by Matilda Hart
“Of course, my love. You know the world of retail is never dull, my darling.” My husband had owned the only store in town since his father had handed over the business when Thomas turned thirty, right before we were wed. His father’s retirement was a wedding present of sorts so that my beloved would have a stable offer to present to my father when he came to ask for my hand. It was awkward sitting in the parlor with my father, mother and Mr. Sutton as they informed me of the upcoming nuptials and whilst I gazed upon his kind face, I couldn’t help but think of the way Edmund Clemmons looked at me as I walked home from church a few weeks prior and the flutter I felt when I smiled back at him. Not feeling that same flutter when I looked into the eyes of Thomas Sutton, I felt a bit disappointed that I hadn’t fallen in love at first sight, as I’d always hoped. Being the second oldest daughter, I had to wait for my sister, Bethany, to marry Bradley Pearce before I was allowed to marry Mr. Sutton and her wedding was scheduled for a month after the announcement of my betrothal. Younger and more outspoken than I, Claire had once told me that she was glad I was older and prettier because she found Mr. Sutton to be too lanky for her liking and I simply laughed and covered my mouth while I shushed her, trying to be respectful to my husband like a good wife would but also agreeing that my sister was right about his stature. She was wrong about me being more beautiful because I took after our father, with his dark hair and green eyes where Claire was fair-haired with blue eyes like mother. She reminded me of an angel, sent to earth to bless it with her mere presence and grace. I’d been sure that my sister would have a line of would-be suitors and her choice of any eligible bachelor that drew breath within a hundred kilometer radius but when the son of the most prominent banker in all of Manchester came calling, she begged father to give his blessing so that she could marry the handsome, young businessman. It’s been many months since I’d seen my sisters and I missed them terribly, though we did manage to keep in touch by post as often as possible. I hoped to return home shortly for a visit but with Thomas working so much, I doubted that he would be able to get the time off for a visit and I didn’t like leaving him alone because I felt that he had no one to care for him even though I’m sure that he would manage just fine without me. It’s not like I saw that much of him, anyway, for the store kept him busy on most days and often into the night, leaving me to tend the home and be the good wife that was expected of me. In his absence I got a lot of singing done and wrote quite a few songs which came in handy when I was asked to perform, which had become increasingly more regular and I couldn’t say that I truly minded the extra attention that I would receive in applause or compliments. Thomas was a good man but for quite some time, he’s been rather distant and I feel that my lack of ability to provide him with a son is part of the reason for his extra work hours and if he had children at home then he would rush back for his family. Rushing back home to a barren woman with an adequate singing voice was hardly enough to take money from his pockets, which is what he says happens every minute that he’s not inside the walls of Sutton’s. With the success of the department store in London, the shop had taken on more inventory and a larger clientele since more things could be easily attained and often readily assembled. Poor Thomas would often come in long after the light of the lamp had been set ablaze on the front porch and I’d retired indoors for the evening but never once did he walk in to a cold supper or displeased wife. His job was what put food on our table and what allowed me to have my comfortable life so I had no place to ever bring up his hours in a questioning manner even though I had once told him that I missed being able to spend as much time with him, only to be told that a man’s duty must be first and foremost to provide. Thomas provides very well and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t feel blessed to have a comfortable home but there was something missing from our marriage and it seemed that no matter how many warm meals or loving smiles I gave him could get him to spend less hours at the shop and more time at home and that was the price that I had to pay for my security and stability. I wouldn’t say that my marriage to Thomas was loveless but more of a love that had to be forced upon me and I’d gotten used to having. My heart didn’t flutter for him as I hear those in love speak of theirs doing when they see the man they love. It was my place to be a dutiful wife to him and the main duty that he wanted from me was the very one that I couldn’t perform for him but he still cared for me and provided well. Our marriage was my father’s proudest moment because he knew that Thomas would always be able to at least feed and clothe me, which was something that he had trouble with upon occasion and he didn’t want me to have the same fate as my mother.
“Barely holding on isn’t living, Sunshine.” He told me the words more than once and they’d branded themselves in my mind so every day I woke up with warm breakfast, I was proud to call Thomas my husband.
Chapter Two
Hartford Manor, home of
The Duke of Devonshire
“No, most certainly not.” The brooding duke barked as they went over the upcoming celebration of his birth, in this year of our lord, 1810 and since he was demanding the celebration of a lifetime as he did every year, he turned down each and every suggestion that was brought to him by his advisors.
“Might I suggest some form of dancing? Perhaps, a grand affair in the main ballroom with the best musicians and singers from all over?” His sister, the duchess and their parent’s favorite, Elizabeth spoke up after their cousin had said that he’d love to see a magic show, only to have the duke turn it down because he didn’t want to be associated with any form of sorcery, even if it were strictly for entertainment purposes. “That way, you can finally get all of the most beautiful women of the land in one place and pick your favorites. I swear, there’s not a woman this side of London that doesn’t know your touch.” Jefferson laughed and replied,
“Not only that sister, but most of them on the other side have felt it, as well.” Jefferson Carlisle, cousin to the king, was widely known as being quite a ladies man, having had his way with many of the queen’s court and any eligible young woman that would allow him to speak to her for any length of time.
“You disgust me, swine.” Elizabeth swatted at Jefferson’s shoulder in a playful manner and wrinkled her nose as she delivered her insult so that it wouldn’t deliver with so much bite, even though she meant every word. She couldn’t understand how her brother would allow the reputations of so many women to go to waste just so that he could spend a few hours in their arms and be tossed aside with the scraps.
“Say what you will, dear Lizzie but it is not I who stands to be held accountable for the actions of so many for I am only responsible for the conduct of myself.” He smiled as he popped a juicy grape into his mouth, bit it in half then chewed it slowly, showing her bits of it as he did so.
“You! You act as a child would with all your playing and whore mongering.” Jefferson burst into a boisterous laugh.
“Whore mongering? Dear sister, I am no whore monger, simply a man who delights in the company of many beautiful women and often more than one at a time.” She could listen to no more and got up from her high backed chair by the window where she’d been doing needlepoint and sat everything in her hands onto the table before turning to him and saying,
“I’ve had enough of your vulgarity and if you need me, I’ll be at the fountain in the rose garden.” In a huff, she walked across the room and through the grand double doors that led into the grand hallway. Jefferson only shook his head and thought of his sister’s words as he looked around the room at the two remaining faces. His advisors, otherwise known as the man who had been his friend since childhood and his wife, Lester and Mildred. Lester only laughed while Mildred looked a bit embarrassed but it was nothing new to her to hear Jefferson carry on in this manner. She knew that he acted as a single man and had known more than half of the maidens in the whole province but she still blushed when she would hear him discuss these things.
“I think your sister is right, though.
A dance with live music and some singers might be just what this old place needs to liven it up a bit.” Lester pulled on the stem of his long pipe and puffed loudly as he watched Jefferson ponder his words over and over again.
“You really think so? I was thinking that maybe dancing would be too overplayed.” Mildred only shook her head slowly, side to side and slightly with a look of extreme disagreement.
“I think it’s perfect, also. I rarely side with your sister and you know it but this time, she’s on to something, Jeff.” He nodded to her to show that he’d heard her opinion and that he was mulling things over in his head before he clapped loudly and announced,
“A dance, it shall be.” The three of them sat in the large parlor of Hartford and planned his gala with the two people who knew him best in the world. Not even Elizabeth knew of some of the tawdry or misguided things that he had done through the years but Mildred and Lester were privy to them all. Mildred even knew of the Duchess of Cornwall and what had happened in her father’s chambers when he visited last fall and that wasn’t information that had gotten around to many people.
“I know of the most wonderful singer.” When Mildred spoke, it was often short and to the point for she felt that often times, women spoke too much and never said anything and she had no desire to be seen as that kind of fool but after a few glasses of wine, the proper lady would often ramble for hours incessantly, as if freeing all of the words from her lips that had been trapped by her desire to be proper.
“I’m open to all suggestions and I need to be in on the guest list, as well because I’d hate for a fight for my affections to break out amongst the guests.” A sly smile broke out across his face. “All we need is for some of my former flames to reignite and burn the place to the ground.” Lester exhaled a long puff of smoke and chimed in with,
“You sure do have a lot of faith in that smile of yours, brother. Not all women can be taken to your bed.” Mildred nodded in agreement.
“No, maybe not but if all the ones who had already had the pleasure of my company were to all gather in one place, I fear that a fight to the death would ensue over who would get to return once more to my bed.” Lester laughed and Mildred stifled a chuckle because she knew that he was probably right. Though she was happily married, she still caught herself looking at the handsome duke from time to time and wondering what it must be like to lie against him in bed with his strong arms wrapped around her and muscular chest rising and falling as her head rested upon it. Never had she acted on her brief impulses but when she looked at him for too long, but she sometimes wondered. He looked as if he would be an amazing lover, with his tall stature and dark hair, blue eyes and tender hands that must provide a very sensual touch. The man had a smile that would melt the heart of the coldest shrew and eyes that break a heart from the slightest gaze.
Yes, the duke was a very attractive man, indeed. It was no wonder that he was able to bed so many maidens and some of the matrons if truth be told. There wasn’t a woman in all the land who could resist the charms of Jefferson Carlisle and Mildred Thatcher would have staked her entire inheritance on it. She watched as he crossed the room and spoke to one of the servants about making arrangements for the festivities and ordered her to get on the guest list right away then to bring it by for his approval and as he told her to make a list of possible singers to perform for him that night, he turned to Mildred and said,
“Millie, what was the name of the singer you wanted?” Mildred cleared her throat and said,
“Her name is Constance Sutton. I heard her sing at my cousin’s birthday party last year and she was absolutely breathtaking.” Jefferson raised his eyebrows and said,
“You don’t say. Is she married?”
Chapter Three
I heard the familiar jingle of the bells that were attached to each side of the carriage that brought the post and though I could not see it from the porch, I could hear the clopping of the hooves and a brief neigh of the mare that pulled Mr. Thornton to my front door upon occasion. Discarding my apron to the back of a chair in the foyer, I smoothed the front of my dress and checked my reflection in the mirror that hung on the wall to the left of the door to find that my chestnut locks had frayed around the edges of my face. Slicking my hair back with the palms of my hands, I managed to tame the wild strands enough so that they would lie behind my ears since I didn’t have time to return them to the clasp that held the remainder of my mane. Pinching my cheeks for a spot of color and pressing my lips together repeatedly to get the blood flowing to them, I decided that I looked fairly decent enough to be seen by others and stepped onto the porch just in time to see Nanny and Mr. Thornton making their way up the driveway. He gave me a hearty wave as they neared the house and I waved with a smile but managing not to be over-eager in my actions. Surely there was a letter from one of my sisters this time and I could barely contain my excitement as my heart leapt for news from Bethany and Claire. The last I heard, Bethany’s youngest had just started crawling and Claire was expecting her first which made me feel both overwhelmed with pride and happiness for my sister but also a pang of jealousy for her healthy womb and ability to bring forth life. The one thing that a woman was designed to do and it was the thing that I was denied and what my heart yearned for above all else. I’d managed to wear the face of a woman who was the picture of happiness and health but if one could see the inside of my heart they would find that it was broken to shards at the loss of my maternal ability and that maybe Thomas knew he could never fix it so that’s why he chose such tedious hours. All he ever wanted was to make me happy and the fact that he couldn’t fix me seemed to break him, somehow.
“Good morning, Mr. Thornton. News from my sister, I hope?” I was eager as I bounded from the porch and almost ran to the carriage to retrieve my delivery but he only shook his head and said,
“Afraid not today, miss. Seems all I have here for you today is this.” He handed me a small envelope with an elaborate C on the front and I knew the insignia to be that of the Carlisle family. My eyes widened as I ripped into the vibrant red envelope.
“Oh, Mr. Thornton. I wonder what it could be.” I felt almost giddy and nearly embarrassed for the postman to see me behaving in this manner but it was far too late to worry about appearances at this point. The smile on my face widened as I read the beautiful penmanship and my hand flew to my mouth as I jumped slightly but not so much that I appeared boisterous or girlish.
“It’s good news, then?” Mr. Thornton inquired from his position behind the reigns of the tattered buggy and I beamed as I tried to contain my excitement and keep my voice from cracking as I replied,
“I’ve been invited to sing at the duke’s birthday party! They want me, personally, to sing for the duke. Oh, Mr. Thornton, what an honor.” I held the invitation close to my chest as he gave me a smile and a curt clap.
“Well now, Miss Constance. Isn’t that something?” Beaming, I proudly scanned over the invitation and nodded as I tried to find the right words to reply to the bearer of such grand news. He must have seen that I was at a loss for words so he congratulated me once again and with a tip of his hat, he was gone to complete the rest of his daily tasks. Seemingly gliding back into the house, I twirled as I reached the porch and the tail of my dress flowered out around me as I spun but with nobody home to celebrate with me, I felt somewhat foolish celebrating all by myself but I didn’t let that stop me from giving one more spin before heading upstairs to see if I had a dress suitable for a function in the presence of the Duke.
Rummaging through the large mahogany wardrobe in the upstairs bedroom, I pilfered through my garments and found that there was nothing satisfactory enough to wear to such an occasion so I decided that I should buy some new material and make something, myself. I had an idea for a lovely gown that would accentuate my ample cleavage when paired with the torturous corset and I’d make it just so that it showed off my shoulders just enough to give me an alluring quality but not so that I could be mistaken for a woman
of ill repute. I’d seen the perfect blue satin in town and I would have Thomas fetch me a few yards tomorrow so that I could begin right away on the construction of the perfect dress. I had lace and all the trimmings that I would need, already but what I lacked was the deep blue of the ocean that I’d seen lying Murphy’s Fabric next to a lovely chiffon.
I made myself some tea and took it to the back porch and in the distance, I could see nothing but rolling green and I smiled to myself as I realized that I’d accomplished something as Constance Sutton: Singer instead of Constance Sutton: Wife of Thomas, the shopkeeper. I never dreamed for fame or fortune as a singer but it seemed as if I were being requested more and more often and my name was known, at least in Devonshire, as one of the best around. I was more than pleased to find that the duke had heard of my talents and wished to have me perform at his celebration but I knew that I must watch out for the handsome and very single duke. The Duke of Devonshire, Jefferson Carlisle, had quite the reputation for having his way with women by promising them the world only to discard them once he’s gotten what he wanted from the but that wasn’t going to happen with me. I was content in my marriage to Thomas and refused to become just another name that the affluent duke could add to his roster of lovers, although I could never deny that he was handsome and could see how he attracted so many women to his personal chambers. I’d only seen him on a handful of occasions and always from a distance but even from the middle of a crowded room, I could see his eyes were the dark blue of a sky right as the sun tucked itself in for the night and the moon lightly kissed the vast space above. They were dark but still blue enough that they appeared to be sad pools, lit only by the moon and shaded by a forest of shadow and I could only imagine what power they must hold when one was caught in their stare.
