suggestion you could have given them.”
“Virginia can be quite overdramatic, yes,” Hestia shook her head. “But she is a lovely girl. I know someone will choose her soon. I do hope so. I do not want my sisters to feel shame because they are not yet married.”
“You did not feel any shame when you thought you would never marry, did you?” Lady Eugenia lowered her voice, tugging gently on Hestia’s arm. Hestia looked down at her.
“I do not know if what I felt was shame. It was more acceptance. Reluctance. I did not want to be a spinster. All young woman long to be married. I dreamed of my wedding day when I was a child. But as I grew older, I realized life does not always give you what you want. There are many heartbreaks to be found.”
“We learn to deal with them and move on.”
Hestia stopped walking and turned to her friend. “Are you feeling well, Lady Eugenia? Is all well with you and your courtship?”
The smile Lady Eugenia gave her friend was weak and shaky. “I do not know. He is nowhere to be found. I am unsure he still cares for me.”
Hestia raised her eyebrows. “I cannot believe what you are saying!” she exclaimed. “You must stop thinking this way. Is it only because you have not seen him today?”
Lady Eugenia dropped her eyes and nodded.
Hestia chuckled softly, cupping one of Lady Eugenia’s hands in both of hers. “You must stop thinking so negatively! This is Mr. Wake’s home. He is considered a host. He is speaking with everyone who sets foot on the land, I am sure.”
“Mrs. Wake came by and said he should be with me. I should be with him while he greets the guests, should I not?”
Hestia tilted her head to the side. “Eugenia, if you want to be introduced to everyone with him, why do you not seek him out? I am sure he would be pleased to have you by his side. It will give you an opportunity to meet new people.”
“I have been too busy waiting for you to arrive.” Lady Eugenia lifted her chin and gave Hestia a bright smile. “I will go find him. Would you like to come?”
Hestia shook her head, laughing. “I have to get back to Lord Price. If I am gone from him too long, he will seek me out, asking if I am all right. He does that if I have not spoken to him for a while.”
“That is very sweet.”
“He thinks of me at all times. I could not have asked for a more attentive husband.”
“I am so happy for you, Hestia. This has worked out perfectly for us both.”
Hestia gave Lady Eugenia a smile and curtsied politely. Lady Eugenia giggled and curtsied back to her.
When they parted, Hestia watched Lady Eugenia move through the crowd, stopping at a few of the groups to ask if they had seen David. She could not help thinking what a wonderful friend Lady Eugenia had been to her.
The Extended Epilogue
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A White Rose for the Marquess – Preview
Chapter 1
Four Years Later,
London
For Gwendoline, this was an all too familiar scene.
As she sat in the carriage, with the spell of silence thick in the air save for the noise of the wheels, she could not help being taken back to that afternoon, four years ago.
Like that day, a new phase in her life would begin today.
Whatever the next four months brought, a husband or not, she knew that if she had to return to Gelling, she would not be the same woman.
How she knew this remained a mystery to her. Yet, she was as certain as she was of the fact that it would rain tonight. She felt it in her bones, in her heart and in her mind.
Unlike that carriage ride four years ago, she was not alone with her aunt – her uncle and cousin were there with them.
The curtains had been opened the moment they entered the streets of London, so Gwen took advantage of the opportunity and busied herself with the life outside.
She could not believe that she had never been to London. Twenty years old, and this was her first time in the renowned city. Her first time joining the Season too.
To be a debutante at twenty was quite unusual. Many would consider her old, but Gwendoline did not mind, not so much.
It did not matter that she had been given Fiona’s clothes from her first season, which were now out of fashion. Thankfully, they were the right size, as at twenty, Gwendoline had finally grown into the woman Fiona had been at seventeen.
Her cousin was now even taller. She was the primrose of Gelling. Those who knew Gwendoline, called her the daisy.
Pure, lovely, peaceful. Gwendoline believed it suited her perfectly.
It did not matter that Aunt Leah had made it starkly clear where Gwendoline’s place was in the coming season. It did not matter that she barely had any jewelry to her name, compared to the dozens that decorated Fiona’s chest…
Gwendoline was simply grateful that she had finally been given a chance to enter society, and find a suitor for herself. She finally had not been left alone in Gelling with the staff, like she had been left alone for the last three seasons.
She looked up at Fiona who seemed interested in the book she was reading. She had barely lifted her head to look out the wi
ndow all through the journey.
Of course, there was nothing new to this, where Fiona was concerned. Unlike Gwendoline, this was Fiona’s fourth season. Sadly, like Gwendoline, Fiona was still unmarried - much to her mother’s great displeasure.
Fiona herself seemed unconcerned by it. When she returned from London, she was always more than happy to tell Gwendoline sweet tales about all that had happened during the season.
The men who had tried to woo her, the scandals, the gossip, the balls, the soirees and the elegance that they all brought. She had often said life here in London was different.
Gwendoline could see it already. The streets were much busier. There was barely any expanse of land or field for greenery. Every space that was big enough had been put to use to contain buildings - houses, firms, shops.
“It is quite a sight, isn’t it?” her uncle spoke, breaking the spell.
Gwendoline looked away from the window then, relaxing into her seat.
“Yes, Uncle. That, it is. Fiona has told me tales, but my imagination never conjured anything quite like this. How do you survive here for four months, after living in the quietness of the county for eight?”
Uncle Albert chuckled in that warm way of his. It made Gwendoline smile.
“Dear child, you shall come to understand after spending a few weeks in the city. Everything here is moving so fast.
”By the time you grow accustomed to it, upon your return to the country, all will seem awfully quiet and terribly slow. It will take you some time to settle into the countryside’s air too.”
Intrigued by her uncle’s words, her eyes widened. “Really?”
It was Fiona who answered, finally taking time away from her book. Like always, she had a polite smile for Gwendoline.
“Really, Gwen. Why do you think I often look forward to the season? Life here… it’s different. And the balls? Magical! I am glad that you will get to see it all for yourself, this time.”
The relationship between Fiona and Gwendoline had grown from friendly and easy, to polite and mostly awkward in the past four years. There was no one else to blame for that other than Leah.
She had constantly told her daughter that Gwendoline was not the sister Fiona never had, and would never be. She had taken offence every time she had seen the girls playing together like old friends, and after a good number of scoldings, both girls had grown wary of each other.
Careful, seemed a more soothing word. Yes, they still talked and like Gwendoline had foreseen, she functioned as Fiona’s companion.
Yet, there were boundaries to their relationship, and they were often too careful to not cross those boundaries, lest they sparked Aunt Leah’s annoyance.
So, rather than grin and continue the chatter mindlessly, Gwendoline offered a polite smile in return and said a simple, “Thank you, Fiona.”
Aware of the situation herself, Fiona gave a curt nod and went back to her reading. Once more, silence reigned.
It was like that until they finally came to a stop in front of the Cartridges’ townhouse. Unlike the manor, this was no estate. Yet, the house was just as grand.
It also appeared to be of a more modern architecture, and it bore resemblance to all the other houses Gwendoline had observed on the way over.
One by one, they got out of the carriage and as they came to stand in front of the house, Uncle Albert announced. “Welcome to the townhouse, Gwendoline.”
Gwendoline dropped a shallow curtsy for the man who had kept to his word and loved her like a father. Aunt Leah had not been able to get him to stop, and not for lack of trying.
“Thank you, Uncle. It’s beautiful.”
“It is, isn’t it? Wait until you see the inside.”
And with those words, he ushered them in.
They were all led to the dining room where they settled down to a generous spread of fruit, cakes, bread and stew for supper.
They had begun to eat when Aunt Leah finally addressed Gwendoline.
“So, you have finally come to London. How does it feel? Good?”
Gwendoline nodded, rushing to chew up the bread in her mouth, so that she would swallow.
She knew that this conversation would not end in a lovely manner. Aunt Leah had a way of leaving a bitter taste in Gwendoline’s mouth after every dialogue.
As the lump went down her throat, she answered. “It is a lovely place, Aunt Leah.”
“Of course it is. Not a place for orphans like yourself. Too expensive, if you ask me. You know how much a family has to spend during the season? With the balls and outings and plays and all those beautiful dresses! My goodness.
”We spend twice what we have to spend in the country, if not three times. Imagine adding another mouth to that, and a debutante at that! Lord knows I have tried for you. How many people would do what I have done for a child who isn’t theirs?”
Uncle Albert stopped eating, and placed a hand on his wife’s.
“Leah, this is unnecessary. Leave it be.”
His caution counted for nothing, but Gwendoline was grateful for it anyway. She always was.
Nevertheless, it did not stop Aunt Leah from completely disregarding her husband’s words.
“Oh please, Albert. The girl must be told the truth. We must make her face reality lest she begins to forget her place. She must know the sacrifices we make for her, in order to remain grateful.”
Gwendoline’s heart sank, hurting deeply. Yet, she did not look away when her aunt stared into her blue eyes.
“Your father left nothing but debts for you, you know.”
It was what she had always told Gwendoline, but Gwendoline did not believe it.
She knew her father had been wealthy. Generous too, yes, but too frugal and wise to die leaving his affairs in shambles.
And debts? What debts? Gwendoline never saw her father make many purchases, indulge in luxuries or lose in a hand of cards. He had been no drunkard, or a gambler.
Still, Gwendoline held her peace as her aunt ranted on, even as the fire inside of her came alive and began to simmer.
“My gracious husband managed to pay off all of that debt. And we have had to feed you from our pockets for the past four years. You know how much it cost to launch a child into society? Why else did you think we have waited this long?”
It was to give Fiona a better chance at finding a husband, everyone knew this. Aunt Leah was afraid that if Gwendoline was present at the season, men would go after Gwendoline, not Fiona.
In her aunt’s own words, Fiona was too tall for a woman. Men did not like a tall woman over whom they cannot exercise authority.
That was the way they saw women like Fiona. Stubborn, hard-headed and non-submissive.
Fiona was anything but those. That a mother would think so low of her child would have baffled Gwendoline, but this was Aunt Leah. She was capable of anything.
Aunt Leah continued. “It is because we needed to be certain we had enough money for two ladies. We are trying for you, Gwendoline. And you must show gratitude. Wear Fiona’s hand-me-downs with pride.
”And of course, one more thing you should do to show your gratitude, is to make yourself scarce. At the balls, at outings, at plays… I have said it before and I shall say it again. I do not want you getting the attention that Fiona should be getting.
”This is her fourth season and it would be a shame if she does not manage to secure a proposal before its end. Lord knows I do not understand why it has taken so long,” she muttered the last part under her breath, but everyone heard anyway.
Gwendoline felt Fiona wince by her side, but the girl said nothing.
“This season is for Fiona, Gwendoline. She is twenty years old and not getting any younger. If anything, you should support her, help her shine and attend to her every need so she does not have to worry about a thing other than being beautiful and staying happy.
”In fact, I would like you to start by helping her settle into her chambers. It is the least you can do now, is it not?”
Bowing her head, Gwendoline kept her voice as demure as possible. “Yes, Aunty.”
“Very well. Supper may continue now that all is clear and understood.”
And just like that, everyone went back to eating.
Still, the atmosphere in the room, the tenseness that hung in the air, spoke of what had just happened.
