by Fanny Finch
Their governess could not make it tonight for she was down with stomach trouble. It was that time of the month, for her. Stepfather would be their chaperone tonight.
Everyone knew he was worthy.
As Liliana joined them, she turned to look at the townhouse before them, making a point to ignore her sister who was now giggling.
What was so funny, anyway?
“The Huttinton Town House is one of a kind. Its architecture is that of the Victorian era, as many others, true. However, it was once a statehouse. After a new one was built, the Queen gave this to her cousin, whom she was ever so fond of. He turned it to his home, and it has been passed down for generations since then. It is beautiful, indeed.”
As Lord Rothwell spoke, Nora stopped her giggling much to Liliana’s delight and both girls looked up to take in the grand structure.
It was indeed beautiful, and well beyond that. It was exquisite. Pillars, tall and proud, its roof almost reaching the sky and its color, the white of the marble.
Light shone all over. It had been adorned so for the ball, Liliana knew. As people flocked past them, towards its entrance, she could hear their gasps of awe. The Huttinton house was worthy of the revel and admiration.
“I don’t think I’ve seen anything so artfully done. It is exquisite, father,” she said.
“It is, is it not? I am glad you like it. Now, we must be ahead. The ball will begin any moment from now and I do not want to use to miss the grand entrance with other debutantes.”
“Well then, let us be on! I cannot wait to be introduced to the ton!”
Of course, that was Nora. Liliana smiled, shaking her head. Lord Rothwell did the same, then they resumed walking.
Their Stepfather went ahead, leading the way, giving the girls their moment alone. It was then Nora finally spoke. Leaning in in a conspiratory whisper, she said,
“You were thinking of the Lord Longcross, were you not?”
Feign ignorance. “I know not what you speak of. I was looking out the window, in the streets. It’s lovely at night, just like the sky tonight. Have you noticed how brightly the stars twinkle?”
She could tell by the look on Nora’s face that her sister was not buying her words, but she cared less. She would rather have her accept that she had indeed, been mooning over a man.
She would never hear the end of it!
She breathed with relief when Nora decided not to push further, letting it go, the smile in her voice still, she responded,
“Ah yes. It’s the kind father and mother would have loved very much.”
That reply stunned Liliana as she had not been expecting it. Nora barely spoke of their parents, particularly not so suddenly. Once upon a time, it had worried Liliana.
She had soon come to learn that Nora had simply been too hurt and speaking less of them was her way of dealing with the pain. From then on, Liliana had respected her emotions and resolved to speak of their parents scarcely.
“Indeed, it is…” she replied, gazing up at the sky. There was a spell of silence that lasted for more than a moment.
Then, looking down at her sister, Liliana prodded, “You miss them, do you not?”
Nora nodded solemnly, refusing to hold her sister’s gaze.
“It’s a monumental night in our lives, Lilly. Tonight, we shall become ladies of the ton, indeed. A night that would mark the beginning of our ascension into womanhood. They would want to be here. It is only right that they be here. Father had only ever looked forward to it and mother, she spoke about it often, with joy in her heart.”
Nora was near tears now. Liliana found herself blinking rapidly to hold hers back. It would not do for them to give to tears. Not when they would be introduced to hundreds of people they did not know, any moment from now.
It would ruin everything and Nora would obsess over it for months to come.
Managing a small smile, she took her sister’s hands and squeeze, forcing them to come to a halt.
“Look,” she pointed at the sky. “Mother and father were the best humans I’ve ever known. God took them because he wanted his angels back. I am certain that this very moment, they are two of those stars, looking down at us. Oh see, see that one? If you looked more closely, you’d see wings surrounding it. Oh, and there’s another. Ah. I knew it. They wouldn’t break their promise. They swore to never leave us alone. Do you remember?”
Liliana turned to find her sister staring at her, her eyes glistened with tears. A drop broke free and as Liliana rushed to dab at it, she felt another trickle down her face.
“Now, we have made a mess. Look at us! Two grown ladies, giving in to weary emotions.”
Nora’s words made her laugh and in no time, they were chuckling together.
It ended soon enough, and they succeeded in drying each other’s tears.
“You are right, Lilly. They’d never break their promises.”
“Never. They were too noble for that.”
“Yes, they were. Thank you, sister.”
Liliana nodded, understanding the words beyond that which she spoke.
Glancing at Lord Rothwell who had stopped, and now stood half-turned waiting for them, she said, “I am afraid father’s patience is thinning out.”
“Ah yes. We have kept him waiting long enough.”
“Not to mention, we have caused quite a scene.”
That was when Nora saw it too. People glanced their way as they passed, murmuring quietly too.
“Oh well, they may think what they would. I do not care in the very least.”
The Nora she knew was back. Glad, Liliana released her hand, and they started walking once again.
Lord Rothwell said nothing as they reached his side, as though understanding what had just happened. It was a gesture Liliana truly appreciated.
A couple more strides and they were being ushered into the Huttington’s home.
Awe became her as they stepped in. It was even more beautiful on the inside and it was filled with a multitude of people.
Goodness, gracious. How was a person like her, supposed to make it through the night, and through the season?
Chapter 9
“I hear you have been to the Indies, my good Lord. Tell me, are they as barbaric as the rumors I hear they eat their children, and keep their goats.”
Sebastian smiled, for he had heard more ridiculous rumors which were formed on the spot, for the purpose of jest, just as this one. He had to admit, Lady Evelyn made great company.
In the past half an hour since they had been conversing, she had matched his wit and humor was a woman who was well-read, well-traveled latter that intrigued him.
Very few women of the ton could boast of that, many of whom are either married or widows. Lady Evelyn was none. She was an heiress to a duchy, and her father had brought up like the son he had never had.
Thus, she had been allowed many things. Sparring lessons, sound education by excellent tutors who were scholars in their rights and could stand up to the best teachers in Eaton and Oxford, she had also been allowed to travel.
Not far and wide like Sebastian, but all of Europe and America. It was easy to see how she had been able to hold Sebastian’s interest for so long, much to the envy of many other ladies present here tonight.
It was also easy to see why she was twenty-two and unmarried. After two unsuccessful seasons, she had upped and left England at twenty and had only just returned.
It was the agreement she had had with her father. She would return when she was twenty-two and take a husband, for it appeared to be common knowledge that Lady Evelyn had not had unsuccessful seasons because men had not desired her for a wife.
Quite the contrary, with the ethereal beauty and charm she possessed, not to mention her heavy dowry and all the inheritance that would go to the man that would be lucky to become her husband, many men had flocked towards her like moth to the flame.
Alas, Lady Evelyn had refused to make a choice because these men had wanted her, yes- but
they had wanted her to tame her and keep her as theirs. Docile, demure.
That was not the life Lady Evelyn wanted to live and she had seen through it all.
All of these, Sebastian had learned in their while of conversing with one another.
She told her story with no hindrance or shame. She also seemed quite resigned and happy to live the life of the old eccentric lady of the ton who never got married- envied by the women, scorned by the men, but secretly loved and admired by all, for daring to defy the standards.
In fact, she spoke of it with enthrall, as though she truly wanted that life. Alas, she could not afford to have it. For her father, she would marry, but the man had to be worthy.
Sebastian could agree no less. He had quickly surmised that lady Evelyn thought him worthy- hence the easy camaraderie. Nonetheless, her eyes had strayed to one particular gentleman, one too many times, to let him know she held no interest with him- not that way.
Her heart was taken, she only needed the gentleman to realize this and take a step.
“They do nothing of such, my lady. The Indians are very traditional people. Their traditions and customs very different from our own, of course. Nonetheless, they are pleasant- protective of their lands and of their people- yes, but not at all fearsome or as troublesome and they are rumored”
Her eyes had strayed again, and so had her mind. As he ended, she turned to him.
“Oh,lovely, lovely. Perhaps, one of these days, I shall have the chance to visit, myself.”
Hmmm… “What is his name?”
The abrupt question startled her, and she looked like she might feign ignorance but she stopped herself.
“Samuel. Samuel Grendon. Duke of Yonshire and one hundred and eighty-eighth in line to the throne. Not that any of those matter to me.”
She was looking at him again, and Sebastian could see it clearly.
“You love him.”
She heaved a deep sigh though resigned to her fate.
“Dearly. Sadly, he does not see me, not in that way. We were very close once, you know? My father and his were dear friends. When we were younger, they would visit the manor often. I knew then, that I loved him. Alas, he only ever saw me as a younger sister. I was hoping that would change as I grew, you see. For he was all of eight summers older than myself. Yet, it did not change. When he would not take a wife in time, I had hope that he was waiting for me.”
“You were wrong…”
“I was foolish. He had simply not found the one. The season I was introduced into society, he took for himself, a wife. I never got the chance to woo him. To show him I was a woman not related to him in any way is married?”
“Was. He is widowed. Two years now. He lost his wife to childbirth just as I left London. I received the news three months later. I wanted to return but there was no reason to. He loved her dearly. He would mourn her, and I would ache, seeing him suffer so. Indeed, I was sad for him, very sad. Rachel was a lovely lady and no one deserves to suffer that kind of loss. Nevertheless, I just couldn’t return, so I stayed back. I have been back for two months. I visited once I returned, and he repaid the visit. He has grown even more handsome and his daughter… she’s such a beauty, like her mother. She too has stolen my heart, like her father. Foolish of me, is it not? To want to be a mother to a child whose father only sees me as her aunt. Nothing more.”
“The mourning time for a man is six months.”
“Yes. I hear he did a year. But he has since come out of mourning.”
“And yet to take another wife?”
“Yes. I hear he intends to this season. It is the reason why he is here. He skipped the last two.”
“Hmmm. You hope to make him jealous?”
She looked at the subject of her affections, and back at Sebastian. Then, she laughed at herself. A small laugh that was just as lovely as its owner. He heard the pain hidden behind it, just as he had heard the longing in her voice as she spoke.
“I did not realize it was what I was hoping for until it was too late.”
“Well, if you want him to notice, you’d have to do more than stand three feet apart and speak with me, all evening.”
Her eyes narrowed, and he saw the quick flash of excitement. Moving closer, she asked in a conspiratory tone,
“What do you suggest?”
He was about to answer when the announcer called out…
“Lord Rothwell, baron of Everton, and his step-daughters, joining the season for the first time, Lady Nora and Lady Liliana Swan.”
Sebastian’s feet turned him around, and as he looked up the stairs to behold the woman who had occupied his thoughts and dreams, his breath caught in his heart.
There she was, standing so beautifully, easily the most gorgeous woman in the room tonight, with her yellow dress, the colorer eyes.
His breath held as she started to descend, her sister by her side.
His heart could tell the difference. To the eyes, both women were one and the same, yet, his heart knew. It knew it was his lady who wore the sunshine, and her twin, who wore the peach.
Was it not something to ponder upon, that both women looked exactly alike, yet, it was one who had caught his eye?
Oh Liliana, his sweet Liliana.
The moment they got off the stairs, joining the ballroom, men flocked to them, hiding her from his sight.
He felt something punch his heart… it was akin to envy, and he knew he could not leave her be for much longer before she was stolen from him.
Managing a smile as he finally let himself breathe, he turned to face Lady Evelyn.
“My lady, I would help you personally, if I could. However, I have matters of the heart of my own to attend to. I am afraid I may be too late if I do not move quickly.”
Lady Evelyn smiled at him, understanding.
“Your heart is spoken for by one of them. The one in the yellow dress.”
He nodded, surprised that she had told so easily.
“Yes. It is true.”
“Then you may go. It would appear that you are not the only gentleman here who knows a good thing when he sees one. I shall find another man with whom to get Samuel’s attention.”
Sebastian’s smile widened. She was indeed, a great woman.
“Lady Evelyn, you do not strike me as a woman who would be too afraid to let a man know what she feels for him.”
“It is not letting him know that I fear. It is the rejection that is certain to follow.”
“What if you get no rejection? What if that is the push he needs to see you as more… more than a sister? You are an impressive lady, and any man with two eyes and sense in his head can see that. I would like to believe that your Samuel is one of those men… I mean, if I would go by the number of death glares I have received from him, tonight.”
Her eyes widened with shock. Her head turned sharply to look at Samuel. It was so quick that the man who had been staring was unable to look away in time. Finally, their eyes met.
Sebastian watched Evelyn soften, her eyes blinking as she struggled to gain control of her emotions. She managed a small smile and slowly turned to Sebastian.
“You did not tell me he has also been stealing glances.”
Sebastian shrugged. “I reckoned it would be better to wait until the time was right before doing so. Now, go meet your man.”
As he said those words, Samuel who had started walking towards them stopped just a few feet away. They both turned.
“Samuel,” she breathed.
“Evelyn,” he responded. “I was not aware you shared a friendship with the marquess.”
Sebastian took that as his cue to speak. “Only from tonight. The lady Evelyn makes a very interesting companion. She has made the ball bearable for me, so far.”
The man looked at Sebastian then, his envy unhidden. “Not one for balls then, are you?”
“No, I would not say so.”
“I see. I hear you have been away for a long time. How were your travels?”
&
nbsp; “Wonderful, but it feels great to be back on home soil.”
“I would imagine. I hear it is for a reason. I truly am sorry for your loss. Death is always a terrible thing for the people it leaves behind.” Sebastian watched the man soften and he saw then, what Evelyn saw in him. He was noble, kind. Only that kind of man, would mourn his wife so, and share sympathy with a fellow man whom he barely knew.
“It is. Many thanks, my lord. I share my condolences too.”