“Mama… what are you doing?” Kate’s voice could be heard in the hallway as Debra entered the dining room with Trenton and Samuel to find out what was expected for the day, as the house party was well under way.
“Inviting people to the wedding.”
Debra and Trenton exchanged a look of surprise, but neither spoke.
“Mama, I thought a special license would be purchased and they would wed before the week was out.” Kate’s smugness spread across her face making her otherwise beautiful features malevolent.
Debra understood the look to convey the message if Kate could not have Trenton, she would make the woman who did have him miserable.
“I will not have another daughter married by special license. I absolutely refuse to add another scandal to our family.” Special licenses were procured often, for couples who did not care about lavish weddings, but it was true Rilla and George had married by such a license, and it wasn’t due to the purest of intentions.
Debra thought of leaving the room, but her mother motioned both she and Trenton over. “Duchess Waverly and I have spent the morning going over the list of people we would like to invite. Please add any names we have missed.”
Taking the paper from her mother, she reviewed the list. There were family names, which were obvious guests, and then there were people she’d heard mentioned over tea or meals but hadn’t the faintest idea as to who they were or why they were important to invite. Handing the parchment to Trenton she smiled before nodding her agreement.
“I would prefer the Duke and Duchess of Apsley and their family not be invited.” Trenton placed the paper in front of his mother while pointing at the line with their name.
Duchess Waverly sighed. “They have been your father’s and my closest friends since we were children. Too long for any excuses not to invite them.”
Apsley? Debra hadn’t heard of these people. They were obviously not acquaintances or friends of her family. Looking at Trenton’s tortured face told her everything she needed to know. This was Lady Margaret’s family.
“Either you remove them, mother, or Debra and I will be wed by special license.”
“You will not hurt me by doing so,” Duchess Waverly said while giving her son an uncomfortable glare.
Debra squirmed under the gaze.
“It is my wedding, Mother, and I would prefer they not come.”
“A wedding belongs to the entire family, Alexander, and if you do not understand this, you will be educated on the process. There are times you have to do things to make your parents happy. This will make me happy.”
The message exchanged between mother and son was lost on Debra. If his mother was referring back to the hope of there not having to be a wedding, it was unfortunate the situation could not be stopped, at least according to their fathers. As Trenton left the room, Debra noticed the smile of triumph on his mother’s face. Again, whatever was happening did not make sense to her, but she hoped it would at some point.
“Debra, you need to change out of your riding habit. We have work to do and you have lessons.” Her mother was adamant on teaching her how to be a countess before the wedding. Agreeing to the day of torture, Debra dawdled while dressing and found her way back to the dining room where an elaborate mess of women sat writing the invitations. The house party would be one to remember with everyone helping to put on an impromptu wedding.
Walking slowly down to the parlor, Debra put her shawl on her head and looked in the mirror. Should I wear a vail? The first week of banns were read the day before which left her in a state of continued distraction. The whole of the situation did not seem real, as the banns were for her and a very serious— albeit handsome and wealthy— man. Cordelia and Percival would disapprove! But a vail would look lovely on her.
“My lady,” Annie said rushing to her, “the countess is waiting for you and is not happy at the delay.”
Debra sighed. “This will be my life. No more fun. No more imagination—” her words trailed off as she walked toward the lessons on being a countess. Instead of the free time she’d previously expected for writing, she was forced to sit in the parlor with her mother working on sewing and learning to be a refined woman.
She wanted to use her imagination, ride her horse, and spend time in the outdoors. Would Lord Trenton be open to a wife who was out of the ordinary? Would he accept a woman who preferred to live in a fantasy world over reality? He didn’t seem to object to her wild ways, but they were not yet married, and he didn’t have jurisdiction over her actions.
Debra entered the parlor to find her mother waiting. She’d spent her morning deep in thought over Cordelia and Percival and now had to listen to instructions on how to be a countess. She’d never wanted to be a countess. Her preference would be to marry for love and if the man were poor, she’d be happy due to the mutual affection they held for each other.
“What am I learning today?” Debra asked as she sat very unladylike on the sofa. Her mother gave a disapproving glare, which forced her to correct her posture.
“Today you will learn how to plan a menu for both daily meals and entertaining guests. This menu is for our supper today. You have a house full of guests, and you will be the one to play hostess.”
“I cannot wait.” Debra made her displeasure visible by adding a groan.
Her mother began an explanation of planning for simple meals. Debra listened for a few moments and then her eyes glazed over as she thought about Cordelia. She imagined the blonde princess hiding in the countryside with a farmer’s family. Cordelia found the simple clothing uncomfortable. Her arms itched from the harsh material as she typically wore silks and muslin. The heavy wool caused rashes to appear across her body. But she would take the itching over a forced marriage. The words flowed through Debra’s mind as she imagined a princess changing from an elegant silk blue dress to a simple gray wool. She fought tears at the imagined devastation Cordelia must experience going from wealth to poverty.
“Debra? Are you listening to me?”
Startled from the daydream, Debra sat to attention. “I apologize Mama, I did not hear what you asked.”
“Debra! Have you heard anything I said?”
Disappointment crossed her mother’s face. How long had the explanation gone on before she’d noticed Debra’s attention was focused elsewhere? “No, I am sorry.”
“What have you been thinking about?”
Knowing her mother would be upset with the truth, Debra hesitated and made up an excuse. “Mama, the weight of a countess bears heavy on my shoulders. I fear I will not live up to the title and responsibility.”
“Duchess Waverly will help guide you in your role.”
“I am not ready for this burden.” She hesitated further before revealing, “I have so many questions. Far too many fears. I worry I will not make Lord Trenton happy.”
“Your responsibilities will be to provide a comfortable home for your husband and perform your wifely duties as I have already explained to you. Happiness is not a factor of marriage.”
“Mama, I am too young. I have not had the opportunity for a season. We currently have a house full of guests, and instead of spending time in their society I am in here, with you, going over menus.” Trying to leave the disappointment from her voice, yet failing, Debra looked to her mother for relief. This wedding was a frightening prospect.
“Stop fretting. Your father and I were married young. We have done well, so will you, and the women are in the garden working with flowers. I will choose the design for your wedding from the options they produce.”
The advice was not what Debra hoped for. She’d wanted a reprieve from the engagement. The choice between being with the women in the party arranging flowers and learning about menus was a difficult one. Neither sounded entertaining in the least. Her mother went back to explaining menus and the proper etiquette for planning events. This time Debra chose to listen. She’d need the skill.
After writing out six evening menus, her mother pul
led the quill from her hand. “Go, find something more enjoyable to do with your time.” Holding up a finger to keep her still for a moment longer, her mother continued, “But do not cause a scene or get into trouble.”
Debra laughed. This would not be an easy feat, as she was quite possibly the unruliest child her parents produced.
On a walk through the front gardens, taking care not to find the women of the party, Debra plucked a flower from the bush and examined it. This would look lovely in Cordelia’s hair. Sighing at her own imperfections, Debra accepted she would never have sunlight blonde hair. It was not her lot in life to be so blessed. Red was all God would give her. Red hair and freckles to match.
She tried not to blame God, as the vicar said, “All things from God are a blessing, even in our trials and tribulations.” She did not consider her hair and freckles to be a blessing. Either the vicar was wrong, or God had a sense of humor she had yet to understand.
Twirling the flower in her hand, she imagined Lord Percival placing it in Cordelia’s hair. A flower to prove my love to you. The words brought chills to her heart as she imagined the love these characters possessed for each other.
“Lord Trenton.” Kate’s voice rang out through the silent air. Debra looked up to see she’d walked toward the barn without noticing.
“Lady Kate.” His voice was kind, yet uncommitted to the conversation. He sounded distracted.
Tiptoeing to the barn door so as not to be heard, then realizing it’d been ridiculous to do so, Debra peeked in to see what her sister wanted with her fiancé.
Kate sat on the stable door smiling at Lord Trenton. He did not look amused or pleased to have Kate near him. Debra’s smile grew. Perhaps marriage to Trenton will not be so terrible after all.
“Are you taking Debra out for a ride today? I saw the joy you both had in the last ride you went on together.”
Debra glared in her sister’s direction. The pent-up anger she displayed did nothing to resolve the situation as Kate hadn’t a clue she stood watching.
“I just returned from a ride. But if Debra would like to go out, I will happily attend her.”
He was the perfect man, or so he seemed. Men in books always seemed to be perfect until the moment their true natures emerged. When would the man he truly was come to life?
“What if I asked you to take me out for a ride?”
Trenton cleared his throat. “I do not believe it would be wise, but I can find one of your brothers to accompany you.”
Kate reached her hand out to him in an effort to have him help her down. “But I was not asking them. I asked you.”
“You are aware of my engagement to your sister, and it would be inappropriate for me to spend time with you in such a way.”
Without warning, Kate toppled from atop the gate and fell to the ground. Ever the gentleman, Trenton walked forward to help her up. To Debra’s shock and horror, Kate placed her arms around his neck and kissed Lord Trenton.
Deciding it was time to stop this tét-a-tét by clawing her sister’s eyes out, Debra moved forward, but stopped when Trenton pushed Kate away. He didn’t take care to keep her from falling against the side of the stall.
“Miss Richardson, I will ask you to never do such a devious act again.”
Kate laughed. “Am I a better lover than my sister?”
Trenton seethed. He did not speak as Debra witnessed the mounting anger in his features. Debra waited for him to reveal they’d never kissed. He’d never even tried to hold her or toy with her emotions. He was a perfect gentleman.
“I am willing to be your mistress,” Kate continued, “but it will have to be after I find an unwitting husband. He must be an idiot so when the children do not look like him, he will not suspect you as my lover.”
“Miss Richardson,” Trenton said as he’d finally found his voice, “I do not plan to have a mistress. You may marry whatever man you choose, but it will not include me.”
In her anger, Kate lashed out trying to injure him. “We all know you do not love my little sister. What man would? She is an ugly little thing with too much imagination.”
The words her uncle spat while intoxicated came out of her sister’s mouth evoking tears from Debra’s eyes. Placing a hand over her mouth, she held back the sob threatening to escape. Debra slammed the barn door shut and ran away. Debra didn’t care if Trenton did have an affair with her sister. They could marry, for all she cared. A cottage, pen, ink, and parchment were all Debra needed to find happiness.
Debra thought of the most daring and dangerous task she could accomplish, hoping the distraction would keep her from thinking of the terrible words she’d heard. Although she usually hid the feelings deep down, it still hurt to be called ugly. She’d fought to be outgoing with Trenton, so he’d never know she had a poor self-esteem. Yet, he’d find out soon enough with a sister like Kate.
Running from the barn, Debra heard Trenton call out her name. He must have investigated the door crashing and known she’d witnessed some, if not all, of the conversation. Stopping to speak to him would only cause grief, as she would lash out at him and he did not deserve her anger. Instead she decided to go to the creek. If he followed, she would have time to calm down to where her emotions were under control.
As she neared the stream, she realized the water ran high. It was still spring, and the levels hadn’t tapered off yet. Desiring to be alone, Debra stood on a fallen tree trunk and started to cross.
“Debra, come back,” Trenton’s voice echoed through the woods.
“No,” she sobbed. She’d hoped the hurt would have dissipated by now, but she continued to cry. He didn’t deserve her anger. He’d avoided Kate’s advances with grace. “I do not want to speak to you or see Kate.”
“This is dangerous, and you are not dressed properly for crossing on a tree trunk.”
Debra ignored his words and thought about Cordelia as she was discovered by the King’s men. After all, Cordelia was a princess and her father would send men out to find her. She was the future of their country. Her marriage to the Spanish Prince would forge an alliance. If Cordelia could cross a raging river on a tree trunk, so could Debra. Deciding she would use this moment in her story, Debra continued across the terribly broken and degrading trunk as pieces snapped off and fell into the water.
“Papa!” Kate called out forcing Debra to turn and see a group of men riding toward them. She did not care. It wouldn’t be long before she was on the opposite side of the bank and she could spend the afternoon thinking about her sister’s betrayal. “Stop her, Papa; she will get hurt.” Kate’s words caused more damage. There was no way her sister cared about her.
As if the tree trunk was waiting for someone to send a curse down on it, the bottom gave way under Debra’s foot and her leg sunk into the middle of the log. Screaming out in shock and pain, Debra decided this was not a scene she’d write for her heroine. It would not be romantic in the least to be caught in such a situation. It was embarrassing. Painful as well.
“Debra, what are you doing out there?” Lord Norwood, her father, yelled as she fought to free herself from the tree. It was as though the wood were trying to swallow her whole.
“I do not know,” she said meekly tears forming faster than she’d wanted in Trenton’s presence.
“Stay where you are. We will find a way to free you from the trap you are in.” This time, as he saw her tears, he sounded more like the loving father she knew. Her parents did care about her, but they also conformed to society, and she was not ready for society no matter her age. This situation alone proved her unworthy of a trip to London.
A proper lady would have gone back to the house. Debra had done the complete opposite and landed herself in trouble. “Hurry!” she squeaked out knowing the ankle she’d twisted in the barn on that fateful morning would now be reinjured. She’d been lucky it hadn’t been worse. As the pain mounted this time, it was not only her ankle but her entire leg.
If they made plans to release her, she c
ould not hear. The tree trunk would not hold the weight of another person, or so she thought until Lord Trenton inched out in her direction. She closed her eyes in utter humiliation as he slowly walked toward her.
“Why did they send you?” she asked looking away from him.
“I am the least heavy of all in attendance.”
When Trenton reached her, he tried to lift her by pulling up under her arms, but her leg was securely stuck in the tree and despite her best effort, Debra cried out in pain. “I did not mean to hurt you.”
“I am caught.” She did not dare tell him her leg had been punctured and most likely bled.
“Let me see if I can loosen the wood. He crossed around and crouched down in front of her. Looking into her eyes, he took a moment to speak before continuing the attempt to free her leg. “I do not know what you saw, Love, but I promise you I will always be faithful.”
“I am not angry with you.” It was true. She was hurt by her sister’s unfeeling words.
“Then why did you run?”
Gulping as she continued to cry from the pain, Debra took a few deep breaths before confiding, “I did not want you to see me cry.” With the confession of her words, the tears rushed out of her eyes and she sobbed harder knowing he had seen exactly what she’d wanted to keep from him. He would not want to marry a crying little girl.
Stopping in the effort to free her, Trenton pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and used it to wipe her tears. “While you take care of the rest of your liquids,” he said motioning to her nose, “I will work to release you.”
Trenton shifted his weight on the tree, which caused another crack in the wood. She reached out in fear and took hold of his waist as the entire structure collapsed and sent them into the stream.
The water was cold and reminded her of the night she’d spent in the barn but with much more fear. In the barn there were moments where she’d felt safe. Even as Alex’s arms were around her, she found the trauma overwhelming. Gasping for air, she tried to take a breath but found water instead. Debra reached out hoping to find more than Alex, as he would be lost and tumbling in the cold water as well.
Wit & Intrigue (An Assignation to Remember Book 1) Page 8
