by Eliza Lawley
Thomas enjoyed the peace the shrouded his family’s estate on the very edge of Essex. There were times of course where it wasn’t like this at all and Hamilrow was subject to near daily visits from his mother’s friends and father’s colleagues. Thomas found the constant entertaining exhausting.
Tonight, though, his mother had promised a quiet dinner with just the two of them. His father was occupied in town for the evening, and his elder brother was dining with his fiancé’s family. No guests were expected, and for that he was grateful.
He should have known better, of course.
The moment he stepped into the dining room, he felt dread rumble in his stomach.
His mother sat at the table in her usual spot, dressed in a fine gown with her hair knotted in an elegant chignon. When she saw Thomas, her face lit up with a bright smile. Too bright, Thomas thought. What is the woman up to now?
“Darling! You’re right on time.” Lady Chesterford stood and moved around the table to plant a kiss on his cheek.
“Good evening, mama. You look beautiful.”
“You’re too kind, sweetheart.” Hooking her arm through his, she led him towards the table. “Let me introduce you to our guests. You remember Lord and Lady Herrington?”
“Yes, good evening,” Thomas said with a forced smile.
The older couple grinned up at him, both looking far too pleased by his presence.
“I don’t know that you have met their daughter, however. Lady Emilia?”
The girl was pretty, he supposed. She smiled at him shyly from where she had been strategically placed next to his own empty chair. No doubt his mother’s doing. Thomas inclined his head towards her politely, though it took all of his willpower not to grind his teeth in frustration. As he recalled, Lord Herrington was an Earl, like Thomas’ own father, though his finances were not nearly as secure.
No doubt that was the reason they were content to push their daughter onto the second son of a peer, rather than the first. He was sure it was some consolation that he still had a title, inheriting one of his father’s minor holdings while his brother would inherit the Earldom. A Viscount was better than nothing, especially since the true heir was due to marry in just a few days and would be officially taken off the market.
“Come, Thomas, sit. Sit!” His mother ushered him around the table to his chair and the blushing Emilia.
“I didn’t think we were expecting guests this evening,” he growled in his mother’s ear.
“It was a very last minute invitation,” she whispered, patting his cheek. “I realised it has been an age since I’d seen dear Lady Herrington and was overcome with the need to rekindle our acquaintance.”
He would have laughed at her excuse had he not had the importance of manners hammered into his mind from such a young age.
His mother pushed him into his chair and fluttered back to her own seat. Glancing towards Emilia, he found the girl staring at her plate, blushing furiously. He looked towards his mother, meeting her sly gaze with narrowed eyes.
Lady Chesterford could never pass on the opportunity to secure her son a respectable wife, no matter how much he might object.
It was going to be a long evening.
“I don’t understand why you are so upset. It was only an attempt at an introduction.”
“You tricked me, mama, and you know it.”
The next morning, Thomas and his mother sat together at breakfast. He had decided to wait to confront her about her attempted matchmaking, being too exhausted after the long, awkward dinner of the night before. Breakfast had proven the ideal time to air his frustrations with her, as his father had left early to further attend to matters in town, leaving them alone once more.
Lady Chesterford let out a sigh. “You exaggerate. I am well within my rights to invite whomever I like for dinner in this house. And if my guests happen to have a lovely, unmarried daughter to bring along with them, then all the better.”
Thomas rubbed at his temples with his fingers. His mother often gave him a headache. “You could have at least given me some warning.”
“You wouldn’t have attended if I had,” she snapped.
He couldn’t argue with that. If he’d known the Herringtons would be joining them for dinner, he would have found some excuse to get out of it. “You have to stop doing this, mama.”
Lady Chesterford threw her hands up in the air. “How can I stop? If I don’t attempt to find you a suitable wife, you will never marry. You’re certainly not looking yourself.”
Because none of the society women his mother would approve of held any interest for him. Most were pretty and well put together, but they were all too proper. Too boring. He wanted a wife who would match him in wit and intelligence. Who would look him in the eye and challenge and engage him.
“Who I marry is my decision, and I will choose when I wish to.”
His mother pursed her lips. “You are the son of an Earl. A Viscount! There are certain obligations that come with your title. You must marry a respectable woman and produce an heir — at least one! You must interact with the upper class of London. Be a man about town. How do you intend to secure this family’s future if you do not do these things?”
“It’s not my responsibility to secure the family’s future. It’s William’s!”
“If you think you have no hand in this family’s legacy, you are a fool.”
He felt his ire spike. Thomas loved his mother. Would die for her, if needed, but she too often stuck her nose into business that wasn’t hers.
“Mama, please, just—”
Buxton, the family’s butler, coughed loudly and purposefully entered the room, interrupting their discussions. Thomas pressed his lips together, keeping his scolding words contained.
“Apologies for the interruption, my Lady,” the kindly old man said with a bow. “Miss Parker has arrived.”
Lady Chesterford’s eyes lit up and she clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, wonderful! Won’t you bring her in here, Buxton? Thomas will want to see dear Edie.”
He did, in fact. When his mother had informed him that Edie was designing her dress for William’s wedding, he had hoped he would run into her. How he adored that woman. The one constant companion he had had in his life. The only other woman he truly loved like a mother.
Buxton hurried from the room, and within minutes, returned with Edie close on his heels. When she met eyes with Thomas, a huge smile spread across her face.
“My dear Thomas! I didn’t realise you’d returned from the country!”
Pushing to his feet, Thomas hurried to stand before Edie. Taking one of her hands, he squeezed it, his heart warm with affection. “Yes, I had a few matters to take care of, but I couldn’t miss William’s wedding. I was so pleased when mama told me you were designing her dress, and hoped I would see you.”
“Edie!” Lady Chesterford exclaimed and hurried to greet the dressmaker. “How are you?”
“Very well, my Lady. I realise I am a bit early, so I apologise if I’m intruding…” Edie glanced at the still full breakfast table.
“Oh, no, no. Think nothing of it. You are perfectly fine. I just need a few minutes to get ready. Would you mind waiting in my dressing room?”
“Of course, my Lady.”
“Allow me to escort you,” Thomas said, offering Edie his arm.
Her grin was adoring. “Why thank you, kind sir.”
“I’ll be along shortly,” Lady Chesterford said, waving them on.
Thomas and Edie walked together through the house, taking their time and enjoying each other’s company. While they caught each other up on their lives, Thomas couldn’t help but bring up the burning question that had been burrowed in his mind for months.
“How is our Miss Clements?”
Edie glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. She had written to him shortly after Christmas to update him on their little stray. He hadn’t been able to get the girl out of his head.
“Holly is a joy, truly. S
he wasn’t the only lucky one the night you brought her to me.”
“In your letter, you said she had become your apprentice. How has she acclimated to her new profession?”
Edie’s smile was small. Loving. He could see she adored the girl. “She is smart as a whip and has taken to it all like a natural. I’ve never met anyone as creative and hardworking as she is. Her imagination knows no bounds! If she weren’t so capable, I wouldn’t be able to dedicate so much time to your mother’s dress. Holly has taken on the majority of the work at the shop in my absence and has done a splendid job.”
What a wonder Miss Clements must be. So much more than a beautiful face and wild red hair that he couldn’t shake from his mind. Edie’s answers only intrigued him more.
“I wonder, would Miss Clements…”
Edie came to a sudden stop and turned to him, cutting him off midsentence. “My boy, I must advise caution when it comes to our Holly.”
Thomas frowned. “What do you mean?”
She released a deep sigh. “Holly has become precious to me. She is like the daughter I never had, and I would see her protected from harm.”
“I would never harm Miss Clements!”
“I know that.” She reached up to cup his cheek. “I know you would never wish to hurt her, but I hear the interest in your voice and see it in your eyes. If you were to pursue her, she would dance with more heartbreak, and I cannot allow that. The girl has been through enough.”
He pressed his hand against hers. “Why are you so sure I would break her heart?”
“Not you, my dear boy. Your world. Your mother would never approve.”
“I don’t care what she would think. But what if Ms Clements… what if she’s the one?”
Pity filled Edie’s gaze, startling him.
“Thomas. Sweet Thomas. Holly is an illegitimate. Her mother abandoned her when she was a babe, and she grew up never knowing the truth about herself. The night you found her on the bridge was the night her adoptive family threw her back out in the cold. It’s why she was there. Why she wanted to—"
“Illegitimate?” He was shocked. She had seemed so well-bred, despite her distress. He would have never guessed her origins could be layered in scandal.
Edie nodded. “Yes. Do you understand now? I care too much for her, and for you, to put either of you into a situation where you would be exposed to ridicule. For both your sakes, forget about Holly Clements. She is not the one for you.”
Thomas nodded. He did understand Edie’s concerns, but he didn’t know how he could get Holly from his mind.
Everything the dressmaker had told him only made the girl more fascinating.
She was a riddle and he just had to discover the answer.
Chapter 11
Two bolts of Calico… a new set of sewing needles… fresh ribbons… yes, I believe that’s everything. Holly checked the items off her list and made her way down the street, balancing the packages in her arms. She was a few streets away from the shop, a fact for which she was grateful as her burden was beginning to weigh on her.
Edie was once again away from the shop for the day, and Holly needed to hurry back to finish a dress that was due to be delivered the following morning. She was so distracted thinking of the work she had to finish, that she didn’t see the little street urchin dart out in front of her until his hands were wrapped around her coin purse, which was dangling from her wrist.
“Get away!” she yelled, yanking her arm to snatch the purse from his grasp.
The child scrunched up his dirty face in determination as he swiped again. Holly dodged him, but she lost balance of her packages and they crashed to the snowy ground.
She let out a cry of frustration and rounded on the child. “You little devil! Look what you’ve done.”
The would-be thief stuck his tongue out and kicked the ground, sending dirty snow flying and staining her skirt.
“Ah! How dare you, you little—”
“Away with you, boy!” A deep voice barked from behind Holly. The child’s eyes went wide, and he turned to run away down the street.
“And don’t you come back!” Holly called after him. Staring down at her packages sprawled on the ground, she let out a sigh and lowered herself to pick them back up. She was quick to express her gratitude to her rescuer. “Thank you for your help, sir…”
A large hand gently wrapped around her arm and helped her up. Frowning, Holly turned to face the man, startled that he would touch her.
She gasped.
“Papa?”
Silas Clements offered her a small smile. “Hello, Holly.”
Standing bolt upright, making herself as tall as possible, she muttered, “I’m…I’m sorry. Perhaps I shouldn’t call you papa…”
He rested his hand on her shoulder, and just as when she was a child, a sense of calm settled over her. Strange, given that she should be enraged with him. Yet, as she stared up into his kind face, she couldn’t muster the energy that was necessary to hate him. She was still hurt by what he had done, though. Anger still burned within her, bone deep, despite how well things had turned out.
“You can still call me papa if you wish. Though, I understand if you feel I no longer deserve the title.”
Holly stared at him for a moment. “I was furious with you,” she admitted, surprised at the words even as they left her mouth. “I’m still angry, truth be told. I felt you betrayed me that night,” her newfound bravery spurred her on, she thought that this might be her only chance to shift the heavy burden from her chest that she’d carried since last Christmas Eve. “In fact, I feel as if you’ve betrayed me for years, never standing up for me, always allowing her… allowing them both to put me down at every opportunity.”
He flinched at her words but solemnly nodded. “Holly, I—”
“I…I’ve found a good life on my own, though,” she continued, “I was taken in by the most gracious woman who is training me as a dressmaker. I have gained so much from her, and so many skills, I can make my own way in the world. I…I am happy, papa. Happier than I could have ever been with…. your family.”
She didn’t speak with venom in her voice, but with clear honesty.
His expression crumbled, and he shocked her by pulling her into a tight hug. “Oh, Holly, I’m so sorry for everything that happened. I did betray you. You’re right. I should have stopped Rose… and Daisy, too. I should have stopped them both from doing so many things…”
Holly clutched at him and buried her face against his chest. There was a part of her, a very large part that wanted to forgive him. To put it all behind her once and for all, but she just…couldn’t. She didn’t know that she would ever be able to. She was cracked and fragile because of him. Edie had done much to heal her and bandage her soul, but the pain remained. So, she stayed silent, but held him tighter.
After a moment more of their embrace, Silas pulled back to gaze down into Holly’s amber eyes that were full of tears.
“I am so happy that you have done well for yourself, my dear, despite everything. It sounds like you have a good, honest trade to sustain you. And I’m so proud of you.” Reaching into his pocket, he produced a few gold coins and pressed them into her hands. “A pittance compared to what you truly deserve, but I hope it offers some assistance.”
Holly curled her fingers around the coins and gifted him with a small smile. “Thank you, papa. That’s very kind.”
With a tilt of his head and sorrow etched on his face, Silas turned to leave. After two steps, however, he paused and looked back at her.
“Holly?”
“Yes, papa?”
“Do you still have the locket? The one I gave you for your birthday?”
His question caught her off guard. Her hand flew to feel the outline of the necklace beneath her dress. She always wore it. She had promised him, after all. Ever since Christmas Eve, when she’d been unable to throw it into the river, she’d never taken it off. She felt strangely bare without it.
�
��Yes. I still have it.”
“Should you ever need…greater assistance, promise me that you’ll take it here…” he stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small piece of white card. Handing it to her, he said, “This is someone who can help. Tell him you are Holly Clements, eldest daughter of Silas Clements, the solicitor from Savile Row.”
Holly frowned, confused, and took the card from him. The locket was old and not all that pretty. She wondered why on earth he would think it valuable.
Deciding it didn’t hurt anything to promise him, she said, “Yes, I will.”
“Very good. I’ll be in touch, my dear. Until next time.”
She watched as he hurried down the street, back towards his life, and she realised there was nothing within her that wished to go with him.
Chapter 12
The carriage rumbled along the road, making Holly feel slightly queasy. It’d been some time since she’d ridden in one, and her stomach wasn’t used to the jolting. Pressing her lips together, she lay a hand on the large box that sat by her side. It contained Lady Chesterford’s dress, and Holly was petrified that something would happen to ruin it. She had to admit to sneaking a peek at it more than once since her journey began, and it was one of the most beautiful things that she had ever seen.
Poor Edie had fallen ill with a terrible head cold that Holly was concerned might turn into influenza. But she had kept her concerns to herself as she left a bowl of chicken broth and a hot tea by Edie’s bedside before setting off Hamilrow Estate on her behalf. Edie had mustered enough strength to give Holly strict instructions to guard the gown with her life. Before she’d left, Holly had popped in to see Mr Jones, the cobbler from the shop next door and made the old man promise on his life that he’d check in on Edie every few hours. She knew that Mr Jones was soft on Edie and was also a true gentleman, so he’d keep his promise.
It wasn’t how Holly imagined spending her seventeenth birthday, however, but she supposed it was still preferable to years past when she’d been ignored or humiliated by Rose. She hadn’t told Edie it was her birthday, either. She wasn’t keen on bringing attention to it and was much more excited about spending a second Christmas in the company of a woman she had grown to love as much as she could imagine loving any mother.
