A TASTE OF HONEY
By Lindsay Kiernan
A TASTE OF HONEY
A Novel By
Lindsay Kiernan
Kindle Edition
Copyright 2012
All Rights Reserved
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Available From
LINDSAY KIERNAN
Reluctantly In Love
The Mrs. Brentley’s Girls series:
A Taste Of Honey
A Scent Of Scandal
And Coming Christmas 2012…
A Touch Of Mistletoe
A TASTE OF HONEY
LINDSAY KIERNAN
Chapter 1 August, 1845
Finding a husband was difficult for any woman. For the Wellings twins it was going to be nearly impossible. They were too poor for trips into London and living in a sleepy village in the country did not allow many chances to meet eligible young men.
Their prospects were also made difficult by Robin's notorious tantrums and the family's inability to function without Katherine's steady attentions and level-headed devotion. With her father stuck in his books and her mother's insistence that every cough was the first sign of her impending death, Katherine's family had become nearly useless without her.
Even simple tasks, like a quick trip into town for medicines, was made difficult for Katherine by her family. With the inclusion of her sister Robin, Katherine was starting into town later than she had hoped. The forgetfulness of her father to give them the correct amount of money had already delayed their departure. Before she could leave, a full tally of her mother's ointments and tonics had to be taken so that she did not forget any item that Mrs. Wellings would fret over later in the evening.
She grew impatient with her sister as she waited at the bottom of the stairs so that they could venture into town together. With their mother already low on the syrups for her coughing, her headaches and her nerves, Katherine knew that the household would not be able to breathe easily until they had come back from the apothecary.
Their father believed that most of his wife's illness lay solely in her head, but no one dared to argue with her on days that she claimed to feel ill. Doctors were often ordered to her room to examine some new pain that Mrs. Wellings was sure would cause her death. Once again their visit came with a new recommended medicine that ought to cure her, but never did.
Hooking the laces of her bonnet over the banister Katherine opened the bag of money that her father had given her. She counted the coins twice, to make sure that they were taking enough to purchase everything needed. There were too many other things to do today and there wouldn't be enough time to return to town if anything was forgotten.
“When you hang your bonnet by its laces, you risk having it misshapen,” Robin scolded when she at last began descending the stairs to meet with Katherine. “If you aren't going to take care of your things you should give them to me,” she suggested with a slight smile.
To anyone who did not look close enough, the Wellings twins appeared to be identical. They were the same height, a meager 5'4”. Both possessed the same striking light blue eyes and soft brown hair. After many years of confusion, Robin had resorted to placing a single wildflower in her hair to help people tell them apart. In winter, when flowers were not available, a colorful ribbon was added, often intertwined with the intricate knots of her hair that she spent hours creating.
Despite being twins Katherine and Robin had never been as close as they would have liked. They cared for each other deeply, as most sisters do, but there was never a particular bond between them, nothing that they had in common to strengthen their initial relationship.
Robin was prone to little tantrums where she screamed and cried and carried on before sulking alone by herself. She valued her possessions more than was entirely appropriate, considering that they had so little money to buy her the new trinkets that she desired.
Once, when they were very little, their father had refused Robin a new pair of gloves. In the middle of the shop she had let her displeasure be known to anyone who would listen. “Some girls have dozens of beautiful lacy gloves,” she had cried. “It's not fair that I never get what I want.” Although they could not afford such luxuries, after a few days of sulking Robin had been given a cheaper version of the pair she had wanted so badly.
“Sometimes it's better to give in to your sister, instead of letting her upset the entire household,” her father had replied when asked about his reason for buying her the gloves. Robin was used to getting her way or showing great displeasure when she did not.
For this reason, Katherine had been forced to play the balance to her sister; she was the one that others expected the most from. She rarely asked for new dresses or gloves, unless the ones she had were too tattered and frayed to be repaired. The only items she received from her father were usually books that he had bought for the two of them to read, as they shared a love of knowledge. Katherine prided herself that she never sank into a tantrum like her sister. She was too busy taking care of everyone else in the household and didn't have time for such a display.
Robin sighed loudly as they walked across the bridge that entered into the busy streets of town. “There are no eligible bachelors in this area.” She sighed again as she glanced into each of the store fronts as if some shop owner might have imported a selection of desirable men to set on the shelves. “The men in town are either too poor or far too old for either of us to consider. If only we could visit London.”
In Robin's eyes London had become a mythical place where every girl was able to find what she wanted, whether it was a set of French lace garters or a handsome Duke to sweep her away from their dreary country life.
Katherine laughed at her sister's grumpy tone. “It is highly unlikely that we will ever make it to London for a full season. Father could never afford such an expensive trip.” She worried that with Robin's repeated complaints her father might try to plan such a thing even though the expense would diminish their funds even further.
They hadn't always been so poor, which is perhaps why it upset Robin more than it should have. Their father had inherited the family estate shortly after the twin's birth, only to discover that it was nearly bankrupt and in desperate need of repairs. It had caused much tension in their family as their mother had believed that she was marrying a rich man when she had accepted his proposal. One who could dote on her and fulfill her every wish.
When Mrs. Wellings had discovered that her husband was not the rich landowner that she had expected it had sent her health plummeting. The doctors later concluded that her poor health caused by this distress had hindered her from having many children. It had prevented her from producing a male heir that could have kept the estate in the family, which made their circumstances in life even more precarious. Without an heir to the family's estates, the women could be shoved out by the next man in line the moment their father was deceased. It had become a fear within the family any time their father became ill with anything stronger than a head cold.
“I don't need to stay in London for very long. It would only take a few days for me to find a properly rich husband,” Robin said. She had a great amount of confidence that she could achieve whatever she wanted, simply by asking for it. Robin believed that were they to arrive in London, she would not have to pursue a husband. She would only hav
e to pick from the hordes of men that would flock to her. There was a delicate grace and beauty to both of the girls that would always be in style and was praised highly by those from London, though it did them little good out in the country. Robin took great pride in her features, knowing that it could be her key to getting a rich husband and escaping the calm life of their little county.
Turning down the street, Katherine came upon the apothecary shop and opened the door for Robin before walking in behind her. The bell that jingled as they entered was hardly needed as Mr. Jenkins stood waiting for them at the large counter with many shelves and bottles all around him. Each shelf seemed to overflow with jars and tins of varying sizes. Crafted from some of the finest mahogany available, the counter that he stood behind was as old as the little shop and had been built back when Mr. Jenkins' grandfather had first opened the store. It gave the small room a rich woodsy scent above the many other smells that swirled around them.
Taking the list out of her small reticule, Katherine carefully checked each of the tonics before nodding her head and pulling out all of the coins to pay for her mother's medicines. Mr. Jenkins set about filling the order as he paused occasionally to ask after her mother and father.
In the corner of the room, Robin stopped to stare at one of the jars that lined the walls of the store. “These licorice sticks are fresh, aren't they?” she asked, as she stood in front of the glass, her fingers itching to grasp the gooey treats.
“Mrs. Jenkins finished that batch just last night,” he told her proudly. Unlike some of the other shop keepers’ wives, Mrs. Jenkins was friendly and helpful with her husband's business; it was something that he took great pride in. Mr. Jenkins sifted through the coins as he counted them slowly, watching Robin's tortured features as she stared at the forbidden treats. With a great smile, he swept the coins off of the counter and into his hand. Motioning to Robin he clucked his tongue. “Your father over paid me this time,” he told them. “You'd best take one of those so that we're even.”
Robin needed no further prodding as she opened the lid of the jar and extracted the largest piece she could find, eating the licorice quickly as if she were a starving child and licking her lips loudly afterward. To Katherine's horror she seemed to want another one.
“But I checked that myself,” Katherine frowned, before seeing the twinkle in his eye.
He quickly threw the coins into the box beneath the counter so that she could not re-count them to find out if her father had in fact over paid, or if Mr. Jenkins was just being kind. While she appreciated his kindness, her pride prickled at the idea of having to take charity.
“There was enough for you to take one too Katherine,” he told her. When she did not go for the candy right away, Mr. Jenkins came around the counter, opening the jar and placing one of the pieces into her hand. “You worry too much for such a pretty young woman,” he said before closing up the lid and setting it back on the shelves.
There had been no extra money, she knew it and it was no use arguing when he was only trying to help.
“Thank you Mr. Jenkins,” she said before taking a small bite of the treat and watching the smile that spread on his face. Perhaps one day she could repay the kindness that men like Mr. Jenkins had always shown her family despite their poor state.
When the girls arrived back at the house, they were told to visit their mother in the parlor, where she was waiting impatiently for her medicines. Mrs. Wellings smiled up at her daughters as they entered, looking healthier and happier than she had in weeks.
“Sit down,” Mrs. Wellings said, motioning to a settee beside her. “I'd like you both to meet someone.”
After stepping into the room Katherine was able to see another woman sitting in the large wing-back chair that their father often used when he sat with them. She did not recognize the woman as one of her mother's friends. In fact, she was quite sure that she had never seen her before. Still, she watched as her mother beamed at the other woman as if she were an old and trusted friend.
“This is Mrs. Brentley. She has come to interview the two of you.” Mrs. Wellings explained as if it was common for her daughters to receive unexpected guests.
Robin shot Katherine a questioning glance and it was clear that neither of them had been warned about Mrs. Brentley's arrival. As they went to take their seats both girls watched the woman closely, taking in the fine cut of her gown and the pristine condition of her lace gloves. It was strange for them to see their mother quite so excited about anything other than new gossip from town.
Taller than most women, Mrs. Brentley had clearly been a beautiful woman in her younger years. Her nose was a bit sharper than was considered beautiful but her slight lips and dark hazel eyes made up for any negative qualities. Her light blond hair was speckled with grey strands that had been carefully swept up into one of the more modern styles. To be honest, she looked like a woman who belonged in Robin's mythical versions of London. A swift glance at her sister reveled that she wasn't the only one to think so. Robin was positively beaming.
“You girls appear to be very charming,” she told them warmly before turning to their mother. “I have never seen two sisters look quite so similar,” she remarked. “Both are very beautiful and delicate, as you said they would be.”
“They are very polite as well,” Mrs. Wellings insisted, flashing each of her daughters a look of warning that they should follow along with the praise she was giving them. “Neither girl speaks out of turn.”
Mrs. Brentley appeared to be wiser than Mrs. Wellings had anticipated. She glanced over at the two girls and seemed to know by simply looking at them that they were not as quiet as their mother would have led her to believe. Her eyes drifted to Robin's tapping foot and the clearly confused look that Katherine felt creeping across her face.
“Do either of you remember Lucy Talbert?” Mrs. Wellings asked her daughters.
Both of them nodded mutely although Robin's eyes seemed to widen at hearing her name. Lucy Talbert was their mother's second cousin's daughter. Usually a relative that distant was rarely spoken of, especially since she had been born into an even poorer family than the Wellings twins. However Lucy's name had taken on a certain amount of notoriety in their family after she had procured the interest of a prominent sponsor who took yearly trips into London. It had taken Lucy's mother years of grooming and multiple interviews with the sponsor before she had agreed to take Lucy with her that year. Now married to a well to do Lord, she was considered the family's jewel and their only claim to higher society.
Katherine tried to recall the name of Lucy's sponsor but she had never paid much attention to the fairytale like story. She looked a little more closely at the woman who sat across from her trying to decide if she was the same sponsor that Lucy had acquired.
“I have been exchanging many letters with Mrs. Brentley over the last few months and assuring her that both of you stand a good chance to fetch prized husbands if taken to London. Also your cousin Lucy sent a wonderful letter of recommendation for the two of you. It took some convincing but Mrs. Brentley has agreed to interview you both.”
When their guest looked briefly out of the window Mrs. Wellings silently threatened her daughters to behave with a sharp glance. “This is a great honor for her to even consider taking either of you to London. I hope that you will thank Mrs. Brentley for her attentions.”
Both girls offered a quick thank you before becoming obediently silent once more. Unless Robin could be on her best behavior, Katherine knew it was unlikely that they would be chosen. Besides it had taken Lucy months of interviews before being taken in and London's season was supposed to start in less than a week. She could not imagine Mrs. Brentley choosing two girls that she hardly knew.
However Mrs. Brentley's eyes constantly shifted between the two faces as if the twins were a phenomenon rarely seen. Their identical looks seemed to work to their advantage in this case.
“Each year when I travel into London for the season, I choose one youn
g woman to take with me to act as a companion for me and my daughter,” Mrs. Brentley explained. “Also I enjoy helping some of the less fortunate women, offering them a chance at finding a well to do husband and during our time together in London we attend many events. I do not choose them for their high breeding or financial status, but off of their poise and intelligence, which some, including myself, value above riches.”
“I was not born into a very high status,” she continued without pause. “While growing up, my father and mother kept a profitable little shop in London's market. It was a comfortable life, if not a wealthy one. Some of the friends I made were patrons of my father and of a higher class. One even invited me to a ball with her. Despite my poorer background I was then courted by a young gentleman of great financial means who appreciated me for my taste and sense of style and responsibility, instead of being critical of my lack of status.”
Katherine was convinced that they were hearing the same speech that had been given to other young women many times before. It was meant to speak to them about their situation and about not giving up despite the difficulties that they faced in making a good match. Had Mrs. Brentley known what Robin was aspiring to be, she would not have bothered in trying to pep her up.
“The next year, after being married, I introduced one of my poorer friends to my husband's circle of eligible bachelors. She was a delicate creature, despite her upbringing and many of the men flocked to her. That year I was able to help her marry even better than I had. It was then that I decided to choose one girl each year that I felt could climb to better means if guided and instructed correctly. Over the years I have helped twenty-seven young women marry to a higher status than they were born to. I have always been very picky in choosing a girl that is in her first season and who has exceptional qualities. My interviews are usually extensive and my girls have come to be sought after by many men.”
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