Dancing With A Lady

by Abigail Agar

  The Duchess watched her daughter’s face fall as she said those words. She could immediately tell this was something that Victoria did not want. Being a wife to an English gentleman would not make her happy, and happiness was all that she wanted for all of her children. She did not know whether or not she had succeeded with her other daughters; they had made their own decisions, but she had the opportunity to do so with Victoria.

  “You do not wish to marry anyone else, though, do you?” she asked Victoria in a voice that was filled with concern. “You are only saying that because you know it is what is expected of you.”

  Victoria felt her mother’s words acutely, and she knew that she was right. She no longer wanted to be this indecisive girl who did not really know what it was that she wanted; she did not wish to be the one who humiliated her family. All that she wanted now was to lead a normal life. After everything that she had experienced, she was not sure that she was the adventurous, free-spirited type after all. “Yes, I suppose that you are right, but what else can I do?”

  The Duchess knew that it was time to be a little more honest with Victoria about the way that things were. It was time to discuss the areas of life that were often left unspoken about, even by the ladies who enjoyed their gossiping most of all.

  “Marriage is often a thing of convenience, you know that,” she started confidently. “It very rarely begins with love; it is for the family name and the dowry associated. I do not know a single person who loved their husband before they married them.” Victoria felt her heart sink as she suspected that she was about to be told that she needed to stop worrying about the American man who had changed her perception of everything. She thought her mother was going to tell her to find someone else and to wait for the love to come later on. “Sometimes, the love comes later on after years have been spent together; sometimes it is merely a companionship more than anything else, but that does not stop men from getting ... what they want.”

  “What they want?” Victoria did not immediately understand; her mother seemed to be speaking in a cryptic code. “What do you mean?”

  The Duchess did not directly answer the question; she merely continued to explain in a roundabout way. “Most Englishmen do not only have their wives for company. They also use courtesans and mistresses to keep them happy. They have their wives to produce their heirs and to be there for society events, then they have their other women to keep them happy.”

  “Oh, my goodness.” Victoria felt as though all the wind had been stripped from her body. “And everyone knows about this? Even their wives?”

  “Everybody knows about it; it is just one of those things that are never discussed. All the wives know that it is happening, even when it is their own husband, but no one ever talks about it.”

  “What about ...?” Victoria felt horrible about it, but she needed to know if this included her own father. She had never seen her parents look happy, which made her wonder.

  “No, your father has never had a mistress,” the Duchess insisted firmly, knowing exactly what Victoria was thinking. “He has always been a good man to me. A much better man than I thought he would be when I found out that I would marry him. When my own father gave me that information, I was not happy at all, but as it turned out, it was the right decision for me.”

  “I see.” Victoria nodded slowly. “So it all worked out well for you.”

  “It did, but I always wanted to be a wife. I do not think that you share the same dream? I could not wait to become a mother, but I see a very different dream in your life.”

  Victoria thought of her writing. It was something that she had neglected recently but still something that she enjoyed. She did want to continue with that. It appealed to her so much more than attending society functions and having lots of children scurrying around her feet.

  “Yes, I think you are right. So what does that mean I should do?” She looked at her mother desperately, needing her to provide her a solution. Maybe she would not agree with her mother’s words, but she had to know what she thought. “What would you do if you were me?”

  The Duchess knew that her next words were vital; she could see the need in her daughter’s eyes. It was time for her to be honest with what she said next. “I think you should consider Mr Jones in a very serious way. I know that he has a past, but at least it is behind him now. At least it is not something that he will be exploring whilst married to you. I truly believe that when he says that he loves you, he does. I believe that you can truly trust in his words.”

  The idea that someone else thought she could trust Thomas freed Victoria’s heart just a little bit. Maybe her mother was right. She had seen a lot in her life, more than Victoria knew she had until today, and it seemed that she truly knew what she was talking about.

  “You think he really does love me? Because I am afraid of being made a fool of.”

  “Oh, Victoria, you only need to see how Mr Jones looks at you to know that he loves you. He stares at you like he will protect you forever, like he will give you anything that you want. I think you will have a wonderful life with Mr Jones, I do not think he will make you live your life in any way other than what you want.” The Duchess sighed deeply because this was not something that she ever thought that she would say, but she knew that this moment was not about her, it was about Victoria alone. “Maybe you can even get everything that you want with him. You can still have the life that you want in the countryside; you do not have to live in the city any longer ... you really do not have to do it alone.”

  Victoria had not thought of that; she had only considered the two ideas as very separate things; her life alone in the countryside or a wedding. She had not thought that she could combine the two, but her mother was right. Maybe there was some way that she could make it work.

  “I have told him that I will give him an answer when he comes to dinner with Eleanor and her family,” Victoria confessed to her mother. “So I suppose I must decide what my decision shall be.”

  “He might even ask you to marry him,” the Duchess said happily. “If so, then it will be better for you to know what you are going to say. You do not wish to keep him waiting.”

  “I suppose so,” Victoria murmured as she nodded slowly. She allowed herself to process all of this; it had been a very heavy conversation. “Yes, I will decide what I am going to say.”

  She was quite certain that she knew what her answer was going to be now; her mother had opened her eyes and her heart to a number of possibilities that she had shut down in her brain. She felt a lot more excited now about the dinner. She had been dreading Eleanor’s visit; she had not wanted to suffer through the dinner, but now she could not wait. The days could not roll down quick enough; she had missed Thomas a lot and could not wait to see his handsome face again.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Thomas had been hoping and praying all week long that things would go his way. It had been such a challenge for him to keep away from Victoria at such a vital time, but it was the only way that she could make the decision that was right for her. The last thing he wanted to do was rush her into anything that she did not want, especially when the alternative was such a tempting prospect for her. If there was one thing that he had learned from his time with Minnie and her subsequent betrayal of him, it was that he needed to ensure that this time it was absolutely right for both of them. He did not want to end up hurt all over again. If Victoria changed her mind later on, that would be even worse because his feelings for her ran so deep. He needed to know right now.

  But all that agonising waiting had come to an end. Now, finally, it was time for him to attend the Turner family dinner and to finally learn his fate. Whatever the outcome, it had to be better than the anticipation. Whatever his answer was, he felt certain that knowing was better. Then he could move on in whatever way that he needed to, although he hoped for happiness, of course.

  Despite his excitement at finally getting his answer, Thomas was anxious as the butler walked him into the dini
ng room where the family was already waiting for him. He found it hard to bring a smile to his face as he greeted everyone else. The only person that he was genuinely waiting to see was Victoria, but almost as a way to torture him more, he had to go through the long process of meeting her sister and her husband ... both of whom he could not recall their names right away afterwards. His head was somewhere else entirely. He could hardly remember his own name!

  And then, finally, the moment came. Victoria was in front of him, creating an ease in the room that he had not felt since he last left her. She looked utterly ravishing in a pale blue gown that swung out nicely from her hips, reminding him what it felt like to dance with her.

  “Good evening,” she said softly to him. “How wonderful it is to see you again, Mr Jones.”

  He took her hand and kissed it lightly, enjoying the sight of her bobbing into a curtsey in front of him. She looked happy, and glad that he was there, which in Thomas’s mind could only mean one thing. The diamond ring in his pocket was not about to go to waste. He could ask her to marry him, and he had the very strong feeling that she would say yes. Much to his relief.

  “It is lovely to see you too, Lady Victoria. I am very glad to be here.”

  They shared an intense look, one that was filled with promise. Thomas hoped that Victoria could see his utter gratitude because she was giving him a chance, and Victoria wanted Thomas to know that she wanted to be his wife now. After speaking with her mother, she knew that their love was a wonderful basis for them to start with and felt certain that he would also allow her to have the life that she enjoyed. Yes, he had a past, but like her mother had told her, that meant he knew what he wanted ... and what he wanted was her. She loved being wanted, it made her incredibly happy.

  “Shall we have some food?” Duke Turner bellowed joyfully. He enjoyed having his family around him, particularly when he had a feeling that this was going to be a happy occasion. He was not sure what had done it, but he had noticed a change in Victoria over the past couple of days. She seemed much calmer and in control now like she was growing into a mature young lady. That had to mean she had finally decided what it was that she wanted. Judging by the way that things were going, it seemed like good news. “I do not know about the rest of you, but I am very hungry.”

  The family all sat down, and Eleanor began talking about her children and the direction in which their learning was going. Victoria felt that this was something she should have been listening to, but she could not take in any of the words with Thomas sitting across from her. She could feel a current floating between them that sealed their connection and built up their bond even more. Victoria could not wait for the opportunity to get Thomas alone so she could finally tell him that there was no more going back and forth. Now she knew for certain that he was the one for her.

  Victoria smiled to herself as she wondered how Thomas would react when she gave him the good news. She presumed that he would be happy since he had fought so hard to win her around. She hoped the last few days apart had not changed that, but the fact that he was in her home suggested that he still wanted to marry her. He would have not turned up if this was not what he wanted any longer.

  “So, Mr Jones …” The Duke turned his attention back to Thomas as soon as he had caught up with Eleanor. He had spent most of the afternoon with his eldest daughter, which had been wonderful, but before he could relax and listen to any more, he wanted to know what else was happening. “How have you been? It has been a while since I have seen you. Have you been terribly busy?”

  “Oh, business has kept me very busy; you know how it is.” Both men chuckled loudly. “But I am glad to be back here. This meal is delicious. The cook you have in this house is impressive.”

  Thomas felt giddy, lighter than air. The knowledge that he was so close to getting what he had been wanting for such a long time made him feel wild and carefree. Already his mind was creating the most wonderful images for what the future might look like now that he could have Victoria by his side, and it was an incredible image. He just knew that they would be extremely happy.

  “Are you American?” Eleanor gasped as if she had only just noticed Thomas’s accent. She had been distracted when she was introduced to him, and he had not spoken much.

  “Yes, I am from America, but I live here now. My life and business are here.”

  “And do you intend to stay?” Eleanor did not know her sister’s history with Thomas; no one had mentioned him at all before he walked through the door, so this was not a probing question for her. She simply assumed that he was someone that her father worked with. Eleanor had absolutely no idea what she was about to spark with her words.

  Thomas took this opportunity, and he ran with it, finally seeing an opening to ask the question that had been burning brightly inside of him all night long. “I am hoping to stay,” he started quietly. “And I am also hoping to set down some roots here.” He turned to Victoria and stared at her with nothing but love in his eyes. “I am hoping that you will now tell me that you wish to marry me, Lady Victoria. I noticed you right away; the first moment that I laid eyes on you I knew that you were different, which you have proven to me every day since.”

  Victoria felt heat creep to her cheeks, and she held in a shocked breath. She did not expect this to happen so quickly, and in this way, but Thomas was on a roll now, there was no stopping him. It was just lucky that she had heeded her mother’s advice and planned for what answer she wanted to give. If she still felt uncertain now, this would surely send her into a panic attack like no other.

  Eleanor flicked her eyes between the gentlemen who had turned her simple question into something quite extraordinary as she tried to work out how she had managed to miss the chemistry between them before now. With Thomas saying such lovely things to Victoria, it was obvious that they were in love. Unexpected, but lovely. This was a monumental moment, and she felt so grateful that she was there to see it.

  The Duke and Duchess shared a happy look. This was what they both wanted, and while the journey to get to that point had been a bumpy one, they were glad that it had come to a positive conclusion. One that would leave all of them happy. Victoria especially.

  “Every moment that I have spent with you, even the ones that have not been so easy, have led me to fall deeply in love with you.” He reached across the table and took Victoria’s hand in his, smiling at her lovingly. His chest burst with happiness, his heart exploded with warmth. This was the best moment of his life to date, and with Victoria by his side, he knew that it would be the first amazing day of many. “I have wanted you to be my wife ever since I first met you, and now I am asking you officially. Will you marry me and become Mrs Jones?”

  Victoria’s eyes filled with warm tears as she was overcome with happiness. She did not yet trust herself to speak, so she nodded a few times, but since the entire room felt tense with silence, she knew that she needed to express herself with actual sound.

  “Yes,” she rasped, trying to gulp down her emotions. “Yes, I will marry you.”

  The Duke acted in a way that he would not normally; he cheered loudly because he was so pleased. The others in the room were stunned by his outburst but soon they joined in. All of them were over the moon that this crazy story had come to a place of happiness. But none of them were as pleased as Thomas. He jumped up from his seat, moved around the table, and he embraced Victoria wholeheartedly. She pressed her head into his chest and held him close.

  This moment made all of the hardship worth it; the sadness, stress, and anger that both of them had experienced vanished into nothing ... but the lessons that both of them had learned from the experience lived on. Victoria and Thomas had taught one another a lot of unexpected things which had changed them for the better. Without each other, they would still be locked into a different way of thinking, one that had not given them a well-rounded life.

  “We can have this marriage however you would like it to be,” Thomas told Victoria quietly. “I want you to be ha
ppy, I want you to have your life in whatever way it will make you comfortable. I do not mind where we live, what we do, any of it. I am happy as long as I get to be with you.” He pulled back to look at Victoria smilingly. “We do not need to discuss it now, but you just let me know what it is that you want from your life. The city, the countryside, children, writing, I am always willing.”

  Victoria gulped back her emotions, and she nodded. That was the kindest, most romantic thing that she had ever heard in her life, and now she knew for certain that she had definitely made the right choice. Thomas was the perfect person for her, and now she could be with him forever. She did not mind the idea of being a wife if it was with him. Thomas Jones made it all feel very worth it.

  “Oh, my goodness, I have not yet given you the ring,” Thomas chuckled, shocked at himself for getting so carried away. “Here let me put it on you.”

  “You have a ring for me?” Victoria gasped as she saw it; it was wonderful. Understated and delicate, a bit like her. But it also had a sparkle, which she thought was how Thomas saw her. That was also how she wanted to be. “Oh, Thomas, it is beautiful.”

  As the jewel slid onto Victoria’s finger, the tears began to fall. She did not know that it was possible to be this happy, and she could not wait to see what shape her future took from here on out. It would be good; she felt certain of it. Somehow, through the madness of her life, she had found the perfect solution. One that made everyone happy, it was utterly wonderful.

  Epilogue

  Victoria flexed her fingers to get rid of the ache that raced through them. It was the sort of burning sensation that she only got when she had been writing for far too long like she had today. But she was inspired and could barely stop it. The only thing that could distract her from her latest story was the arrival of her family, and as the door slammed shut, she knew that the moment had arrived.