“I believe that this is it, this must be it,” Mr Layles said as they pulled up to a very grand home. It was more than Hilda expected of the MP from Cornwall. The white facade was quite ornate on top of the three story red brick building. Two footmen stood out front at attention.
The carriage stopped and the Layles driver said, “Visitors for Mr Adam Crossbury.”
The footmen nodded, indicating that they indeed had the correct address.
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A few moments later, the family walked into the foyer of marbled polish floors. The walls were fairly bare, and the furnishings were sparse. But it was a very fine home indeed, and Hilda smiled to see Gemma light up when she saw Mr Crossbury come forward in the foyer to greet them.
“Layles family, how delighted I am to see you all. Welcome to my home,” He bowed.
The family curtsied accordingly. “Thank you for the invitation, sir, we are quite delighted ourselves.” Mr Layles said.
“You must excuse the sparseness of my home. I have rented the home for this season, and have not decided whether I will take the home permanently. Therefore the furnishings that you see are what came with the house, as I have not taken upon myself to see it adequately decorated.”
“Sir, it is quite a pleasant a home. Though I daresay that decorating is something that a woman's touch would be useful in enhancing its beauty.” Mrs Layles said, with a not so subtle look toward Gemma.
Mr Crossbury cleared his throat and ignored her statement. “Yes, yes please let us take your cloaks, and come join us in the parlour. We are waiting on one more to arrive before we are seated for dinner.” He said looking to the footman that took the family's cloaks and hats. Then Mr Crossbury put his arm out for Gemma, which she happily took. They stepped toward the hall, with Mr and Mrs Layles behind them, and Hilda alone behind them. She wondered who waited in the parlour for them, and who still would be arriving. Would it be Ross? Would Miss Woodley be with him?
Hilda walked into the parlour, and she did not realize that she had been holding her breath until she stepped across the threshold of the doorway. There was a couple standing near the fireplace with fine crystal glasses of sherry in their hands. It was not the MP of Cornwall, and she was able to breathe again.
“Please allow me to introduce my friends, Mr and Mrs Holland; these are the Layles. Mr and Mrs Layles, and their two daughters Miss Gemma Layles, and Miss Hilda Layles.”
“A pleasure, very delighted,” These words were exchanged amongst the party along with curtsies and bows.
“Mr Holland is a Member of Parliament, like myself. He and I have much of the same view on circumstances and have grown very close. I am very glad that he has come with his lovely wife to my meagre dinner occasion.” Adam said.
“A Member of Parliament you say, then I am very glad to meet you sir,” Mr Layles said and quickly took up the ear of Mr Holland, speaking of politics while Mrs Layles began to compliment Mrs Holland on her dress. For they were both very good at making fast friends, and this left Adam to attend to Gemma and Hilda.
“Sir, a glass of sherry for all, unless of course Mr Layles you would like some brandy or Scotch?” Adam said to his valet attending the room.
“Yes sir, Scotch would be quite fine,” Hilda's father said quickly before continuing his conversation with Mr Holland.
Adam nodded at the valet who went to work quickly, gathering a tray of drinks and dispersing them to their correct owners. Hilda grabbed a glass of sherry and moved over just a little to peruse a wall of books, for she wanted to give Adam and Gemma some sense of privacy as they stood in front of the fireplace.
Quickly Adam was whispering toward her, things that made Gemma smile brilliant. Hilda was very happy for her sister, but felt a bit sad that Ross was not waiting in the parlour. But it was all for the best, for nothing good could come of interacting with him any longer.
She ran her finger across the leather bound books, reading the titles in the dim light of the parlour. She knew that they were not the property of Mr Crossbury, and obviously came with the home that he rented. It was a fine home, one that was quite lavish even though it had not been fully settled into yet. The fireplace was a beautiful Italian marble, and very grand, almost as tall as Gemma as she stood in front of it. The silk covered benches and seats were of new purchases, and did not have the signs of wear. The wall was fabrics with a very dark blue silk, perfect to be used as an evening parlour oh, and there was the scent of cigar smoke letting her know that this indeed was the evening parlour. It did face the front street, for those wishing to watch the carriage pass by and those taking an evening stroll. For Westminster was a very populated area, with energetic nightlife composed of the most noble and elegant of society, since it was very close to the post of MP.
She watched as the valet moved to Adam and whispered something in his ear, he nodded to the valet.
“You must excuse me. Please make yourself at home. Dinner will be served quite soon, but I must excuse myself to attend to some guests that have just arrived.” Adam said walking toward the door.
Hilda's heart quickened, as she watched him walk away. Could these guests be Ross and his fiancé? She was trembling thinking such a thought. Would she be able to hide the look of her affections from her face?
Gemma moved to Hilda side. “Such a fine start to the evening, do you not think?”
“Oh yes, very fine indeed. The sherry is quite good, I must say.” Hilda said taking a drink.
“And I am glad of the guest of Mr and Mrs Holland, for they are the age of our mother and father, and are keeping them delightfully engaged in conversation. In truth I was afraid that the guests would be young and beautiful and vying for Adam's affections and attention. I thought I would have some competition. This is very comfortable indeed.”
“Yes Mama and Papa seem quite happy,” Hilda smiled.
“Well perhaps the guest Adam is attending to will be a young man, maybe even young brothers that will give all their attention to you, my dear sister. With that dress, I dare say no one could be able to stop looking at you,” Gemma teased.
“Don't tease me so sister, you know I had no inclination to wear such a dress as this. It is not me, and I feel quite exposed.”
“Oh, do not be, sister. I think it does you well. You hide your beauty behind Plain clothing and droll colours. This red looks very becoming on you, and look at your fine porcelain skin. You look like a crown jewel, that is nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Welcome, welcome, come in and join us.” Adam said, walking into the parlour with someone trailing behind him. It did not take but a moment to see that it was the MP of Cornwall, Ross Brookend. Hilda's eyes grew wide.
“Friends, may I introduce to you my dear friend The MP of Cornwall, Ross Brookend.”
Ross stepped in and about a gracious bow. As he came up from the bowl, his eyes landed directly on Hilda. He smiled a brilliant grin.
“Oh, MP of Cornwall, such a pleasure,” Mrs Layles was the first to go directly to him. She curtsied.
“And a pleasure to meet you again, ma’am,” he said.
“Oh yes, agreed,” she said. “It has been too long since you have called upon us.”
Hilda watched as her mother rambled on and her father took to her side, joining the conversation. Then Mr and Mrs Holland joined in, and they surrounded the MP of Cornwall. But Hilda was glad for it, because it gave her time to become acclimated to the fact that he was there. She looked at the corridor, expecting that Miss Woodley would be trailing behind. But she had not come in. Did this mean that he was alone? Or that she would be coming in a separate carriage?
Hilda found her sister pressed against her side. She looked up to see Gemma with an arched eyebrow already judging Hilda. Hilda rolled her eyes, and took a deep breath. She had forgot that her sister did not like the MP of Cornwall giving her any attentions. But Gemma was not able to put this into words because Adam
was quickly at her side again. Hilda was glad for it, for she had a very quiet question to ask.
“Mr Crossbury, have all the party arrived for dinner? Or are you expecting more to join us?” Hilda asked.
“No Miss Layles, we have all arrived. I have been informed by my valet, that we will be served in 15 minutes time. Would you like another glass of sherry?” He asked.
“Yes, thank you, indeed I would.” She said as he gestured the valet to refill her drink.
Once again, she moved away from Adam and Hilda and found a seat on a bench near a table. The conversation around the MP of Cornwall was starting to disperse into smaller conversations as Hilda's father once again took up conversation with Mr Holland, and Mrs Layles and Mrs Holland took up to their own conversation. Ross then moves to Adam, giving a personal greeting to Gemma with a bow, before he moved to Hilda.
His eyes sparkled as he moved toward her, and Hilda could not stop the smile that spread across her face.
“Good evening Miss Layles, may I join you at your table?” He asked, almost teasing her with a very serious formal way of speaking.
“If you still wish to, but I believe that you will need a glass of sherry, otherwise you make me look like someone that is partial to drink too much.”
“I will do better than that.” He said. Then he turned to the valet and said loudly, “ Scotch here, sir.”
The valet nodded and moved to the bar table to pour a Scotch.
“There, does that earn me a seat at your table?” Ross asked.
“By all means, sir. Mr Crossbury has just told me that dinner will be not will not be served for another 15 minutes, therefore I need something to divert to me. You are just as good as anything else.” She said realizing that he brought out a very sassy demeanour in her, one that she was not used to taking upon when speaking with gentleman.
He arched a brow at her and took a seat directly across from her.
“Tell me Miss Layles, did you have fun on our ride?”
“Indeed I did, sir. And you?”
“Indeed, I must confess that I have not stopped thinking about it. I rather enjoyed our race. I like the free way of being when on a horse. One is able to burst into an energetic run the way we are not able to just as people, for we will be judged by society. Is that not a strange notion?” He said as the valet set the drink in front of him. Ross picked it up and took a long drink.
“Yes, I agree that it is strange. Such strange rules that society places upon us. Things of what we can and cannot do, should we not be the ones to decide that for ourselves? It gives me great displeasure that people of my sex are not allowed to pick who they shall spend the rest of their lives with through marriage. I find it quite astonishing that the mother and father are allowed to pick such partners for their daughters. It feels controlling and confining.” She said.
The smile fell from Ross's face. “I know all too well what you mean, Miss Layles. Being the son of a Lord of Cornwall, means that I must marry a woman that my father deems worthy of his name, and of wealth. It is quite controlling and confining as well.”
Hilda stop smiling. She did not think that the MP of Cornwall would be so open to say something like that to anyone, especially not to her. If any of the other party were closer and could hear what he said they would be quite astonished. It was not something that one said and polite society, or even to your own family relations.
“Do you mean to say that you are not happy with your father's choice for you?” Hilda whispered.
“Dinner is served, Mr Crossbury.” The valet said loudly.
“Oh good. Friends, shall we to the dining hall? I am quite famished,” Adam said in happy spirits. The party agreed.
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Ross stared at Hilda but he did not answer her question. Instead he downed the remainder of the Scotch and then stood up and put his arm out to help her to her feet. She took his help and stood up. A small gasp escaped his mouth as he looked at her up and down.
Hilda blushed for she had almost forgotten that she was dressed in such a manner. She felt his eyes land firmly on her cleavage.
“This way,” Adam said, as he escorted Gemma from the parlour and the couples followed him out.
Ross put his arm out for Hilda, she looped her arm in his and then allowed him to escort her in silence from the parlour to the dining hall. Her heart pounded for so many reasons. One was his almost confession of unhappiness of being engaged to Miss Woodley and the other was because she was touching him again. The heat radiated through her body.
He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “You look ravishing tonight.”
A breath escaped her mouth and her lips parted. Such a compliment came out sensually from his lips and she knew that it was wrong of him to say so, so very wrong, but why did it feel so right?
“Thank you, sir.” she said quickly, for how would she get through this night if but half an hour into it, she was already a flutter with emotions she could not explain?
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Ross Brookend was quite beside himself when he first laid eyes upon Hilda, getting a true look at the fine and elegant dress that she wore. It was quite different than what he had seen her adorned in at their previous meetings, and this suited her quite well. She was a radiant beauty, a beauty that was subtle at first, but once you gave it your full attention it quite captured you, just as it had captured his heart.
But this particular dress made her seem more of a woman than a girl, and he quite admired that. In truth it had his desires stirring.
As he led the young woman into the dining hall, he knew that he would be sitting beside her, for he had arranged it so. Just as he had arranged for Adam to invite him to this dinner once he knew that he was inviting the Layles.
Ross wanted the pleasure of Hilda's company once more, and a small dinner party such as this was just quite the thing. For there would be no possibility of idle gossip in such a familiar and small setting. Mr and Mrs Holland were not ones for idle gossip, especially when the youth were concerned. They were much more concerned with politics, and overseeing matters of state. Of course he knew that his friend Adam would not be one for idle gossip, no matter that he had already given him a stern warning about Hilda, and Mr and Mrs Layles were nothing to concern himself with. For he assumed they would be happy to be dining with a marquis, and not question the matter any further.
So all was just as he had planned, and he politely pulled the chair from the table for Hilda to sit, and then sat directly to her left. Adam sat at the head of the table, and Mr Holland sat at the other end. In between sat the rest of the party. Adam had Gemma at his side, directly across the table from Ross. At Gemma's other side sat Mrs Holland, and next to Mrs Holland sat Mrs Layles, and across from her that Mr Layles, who sat between Mr Holland and Hilda. It was a good arrangement, for Mrs Layles and Mrs Holland were able to converse, and Mr Layles and Mr Holland were able to converse. Ross and Hilda could indulge in private conversation just as Adam and Gemma could as well. It was a good table setting, and Ross thought very much so since he was the one who arranged the sitting. Adam was not one for doing such things, and left it to his friend to do so.
“I hope that you all will be delighted with the courses served. I believe that we are starting with a warm pea soup,” Adam said playing the host.
“That sounds delicious, I love pea soup,” Gemma said.
The table was set with fine crystal and china, along with two loaves of bread at either end of the table, and three candelabras in silver lighting the table. Two fireplaces were set at either end of the room, both smaller than the one in the parlour, but provided ample light and warmth to the room. Very tall windows looked out into the back gardens, which were lit by small torches giving a good and peaceful view.
The servants went about pouring wine, water, and setting the soup in front of the guests. In no time at all the party was eating bread and soup, and partaking and co
nversations. Some conversations were across the table, for all to participate, and others were quieter among two or three participants.
Ross was very glad to participate in all conversations, but in truth he wished that it were only he and Hilda at this dinner, and he could speak freely with her.
“How do you find the soup?” He asked making polite conversation to her.
“I find it just fine, thank you.” She said taking a drink of the wine. He could tell that she was nervous, and he was sure that it was possibly because of what he had said in the parlour. He should have kept those thoughts to himself, but there was something about Hilda that he found very easy to be honest and open with. He should not have said those things, but in the moment he had forgotten himself.
“And the wine? If you are not satisfied I am sure that there is port, or sherry if you wish,” He said.
She turned to him and smiled, the smile nearly stopped his heart; she was quite beautiful.
“I am quite content, thank you sir.”
“Good, I only wish for your comfort,” He said looking at her. Then he had to force himself to look at the food in front of him, for he continued to stare at her without being checked, and it would become quite obvious that he was infatuated.
“Brookend, I was just speaking with Gemma about the party at Sir Hubert’s. It seems their family has garnered an invitation as well. I am quite curious to see what the fuss is about,” Adam said.
“Oh is that so Miss Layles? Then I will be very delighted to see you and your family there.” Ross said, smiling at Gemma. For he had also been invited to the party the following week at Sir Hubert's home, along with his fiancé Miss Woodley. Now that he knew Hilda would be there, a wave of nervousness overcame him.
A Farm Girl's Despair (#5, the Winds of Misery Victorian Romance) (A Family Saga Novel) Page 15