by Daphne Bloom
She’s as devastated as I am that the baby is a girl. It is a terrible thing to think, I know. The baby can’t help it. But far too many of my family’s hopes and dreams depended on the baby being a boy. Now, it is all but assured that if our father doesn’t recover that Cousin Albert will inherit everything and I’ll be a poor relation.
“Father could recover,” I say, leaning against Elise’s headboard.
“For your sake, I hope so,” Elise says.
There is a knock on the door and a footman steps in.
“What is it?” Constance asks.
“Cousin Albert is here to congratulate you, ma’am,” he says to Elise, but it is Constance who answers.
“How dare he?” she says and the baby stirs. “He thinks it proper to pay call to a woman still in her birthing bed? Send him away this moment!”
“Mrs. Smith tried, my lady,” he says, speaking of our housekeeper, “but he insisted that if Lady Elise would not see him, then he would at least speak to Lady Lily.”
Constance and I share a look of alarm. Elise finally rolls over and joins the conversation.
“He’s here to propose,” she says, and I feel sick.
“No,” I say. “He can’t!”
“Send him away,” Constance orders again. “It is highly improper for him to be here.”
“Yes, my lady,” the footman says with a bow before leaving the room. Constance places the baby in a bassinette and moves to sit on the bed on the other side of Elise.
“We can’t let him propose,” she says. “It will surely become common knowledge that he did so. Even if Lily turns him down, it will be that much harder to find another suitor for her.”
“I agree,” Elise says, forcing herself to sit up. I put some large pillows behind her back. “We have to find someone else.”
I start to open my mouth to suggest Henry Pembroke, but then close it again. No, surely he’d reject me after what happened the other night at the Ellsworths’.
“What about Lord Astley?” Constance suggests. “His mother seemed rather taken with Lily when she visited.”
“Oh, right,” Elise says. “We were supposed to have them for dinner, weren’t we. But then we came to London instead and James Astley was still abroad.”
“That was weeks ago,” Constance says. “He must have arrived by now.”
“But is he in London?” Elise asks.
“I should think so,” Constance says. “Didn’t his mother say that he was coming back specifically to find a wife? He must be in the city if he hopes to find someone to propose to before the Season ends.”
“We must act quickly,” Elise says. “Send out inquiries and invite the Astleys to dinner as soon as possible. You’ll have to hostess without me.”
“I’m aware,” Constance says as she gets up from the bed and sends for her own lady’s maid.
“But I don’t want to marry James Astley,” I say, and both of my sisters look at me with horror.
“What?” Constance says.
“I don’t want to go to India. I told Lady Astley as much.”
“Lily,” Elise says, grabbing my hand. “This is not the time to be contrary.”
“I’m not,” I say. “I have always been clear about not wanting to leave England.”
Constance groans. “Lily, please, see reason! Do you want to marry Albert?”
“No.”
“Do you want to live with me or Elise? Your allowance decided by our husbands? Never having a place of your own?”
“No.”
“Do you have any other marriage prospects in mind?”
Henry Pembroke, I think but don’t dare say. “No,” I admit sadly.
“Then what other choice is there? Please try to impress Lord Astley. You won’t stay in India forever, I promise.”
I don’t know how Constance can make a promise on behalf of Lord Astley, but she is right that I don’t really have a choice.
“Fine,” I practically whisper. “I will see James Astley.”
“Thank you, Lily.” Constance goes to speak to her maid, who has arrived amidst our conversation and instructs her to invite the Astleys to dinner as soon as possible.
“Can I leave now?” I ask.
“Not until Albert leaves,” Constance says. “We cannot risk him cornering you. He can’t stay here all day.”
I lay down next to Elise on the bed and plan to be trapped in this room for the foreseeable future.
I wonder if Elise’s melancholy is contagious.
Chapter Fourteen
Henry
Every time there is a knock at the door I start, which sends twinges of pain down my back and leg. I haven’t been able to relax for a moment since we had dinner with the Davenports two days ago. I expect the butler to show Julia Davenport into the room at any moment, sealing my fate. I know that if she makes an appearance, my parents will expect me to propose—and I can see no way out of it.
“Don’t you think it is possible that Julia might have genuine feelings for you?” Alice asks from her chair near the window.
I scoff. “Pretty young thing like that? Hardly. She must know that she can do better.”
“But maybe she doesn’t want to do better,” Alice pushes. “She might like you a great deal if you gave her the chance.”
“Didn’t you say much the same about Lily Derby?” George puts in. “That you couldn’t understand why she was still unattached. I don’t know why you’d be willing to join your lot with her—strange creature she is—but not a perfectly fine girl like Julia.”
“I suppose you have a point,” I admit glumly. “It wouldn’t be fair to Lily either. I truly do not wish to yoke myself to any young woman. I wish Father and the rest of you would drop the whole silly affair.”
“I might be willing to,” George says, “but you know Father won’t.”
I let out a long sigh. I know he’s right. Rashi leaps onto the back of the settee I’m sitting on and then to the window, where he rushes back and forth. He needs to go outside. I push myself up and click my fingers to call the little rapscallion to me. He leaps to me and scampers up my leg to my shoulder.
“I’ll be out back,” I say, and my brother and sister-in-law give me a nod. Out on the terrace, Rashi jumps down and scurries to a nearby bush to do his business. I look around the perfectly respectable garden and think back to the terrace at Lily’s house. It put ours to shame. Lily could do wonders with this outdoor space. And as for the Pembroke estate, well, she could completely revitalize it. I think she would like that very much. But we wouldn’t live at Pembroke very long, I should think. We would need to purchase our own home. I would buy her the estate with the most hideous garden. Or one without a garden at all, just a large, empty, green lawn. It would be a blank slate on which she could design her own garden. That would make her very happy, I know.
Rashi finishes his business and then hops along the grass, probably looking for some unsuspecting bug to eat. He stops in front of a large green bush with striking orange blossoms. No, are they orange, or a bright red? I walk over to get a closer look and see that it is some magical in-between color, and the petals turn to a bright yellow just near the center of the bloom. I wonder what sort of plant it is. I don’t recall seeing one like it at Lily’s terrace. She mentioned that she often takes cuttings from other gardens to add more variety to her own. I wonder if I should send her a cut from this plant.
I look around and see a maid, I think her name is Helen, with a watering can walking around the terrace. I raise my hand and call her over to me.
“Yes, my lord?” she asks with a curtsey after she approaches.
“Do you happen to know what this plant is called?”
“Umm…” She thinks for a moment. “It’s a dahlia, sir, though I can’t remember the name of the variety.”
“It certainly draws the eye, doesn’t it?”
“Indeed, sir,” she says. “Lady Pembroke won an award for it at the garden show last year.”
“She did?” I ask. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mother getting her hands dirty in the garden.”
Helen giggles. “No, sir. It’s the gardener, Mrs. Drew, who does the work, but it is under the direction of Lady Pembroke.”
I find that a bit confusing. “But it is my Mother who wins the award?”
“That’s the way of things, sir.”
“Hmm. Well, either way, it is an award-winning plant, is it?”
“Oh, yes, sir,” she says. “It’s a rare color. Highly prized.”
“So not something that would be found in most gardens.”
“No, sir. I think it might be one of the few in London, though I could be mistaken. I just help Mrs. Drew with watering and weeding. I don’t really know a lot about plants.”
“That’s fine,” I tell her. “Do you know how to take a cutting? I’d like to make a gift of it for a…a friend.”
“Oh, yes, sir,” she says, putting her watching can down. “Let me just fetch a knife.” I give her a nod as she rushes off.
“What do you think, Rashi?” I ask the squirrel. “Do you think that Lady Lily will enjoy it?” He chitters before climbing under the bush. The leaves rustle as his head pops out at the top.
“Do you think you are a flower?” I ask him, scratching his head. “Shall I send you to Lily? You would make a very unique plant, I should think.” He chitters again before disappearing back into the foliage. Helen comes back with her knife and a damp cloth.
“Excuse me, sir,” she says.
“Go ahead.”
She drops to the ground and digs around near the base of the plant before settling on where she wants to cut. She removes a thick stalk and lays it on the grass where she snips away some of the lower leaves. I see there are several buds higher up on the stalk. She then lays the cutting on the cloth and wraps it gingerly.
“Here you are, sir,” she says, getting back to her feet and brushing off her knees before holding the cutting out to me. “The cloth will keep it fresh until it reaches its destination.”
“Thank you so much,” I say as I hold the cutting in my hand, not quite sure what to do with it now. I didn’t think this far ahead. Should I send it now? Myself? With the maid? Should I invite Lily and her sisters to tea? I then think about how awkward it would be if I did and then Julia Davenport make an appearance.
“Shall I deliver it for you, sir?” Helen helpfully offers.
“Would you mind?” I ask.
“Not at all! I’d be grateful for the excuse to go out.”
“Well, in that case…”
I hear footsteps and see a footman, Eddie, walking toward me with a small basket wrapped in a gingham cloth. “This just arrived for you, sir.”
“Oh? Who from?”
“Lady Lily Derby.”
I nearly lose my balance at the mention of her name, and I think I nearly must do because Helen grips my arm to hold me steady.
“Sir, are you all right?” she asks.
“Oh, yes, of course,” I say, coming back to my senses. “I was just surprised is all.”
“Shall I open it for you, sir?” Eddie asks.
“Umm…” I look down and see that one of my hands is occupied holding my cane, while the other is holding the cutting.
“Here, sir,” Helen says, motioning toward a small table and chair set where the ladies sometimes take tea. “Have a seat and open it yourself. I’m sure Lady Lily would be glad to know you were the first to see it.”
“Yes, of course,” I say. “How astute of you.”
“Not at all, sir,” she says, her face beaming as she helps me to the chair. “We’re all quite fond of Lady Lily.”
“Really?” I ask, surprised. “Have you seen her?”
“Not myself,” she says. “But Lady Alice’s maid went with you when you had tea at her house. And some of the maids at Lady Ellseworth’s dance saw you two together.”
“Ah, servants do talk, so I’ve heard.”
She blushes. “Well, we only want what is best for those we serve.”
“And you think Lady Lily is…best for me?”
She blushes again and looks to Eddie for support. He places the box in front of me.
“There are some who think the two of you are quite well suited is all, sir.”
Of course I agree with them. Lily is the only woman I’ve considered “well suited” for me since my return. And if even the staff can see that…perhaps I’m not deluded in thinking so.
“And…Miss Davenport?” I can’t help but ask. “Are she and I…well suited?”
Helen and Eddie exchange another look, and while I feel a little guilty for putting them on the spot, I’m genuinely curious.
Helen gives a little mischievous smile as she pushes Lily’s basket toward me. “Perhaps not as much as you and Lady Lily.”
“Smart answer,” I tell her. I take a breath as I pull the ribbon loose from around the basket. Inside I find a gauze bag of tea and a clear bottle of liquid. But as I examine the liquid, turning the bottle up and down, I see that it is mixed with small leaves and other items. I find a note in the box as well.
Lord Henry,
I cannot stop thinking about the fall you took the other night and the look of pain on your face. I hope these small items shall bring you comfort.
Sincerely,
Lily Derby
There is also a card explaining how to use each item. I am a bit disappointed in how matter-of-fact the letter is. I try not to let it show on my face, but I suppose I fail and clear my throat.
“Well, I suppose I should give these a try before bed tonight.”
“What’s wrong?” Helen asks.
“Nothing,” I say. “There’s nothing in it other than a bit of neighborly concern. I suppose I should be glad it arrived before I sent that silly cutting and made a fool of myself.”
“What are you talking about?” she asks. “She says she can’t stop thinking about you!”
“Only about my injury, my pain,” I snap back. “She doesn’t care about me.”
“Sir…” She seems exasperated with me. “She sent you these to comfort you. Does that not show how much she cares for you?”
“Do…do you really think so?” I ask. “Are you sure you aren’t reading too much into it?”
Helen places the cutting in front of me. “I think you should deliver this yourself and find out.”
I pick up the flower stem and roll it between my fingers for a moment. It is a bit forward for a woman to send a gift to a man who isn’t courting her or a member of her family. I suppose to expect her to be more explicit about her feelings in a letter would be too much to ask.
“Right,” I say, reaching for my cane. Eddie pulls the chair back while Helen helps me to stand and hands me the cutting. “Send for the carriage, will you?”
“Of course, sir,” Eddie says with a bow before bounding across the lawn to the house. I try not to envy his spry movements.
“Here,” the maid says. She straightens and smooths my jacket before picking a white bloom from a nearby plant and securing it to my lapel.
“Thank you,” I tell her.
“We’re all rooting for you, sir,” she says. “I remember what you were like…before. How happy you were. I only see you smile like that nowadays when Lady Lily is mentioned.” Her own smile flees. “Oh, sir! I’m sorry. That was too familiar of me.”
“No,” I say. “Don’t apologize. I need the encouragement.”
“Carriage is ready, sir,” Eddie says, my hat at the ready.
I blow out my cheeks. I have no idea what I’m going to say when I see her. What to expect her to do or say. But if she gives any indication that she would be open to a courtship, I might just have to defy my father and do what makes me happy after all.
Chapter Fifteen
Lily
A knock on the door wakes me. I didn’t realize I had fallen asleep. I open my eyes to see Elise standing next to the bassinet, looking down at the baby.
“Yes?” she says, and I think she is grateful for the interruption.
The door opens and a maid steps in. “There’s a guest—”
“Is Albert still here?” Constance interrupts.
“Yes, my lady.”
“Then send whoever it is away,” she says with a wave of her hand. “The last thing any of us want to do is run into Cousin Albert.”
The maid hesitates, her eyes going to me. “But…” she starts.
“What is it?” I ask.
“It’s Lord Henry Pembroke, miss,” she says. “He’s asked to see you.”
At once there is a fluttering in my chest at the thought of seeing him, but also a sick feeling in my stomach as I remember what happened the last time he saw me.
“What is he doing here?” I ask.
“What do we do?” Constance asks Elise.
“Where is Albert?” Elise asks.
“In the front parlor, ma’am.”
Elise chews on her lower lip and looks out the window. “Take Lord Henry to the terrace, then take Lady Lily down the servants’ staircase to see him. That should keep them both out of sight and hearing of Cousin Albert.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the maid says with a nod. “I’ll come back for Lady Lily in a moment.”
“I can’t do it,” I say as soon as the door closes. “I can’t see him.”
“I thought you liked him,” Elise says.
“I…I do. I did,” I stammer. “But you remember what happened. I can’t face him.”
“Stop being a ninny,” Elise snaps.
“Elise!” Constance chides, but Elise waves her off.
“He’s here, isn’t he? If he weren’t still interested he wouldn’t be here. I suppose she must be right, but I’m so nervous I’m near to tears.
“My lady?” The maid has returned rather quickly. Too quickly.
“Go on,” Elise says, nodding toward the door. I realize I’ve twisted my fingers into knots and shake them out as I walk to the door, following the maid to the hallway. We go in the opposite direction of the main staircase to the servants’ stairs, a staircase I’ve used many times when I make a mess of myself in the garden and am trying to avoid Mother.
