by John Edwards
They walked over to Mr. Ellis and greeted him. “So you have brought Charlotte. What a sight you are, Charlotte. I am so sorry you had to see me in this state.” His look was gaunt and a pallor hung over him. “Now, who is this other lovely lady?”
“Mr. Ellis, my friend Elizabeth Watkins will be my companion during my coming out this Season.”
“Oh, I see. For a second I thought she may be John’s wife.” Elizabeth asked if she could adjust his pillow and he said yes and so she gently did that taking care to support his neck as she made him more comfortable. She also sought out a cloth that she used to wash his face and arms with cool water and dried him with another. She softly grabbed his hand and whispered that as a handsome young Naval Officer that he must have had his share of young women interested in him. He laughed and told her that Charlotte had such a beautiful companion, and she thanked him. “Winstead,” he said, “I have one request of you. Take this Elizabeth away with you and marry her, but be quick, for she will not last long.” He smiled at the three one last time and fell back to sleep holding onto Elizabeth’s hand. Charlotte was crying and Elizabeth continued to wipe Mr. Ellis face but she was tearing up as they left him.
The next day they repeated the visit only to discover that the man had died minutes after they had left him. All three were despondent and generally unhappy, but they made plans to attend the man’s funeral for they were told it would be in London and soon.
“Well, Miss Elizabeth, he sure was keen on you. I want to thank you for your grace and kindness yesterday. Both Charlotte and I are fortunate that we have you as such a dear friend.”
“Thank you sir. I feel he was a very good man, but he has instructed you to take me away and marry me. Does that not affect you?” She then softly giggled.
“Yes, I heard him. Be assured I do not think there is a woman of all my acquaintance that I would be more happy with than you, Elizabeth. But for now, we need to get Charlotte and you through the coming out season. We need to expose both of you to the gentlemen that are available to court you young ladies. My job must be as your protector. Mr. Ellis’s remark was kind but it supposed that you would be inclined to accept me if I made an offer to you. Even though he was speaking in jest, he would agree that you each will have many fair prospects you will meet during the coming out Season.”
“Brother, I have just noticed. You and Elizabeth banter about so and are rather good at it, but Elizabeth is better.”
“She is indeed, quite good at it.” He looked at Elizabeth and Charlotte and offered both his arms to them and softly chuckled as they walked away.
They rode to the fashion district and visited some of the best ladies clothiers where Charlotte shopped. There would be no shopping today but John Winstead instructed Elizabeth and Charlotte as to which shops he had visited and the names of the ladies that he had consulted with to help them with their purchases. His instructions were that both of them would wear only the best and he did not impose a limit for expenses. When he received objections from Elizabeth as to spending so much money, he replied that a successful coming out would be well funded and he would accept no objections from either of them and that was his final word. After visits to these shops he took them on a brief tour of the area where they would later engage in a plethora of activities.
As they returned to their town home, Elizabeth was trying to make out what John Winstead may have been saying earlier. It appeared in one comment that he thought she was the best woman he had ever met. In the other comment, he deferred to his moral duty to introduce her to the best of society so she could choose a life’s partner herself. Then he brought up the business of whether she would accept him if he ever made her an offer.
While Elizabeth was trying to decipher all of this, John Winstead reflected on what he had said and he knew he could have done a better job if he had a second try. Certainly he could not ask Elizabeth to marry him this soon, but he was aware that he had come close to telling Elizabeth that he was in love with her. He continued to think on these matters and was more affected than he had been in a long time.
For her part, Charlotte caught on right away. She had thought that her brother was in love but now she was certain of it and was also convinced that Elizabeth was in love with her brother. Charlotte now focused on a plan to see that her brother and Elizabeth would stop their charades and announce their love.
The next day John Winstead left early to attend to some business matters, but before he left he saw Elizabeth, sitting and reading near the parlor.
“Why Elizabeth, you are up early. I hope you are well this fine morning and that you slept well?”
“Yes, sir, thank you I am well, and may I offer the same consideration to you sir.”
“Elizabeth, any day that starts off with me seeing you and your bright smile is a very good start. Charlotte has things planned for you both so I hope to see you this evening.”
With that John Winstead left the house. Elizabeth had put the previous days events in the past, but now John Winstead has again tugged, ever so gently, on her heart. She knew she must not think of his comments, though she hoped they were hints of his affections, so she stilled away these utterances as best she could and became determined to enjoy her day in London with Charlotte.
After breakfast, she and Charlotte went again to some of the same shops they had visited earlier. Charlotte had told her that one of the larger shops would be holding a class for aspiring young ladies who would be coming out soon. Elizabeth counted nearly twenty ladies and their companions. A grand lady spoke of the coming out process and discussed the roles of the companion. Soon the room was divided with the companions remaining in that room and their ladies relocating to a separate room for further discussions. For many minutes the women in both rooms were left to mingle with one another. It was deemed important that those participating in the coming out events be friendly with each other, and this went for the companions as well. In each room the ladies were asked to identify themselves and tell the others a few words about their person, including their background, interest, hobbies and aspirations. It was felt that these introductions would contribute to a better coming out Season for all involved.
Before Elizabeth could announce herself as Charlotte’s companion, she saw another young woman who she thought looked familiar. The woman then rose to introduce herself. “Good morning to all, my name is Mary Alice Portman and I will be the companion for Miss Nellie Breckenridge this season. I am not one-an-nineteen, and until two years ago, I lived all my life in Brandywine. I was governess for the last two years to the Breckenridge family’s twin daughters but recently have assumed this new position. My hobbies include reading, traveling and character studies.”
Elizabeth thought this all confusing. Mary Alice as she had known her, if she did study characters, certainly was no proficient. Elizabeth remembered she always was getting into trouble and was, in a word, boy crazy. She was friendly, but Elizabeth thought it was more for show than anything else. Her goals as she recollected were to marry early, to a rich man and she often would tell those about her that she would one day marry a wealthy gentleman, even if she had to lie and cheat, she would get her man. It was true that her family moved from Brandywine some two years ago, but by that time Elizabeth had remained a fixture at Windhaven Manor, caring for her father. It was now clear to Elizabeth that many of the companions expressed or at least hinted of their own desires to meet a man of large fortune during the coming out. To her, she began to understand why many people thought the job of a companion was not to be esteemed. Soon it was her turn.
“Good morning, my name is Elizabeth Watkins and I am Miss Charlotte Winstead’s companion for the Season.” Elizabeth noticed several ladies reacted to this disclosure, but she continued. “Like Marry Alice, I also lived most of my life in Brandywine. Hi Mary Alice,” and she waved at her. “My hobbies are reading, walking, music and meeting people. My aspirations are to be the best companion for Charlotte and to learn as much as I can
about London society.”
“There you have it, ladies.” Mrs. Matthews said. “You are welcome to meet with each other some minutes more. Please feel free to serve yourselves any punch, tea, coffee and cakes. In thirty minutes we will meet with your ladies to discuss the many balls and other activities and events that will take place this Season.”
Mary Alice was the first to greet Elizabeth and she came to her and they hugged. “I thought you looked familiar Elizabeth; it has been too long, but you look very well. I did hear the news of your family, I am so sorry.”
“Thank you, and I hope you and all your family are well too. How do you think the season will go?”
“Elizabeth, all of my family is well, thank you, but things should improve for us in a few weeks, for if we are indeed cunning, there is reason to expect we shall each have offers of marriage before the season ends.”
“Perhaps, Mary Alice. We shall have a lot to say to one another this Season, but for now, I see our speaker is calling for me to come to her.”
Elizabeth was glad to have an opportunity to meet with the other companions, but soon Mrs. Matthews took her aside. “Elizabeth, I apologize for some of the other women’s remarks when you mentioned you were Miss Charlotte’s companion. It is likely you will be as busy with keeping the other companions and their ladies away from Mr. Winstead as you will be with looking out for Charlotte. You seem a very smart women, Elizabeth. I will tell you now that most of the companions in this room are in it for themselves more than for the ladies they serve. Why just before todays meeting, I overheard three women were checking off a list of the most eligible men that are available for the season. And yes, Mr. Winstead is number one. So, be on guard to protect Charlotte and her brother.”
“Thank you Mrs. Matthews, you are very kind.”
Elizabeth thought she would enjoy this coming out season, but now she had doubts. Still, she had promised to be Charlotte’s companion and she would stand by her, and Mr. Winstead too, even while she watched as the other women reached for her John. She was conflicted and in a disagreeable mood but slowly settled herself and once in the main room, she met up with Charlotte and the other women. After briefly going over some of the events currently planned for the Season, the meeting was concluded and the crowd dispersed, but Charlotte and Elizabeth were sought after by many of the women present until they were well outside on the street.
“Elizabeth, what was that all about? One would think I was nobility.”
“Charlotte, I feel many of the ladies present have their eyes set on your brother.”
“No, Elizabeth. It does not work that way. We are to attend these many events and acquaint ourselves with London society. Those men we meet may then ask to call on us if they have any further interest in us. The ladies I just met with will wait for the gentlemen to seek them out; they will not go hunting for them.”
“You may believe that if you want, Charlotte, if it makes you feel better, but just a few minutes ago Mrs. Matthews told me that some of the companions were discussing the eligible men. It seems Mr. Winstead was number one on all the lists.”
“Unpardonable. That is insufferable Elizabeth. I have never heard of such a thing. Then you suppose it is both the debutantes and the companions that have a list?”
“Yes, Charlotte, and your brother is in most of their sights.”
“My, I thought I was to be the hunted, now I see that, if I desire to meet a future husband, that I must be a hunter too. Elizabeth, I do not know if this coming out thing is such a good idea.”
“Charlotte, all will work out, though I believe you and I will have to be careful in all our dealings with these women. My feelings are that the wisest of the men seeking out a future partner will see through their charade. Those that might be entrapped may not be worth the courting. So, the traps and schemes these women set will free the better men to court ladies such as yourself. Most of the women seem to be in a rush to be married so I think we would be wise to be cautious about what we say to these women.”
“Yes, that would indeed be wise, but Elizabeth, are you in a rush, to be married, and what are your expectations for this season?”
“Well, I am your paid companion, but more than that, I am you and your brother’s friend. My sole interest is to be the best companion for you that I can, and be assured that If I feel that some other woman or man is scheming in such a way as to affect you or your brother, I will discuss this with you, and no, one day I hope to marry but I am still young. Being around you and your brother and the Kimbles has added much happiness to my life. I do not know that I could be any happier than I am now.”
“Then, I am grateful for you, Elizabeth, though I am not worried for my brother. He would not be inclined to be interested in these types of women. It will be fun to watch as they work on him. We may find great entertainment in watching him fend off these husband chasers. No, he would not be interested at all.”
“Well, since it seems that some of the companions have their own agenda to make a marriage, do you not think that they will be competing with their own ladies for the same men?”
“That is a good point, but Elizabeth, most of the available men will be looking to meet the ladies, not the companions. Oh, I am sorry, that did not come out the way I wanted to say it. I wanted to say that all is fair in love and war. Neither a man nor a woman’s mind will be easily changed if they believe themselves to already be in love, and this holds true for all of us. Nevertheless, I do appreciate your telling me to be on guard, and be assured that I will also be on the look to see and advise you of those men who may have their eye on you, my friend.”
That night they ate dinner without Mr. Winstead. He did not arrive until after nine and apologized, saying he was arranging for his friends funeral which would be held in two days. John Winstead asked them to sit with him to discuss their day. Elizabeth could see he was tired, but she also could not break free of his gaze on her. “Brother, you are staring at Miss Elizabeth.”
“Oh, I am thinking about something and was just locked in thought so to speak. Please forgive me, Miss Watkins, I did not mean to offend you.”
“You, offend me? No, but I feel you are in no good humor sir. Let us get you something to eat, you are hungry.”
“Now, that is the smartest thing I have heard all day,” and he called for the cook and asked Hilda to bring him something to eat. She responded immediately and with a twinkle in her eye, she left to bring the master his food.
He asked many questions of Charlotte and Elizabeth and they told him the details of their day. The reaction to his sister’s revelation concerning himself as a man sought out by many of the women and their companions did not help him. “Darn this whole business. This stuff does not suit me at all. William must be looking down at me right now laughing at the predicament I am in.”
“And what is that brother?”
“I will hold my response to you Charlotte until after I have eaten. You know how cross I can be when I am hungry.”
Elizabeth had not seen John Winstead act like this before, but her good opinion of him was unchanged. She felt he behaved as so many people do after a long day. The business of planning for a funeral for a close friend and then to be hungry and have to hear silly rumors of women fortune seekers chasing him, all of these things conspired to raise his ire. If anything, seeing her friends discomfiture warmed her heart to him even more. She wanted to be able to reach out to him and comfort him, but knew she could not. Still, she was happy that he wanted as little to do with this coming out Season as possible.
Finally he was fed and back to his old self. “Now, Charlotte, I will answer your question. William was always the one that performed well to strangers. He would have been in all his glory to be sought after at balls and all sought of coming out events. Now it is I acting in his place. I am not saying that I am afraid of these fortune seekers, I am sure there are many women who are not thus so, and I know that my late brother as well as I are equally adept at screeni
ng out those who might be sincere in their regards from those that are not, but I simply do not enjoy these things. Give me Hunting Hills, my current friends, you and Elizabeth and Rascal and I am happy.”
Elizabeth was more than pleased with his reply. She suspected correctly that his mention of Rascal was a signal of his affections for herself. Now she felt certain that he loved her, but she had a problem; how would such a love be declared? She felt she could not live with an unrequited love.
The next morning Elizabeth again saw Mr. Winstead quite early. “Good morning Mr, Winstead, it seems we have some rain today.”
“Yes, Elizabeth, it seems the rain began near three this morning. Oh well, I suppose I can pass on my walk today. We are both up early, did you not sleep well?”
“No sir I did not. Mind you, there is nothing wrong with the accommodations or the company, I just had so many thoughts turning over in my head last night that I could not sleep for hours.”