by Abigail Agar
Aunt Mabel’s pleased smile turned to concern. “Is everything okay?”
“No. Everything is not okay, Aunt Mabel. My mother requested that I return immediately. My father has taken ill,” Gwyn said with urgency.
Aunt Mabel covered her mouth and whispered, “Oh dear!” She sat up straight and set down the iced lemon drink she had been holding. “We will see you booked on passage back as soon as possible. My darling child, you must be so distraught. Sit down and let me get you something cool to drink. You look positively ill yourself.”
Gwyn sat down numbly. It was really happening. She was going back to England.
***
Arriving back at Shelton Hall had left Jack feeling disorientated. Although Jack had changed much of the years he had been gone, everything else seemed the same. Henry was still very much Henry. Father was gone on business as usual, and his mother had a few more wrinkles but still had her embroidery at hand.
Lady Shelton had greeted Jack enthusiastically. “Oh, you’ve got a scar,” the woman exclaimed at the scar on Jack’s cheek.
“Makes him look rugged,” Henry said as he thumped Jack on the back with his fist. “Good to have you back, Little Brother.”
Jack smiled at his family. “It is good to be back.” Jack took a deep breath. “However, I am very weary from travelling and need to rest. I suppose I still have a room here?”
“Oh, we gave that to some wandering salesman a month or so back. Stables are free, though,” Henry said with a wry grin at his brother.
Lady Shelton chided, “Oh, do stop, Henry.” She waved off Henry’s foolishness and patted Jack on the arm. “Your room is just as you left it. I had the maids keep it nice and tidy for when you returned. Go on up and rest.”
Jack gave his mother a smile and picked up his luggage as he headed up to his room. The stairs creaked in the same spots, and Jack wondered how long it would be before his mother would see about having that fixed. The hallways were lined with the same overly flowery wallpaper that had been there since his youth and would probably still be there when he was old and grey.
Thoughts of the last time he was in his room came to Jack as he stopped in front of the door. There was no need to stand around reminiscing about unpleasant things, though, and he twisted the silver doorknob with the abandon of one jumping off into the deep end of the swimming hole. The door swung open easily, and Jack looked over his old room.
The room was indeed just as Jack had left it. He dropped his luggage, what little he had after years of war, and sank onto his bed. The feeling of a real mattress was almost enough to undo him, and he sank into it merrily. “Ah, sweet home,” Jack said up to the ceiling.
***
That evening when his father returned home, Jack learned of Lord Stanton’s illness. Lord Shelton shook his head sadly, “I went by to see him, and he was not himself. It is sad to see an old friend who is no longer recognizable as himself.”
“I cannot believe that he is so ill,” Jack whispered. “He always seemed such a robust fellow.”
Lord Shelton chuckled. “Ian was always going and doing something. He always had some grand project in mind.” Jack watched his father’s face fall as the man continued to speak, “Makes it all the worse to see him like that.”
“Worse than that, I heard the family is in debt quite heavily,” Henry said with a frown. “Seems like perhaps Lord Stanton’s mind had been going for a while before anyone caught on, from what I have heard.”
Jack looked at his plate and felt his appetite flee. “That’s horrible. I wish there was something we could do.”
“I feel like Lady Stanton will have a plan. Clarisse is not one to panic. I imagine she has already called for her daughter to come home from India,” Jack’s mother said reasonably.
The mention of Gwyn set Jack’s heart pounding. He looked at his plate staunchly and refused to join in the conversation as they talked at length about the woes of their neighbours. Finally, Jack asked, “I thought our families were friends? Should we not aid them?”
The other three Shelton family members at the table looked at Jack in concern. Lady Shelton assured Jack, “We have offered our assistance. I am going to help Lady Stanton during the London Season this year. She has decided to marry off Gwyneth once and for all.”
Jack frowned. He puzzled over that. “I was under the impression that she was going to betroth a missionary or some such in India.”
“Apparently, betrothals do not stick to that girl,” Henry said with a wry grin that Jack did not like at all.
Lady Shelton scolded Henry, “You really must learn to think and speak kindly, Henry. You are going to be Duke one day.”
“Being Duke is not all speaking daintily, Lydia,” Lord Shelton said amicably, “but Henry could do to think a bit before he opens his mouth to speak.”
Henry sighed and looked at his plate. Jack looked over at his brother and wondered how many times the man had endured similar conversations. Jack cleared his throat. “I imagine that Lady Stanton will need all the support she can get in a time like this,” he said quietly.
“Thinking of going over and offering your assistance?” Henry asked with a mischievous grin. “I do not think Gwyneth is back as of yet from India.”
Lady Shelton shushed Henry. “Leave your brother alone, Henry. He is right to want to offer assistance to those in need of it, but Henry is right. Gwyneth is not home as of yet. I fear she will not make it home until a few weeks into the Season.”
“Seasons,” Lord Shelton grumbled. “Nonsense is what all that swill is.”
Lady Shelton gently reminded her husband, “Remember that you are married because of all that social nonsense, dear.”
“Yes, well,” Lord Shelton said before he plucked a potato up off his plate and ate it while ignoring his wife’s gaze.
Jack and Henry exchanged amused looks before Lady Shelton turned her gaze on them. “It is also high time that you two head off to the Season this year. Henry will need a bride, and since that may prove too difficult for him, I am counting on Jack to bring some respectability back to our household. You should hear the rumours about us that have spread due to Henry’s indiscretions.”
“I have not even so much as looked at a maid in over a year,” Henry protested.
Lord Shelton’s voice boomed with disapproval. “How many years before that did you indulge yourself?”
“I said I am sorry,” Henry said with a sigh.
Lord Shelton shook his head. “You will learn son that there are some things that words cannot make amends for.”
Henry’s head hung, and Jack felt a wave of pity for the man. Lady Shelton tapped the table and said, “Please, let us eat in peace you two. We have our Jack back with us, and here we are squabbling. I am sure after years of war that he has seen enough fighting.”
Jack smiled over at his mother. “I am just glad to be home, fighting or not.”
***
“What do you mean that we are destitute?” Gwyn stared at her mother blankly. Her father was not well, but surely that had not put them in such straights.
Lady Stanton frowned. “Your father hid his infirmity a little too well. I just took it for eccentricity as he aged. Apparently, he has been making debts and forgetting to pay them. When I found out, it was all too late to stop it.” The woman folded her hands in her lap. She raised her chin and continued with conviction, “We still have a chance, though. If you can find a suitable match of a wealthy merchant or a noble, then we could put our family’s good name back to rights.”
Gwyn wanted to protest. She wanted to shout and scream at the injustice, but she saw her mother’s reasoning, and she hung her head. “I see,” Gwyn said softly. “I will do what I can to help our family, but I am not exactly prime marrying age anymore, Mother.”
“Oh, never mind that,” Lady Stanton waved off Gwyn’s concern. “You are a beauty, and we have the help of Lady Shelton and her contacts in society.”
Gwyn knew very well t
hat there was no point in talking to her mother about it any further. The woman had clearly planned this all out long before she called Gwyn home. Gwyn raised her chin and said in a strained voice, “As you say, Mother.”
“I do believe India taught you some restraint, and it suits you, Gwyneth,” Lady Stanton said with pride.
Gwyn wished she could enjoy her mother’s pride in her, but Gwyn felt like her stomach was made of lead and her body felt so heavy. This must be what defeat feels like, Gwyn thought.
***
“Miss, you really must be still,” the young woman who was pinning Gwyn’s skirt insisted.
Gwyn frowned. “Sorry,” she said softly. Gwyn’s mind was racing. She had no sooner gotten home than she had realized that her mother’s aim was to marry her off.
Here she was already being fitted for new gowns. Gwyn stood defeated. Lady Stanton waited for Gwyn downstairs, and Gwyn dreaded going down there as much as she had dreaded stepping into the room with her father. Seeing her father so changed had broken Gwyn.
When the fitting was finally over, Gwyn went downstairs with resignation. She knew her mother would be waiting for her. She did not expect to find Lady Shelton waiting with her mother, and Gwyn startled. She had not imagined that the Shelton family would look kindly upon her after what had happened between Jack and herself.
Lady Shelton smiled at Gwyn. “Gwyneth, you are looking wonderful. India must suit you very well,” the woman said.
“It’s lovely to see you, Lady Shelton,” Gwyn said dutifully.
Lady Stanton told Gwyn, “Lady Shelton has agreed to help introductions to several eligible young men she knows.”
“I thought it the least I could do in the circumstances,” Lady Shelton said with a concerned frown. The woman wiped away the frown with a smile and informed Gwyn and her mother, “Besides, I will be at the events this year anyway. My boys are going to be out looking, for once. I might actually get one of them married off soon.”
Gwyn’s heart skipped a beat. Jack was not married. Before she could stop herself, Gwyn said, “I am surprised Jack has not already captured a heart or two.”
There was a pause before Lady Shelton said, “Oh, that is right. You left before he made the decision to join the army.”
“The army? Jack went to war after I left?” Gwyn asked as she fought to wrap her head around the idea of her Jack at war.
Lady Shelton nodded. “Oh, yes. He is Captain Jack Shelton now.”
Gwyn mused that at least Jack had achieved his goal of being a captain. Lady Stanton said, “It is splendid that he is home. These last few years have seemed so oddly quiet without him running into the house to drag Gwyn off to play in the creek. Seems just yesterday, does it not?”
“It truly does,” Lady Shelton agreed.
***
Gwyn frowned at her reflection. What if anything could she say to Jack? The thoughts of Jack overrode even the idea of who her mother and Lady Shelton might be tempted to set Gwyn up with this Season. She hardly cared. She would do as her mother asked, and that would be it.
There was nothing she could really do about the past, but she wondered if she should confront the man and if it would even matter after all this time? There was a knock on her door before it opened. Lady Stanton’s head appeared in the open door, and she smiled at her daughter.
“I have quite the surprise for you, and I think it should make you considerably less nervous about the ball tonight as it will be your first event of the Season. We are making a bit of a late entrance, so I wanted to make sure that you had someone to talk and dance with whose company you enjoyed,” Lady Stanton said with excitement.
Gwyn’s mind immediately went to Jack. He had been at the Season from the start, and he might make a good choice for her mother to stick her with for the evening. Gwyn asked, “Who is this excellent pairing that you have for me then?”
“Oh, it is an old friend of yours,” Lady Stanton said mysteriously. “You will see tonight. I just wanted you to have something to look forward to.” The woman left Gwyn frustrated more than excited. Who could the woman possibly have in mind if not Jack? And why would her mother even think of Jack after what had happened four years ago?
Gwyn had no choice but to wait, and she really despised waiting. Even after all these years, Gwyn still could not wait with the grace of maturity. It made her quite infuriated that her mother would do this to her, knowing very well how Gwyn would agonize over it. Then again, perhaps that was her mother’s aim.
***
By the time of the ball, Gwyn was beside herself with all the thoughts on who her date for the evening could be. Gwyn arrived with her mother at the large estate where the ball was being held. Gwyn could not even say that she knew the family hosting the ball. Lady Stanton had told Gwyn that the family hosting were recent additions to society and out to make a name for themselves.
Gwyn had to admit that they were going in the right direction to make a splendid first impression as she eyed the exquisite floral arrangements on every table that they passed. There were couples seated here and there, with chaperones nearby, of course. Through columns, the room opened up into a ballroom where dancers swirled and twirled to the strands of a waltz that sounded familiar, but Gwyn could not place the name of.
“Gwyneth, I think you might remember this young man,” Lady Stanton said bringing Gwyn’s attention back to her mother. Standing next to her mother was Sergeant William Chavers who Gwyn was quite certain she had left in India. Lady Stanton clapped her hands in delight and said to Sergeant Chavers, “Look at that. She’s speechless.”
Sergeant Chavers smiled at Gwyn and gave her a cordial bow. “I am sorry to catch you by surprise, Miss Stanton. I do have to say, though, that you look lovelier than I could have ever imagined. I cannot say that I have ever seen you look as angelic as you do tonight.”
Gwyn forced a smile to her face. “It is a delight to see you, Sergeant Chavers. I had thought that I might not see you again and yet here you are,” Gwyn said with genuine surprise. “I am quite shocked that Major Gallagher let you off your post for such a frivolous thing as this.”
“He was quite happy to do so,” Sergeant Chavers assured Gwyn.
Gwyn mused silently that she was quite sure both her aunt and the major were more than thrilled with the idea that they might finally succeed in marrying Gwyn off to one of their picks. That her mother would go along with it seemed a bit absurd, but Gwyn had little choice but to play along at this point and hope that the man would find her so unappealing here in England that he would run straight back to India. “Can you excuse me just a moment? I have to speak to my mother about something,” Gwyn said with an apologetic smile.
“Of course,” Sergeant Chavers said with a happy smile.
Gwyn looped her arm through her mother’s arm and guided the woman a good distance away from the eager suitor. Gwyn hissed, “I thought you said you were aiming for a wealthy merchant?”
“His father is a wealthy merchant. He just happens to have chosen a career in the military. I’m certain that once you two are wed, he will settle back here in England and continue his father’s business dealings,” Lady Stanton said pleasantly as she lifted her hand to wave at someone across the room.
Gwyn sighed, “Great.”
“What is the matter, Gwyneth? From what your aunt said you have had several suitable matches in India and Sergeant Chavers is the one your aunt recommended the most highly as compatible with you,” Lady Stanton spoke as though she was genuinely bewildered that Gwyn was giving her trouble about this.
Gwyn huffed, “What if I just don’t like him?”
