My Deceitful Marquess

by Amaya Evans

  In the days that came, they both enjoyed their mutual company. They visited the tenants that lived on their lands. They walked and attended a few events from people who invited them due to their recent wedding. Many wanted to meet the new marchioness and talk to her. Some wanted to see her out of curiosity, others simply because they needed someone new to criticize, but she didn’t care. She thought that very soon they would talk more about her because of her failed marriage.

  After those days, Sonia felt even more attracted to Robert, and he was charming despite the fact that he was a man that had a hard and cold facade in front of others. They traveled to the house in London a week later and Sonia’s mother was happy to see her. She couldn’t do anything else but to ask her about her new married life and made comments that she expected the future arrival of the stork soon. To which Sonia didn’t know what to answer. Robert had decided that it was best to stay at his house and not at his father’s. Although that was also his home, he preferred to stay as far as possible from a person who only knew how to put him in a bad mood. She was not aware that Robert had a beautiful house in Portman Square which he had bought a week ago. He told her that until his father died he preferred to live in that house where he knew he would have peace of mind. She accepted it because that would not be her house either way. There would come a time to buy her own house and decorate it, but in the meantime, she was distracted decorating his house because Robert asked her to.

  When they saw each other again Robert and his father locked themselves in the study and talked all afternoon about business. Sonia meanwhile went with her mother to visit Angustias Walton in Berkeley Square. Angustias was at her cousin's house and the poor woman needed to see a friendly face.

  There they stayed there for a while and Angustias told Sonia that she felt a little nervous about everything that was going on around her. Her cousin exhibited her as if she was something for sale and she had to go to all the activities and events where the people looked at her badly because they believed she was an upstart social climber, but nothing could be further from the truth. Sonia tried to calm Angustias’ fears and gave her some advice.

  CHAPTER 8

  In any case, Sonia felt sorry for her and offered her friendship. She told Angustias that when she felt that life overwhelmed her she could visit her whenever she wanted. Although she didn’t know where she would be when that happened.

  “I would like to visit some places, but the person that always goes with me is my cousin's wife and although she is very kind, she is always aware of possible potential suitors.”

  “Oh dear, that must be very irritating.”

  Angustias nodded. “This is a very different world for me. I do not mean that in America I went out a lot or socialized a lot, but here I do not feel safe talking to people. They look at me strangely and they avoid telling me anything.”

  Sonia kept to herself the fact that Angustias appearance most assuredly did not help, but she was unable to say it. Instead, Sonia told her that there would be a dance given by the Count of Arfort and the invitations were beginning to be sent throughout the city. Sonia was sure that they would invite her. She told Angustias that when she received her own invitation, she should send her a letter so they could meet and they could go to her dressmaker to get a nice dress for that day.

  Angustias happily accepted and thanked her. After having a good time there, Sonia returned home with her mother. On the way, her mother kept asking how her marriage was going and how Robert treated her.

  “Everything’s fine. He is a real gentleman and things are going great.”

  “Your face tells me otherwise my daughter.”

  “Things between a married couple are not always idyllic, mother. You should know this well,” Sonia answered annoyed by her interrogation, but she regretted it the moment she said it.

  “I know, daughter. I got married with such hope but your father changed.”

  “I’m sorry, mother. I didn’t mean to be impertinent. I know what you have suffered from my father’s temperament and I should not have said that.”

  “Don’t worry, dear. You have only told the truth. I just hope things are different for you.”

  Sonia resisted the urge to tell her everything. She couldn’t risk her mother saying something to her brother or father and ruin everything.

  *****

  A couple of days later Sonia left her house to meet with Angustias. Angustias had written to her the previous day telling her that she had indeed been invited to the dance held by the Count of Arfort and begged her for help. She would prefer her cousin’s wife not accompany her to obtain the dress for the dance. Sonia smiled thinking of the expression of horror that Angustias must have had when she wrote the note. Sonia wrote her immediately and let Angustias know that she would gladly help her with everything and set a time they could meet.

  Later that day the carriage stopped in front of the dressmaker’s shop. A huge shop with a spool of thread painted in one of the windows. It read Madame Angelique’s Boutique. When they entered the woman was waiting and had set aside a small room that was only used by the exclusive customers of the store, like her.

  “Lady Wilmington, what a pleasure to have you here.”

  “Madame, you don’t know how much I needed to see you. I need a dress for the dance held by the Count and Countess of Arfort and my friend Angustias Walton also needs dresses for a complete change of wardrobe; corsets, stockings, evening dresses, afternoon dresses and a riding outfit. As well as accessories: gloves, bonnets and more.

  The woman lit up like a Christmas tree. “Gladly, Lady Wilmington. If you would walk this way, please.” She pointed to the room.

  “Girls!” She called to two young women who helped her. “Please, bring the fabrics that arrived this afternoon and bring tea.” The two young women rushed out to fulfill her orders.

  “Miss Walton, let me take your measurements to get ahead.”

  Angustias stood up and let the woman do her work while the women showed them beautiful fabrics and magazines with the latest designs in evening dresses. The two women stayed there for a good part of the afternoon and then went to a shop where they sold beautiful shoes for women.

  While they were in the carriage, the two women talked about the terrible journey that they had to get to that country and that most people were talking about the heiresses who came to England in search of a husband.

  “I’ve been told that the parents of Rose Johnson and Filippa will also send them to England for next year’s season.”

  “Them too? Are all the good matches in America gone?”

  Angustias made the sign of the cross. Sonia looked at her strangely. “You’ve done that several times while we’ve been in the carriage.”

  “Oh, it’s just that we passed a church.”

  “And every time we pass by one you make the sign of the cross?

  “Yes ...” she answered fearfully. “Is that wrong here?”

  “Oh no, of course not, but there are several churches on the road and if you do that all the time it can become somewhat uncomfortable for whoever goes with you.”

  Augusta looked hurt. “Sorry.”

  CHAPTER 9

  “Oh no, dear. I do not say it because of me. I say it for the people who go with you in a carriage when they invite you to a place or when you’re with a gentleman. Don’t bother with me. I want to help you, but for that, I need to be very frank with you and tell you how to do things here. Remember that what we have to do is try to fit in.” Sonia winked.

  “You’re right. Thank you for your help, Sonia. It’s invaluable to me,” Angustias answered more animatedly.

  “You don’t have to thank me for anything. I’ve been here for a short time, but my cousin the Visco- untess of Exeter has been a guardian angel to me. She is the one who advises me and told me everything that is normal for us seems like an attack on their customs to the nobility,” Sonia said with a dramatic face, making Angustias smile.

  “Are yo
u happy?” Angustias surprised Sonia with the question.

  “Well ... I married Robert, right?” Sonia said with a nervous little giggle.

  “Yes, of course, but you know that men are bossy and liars. I wanted to know if he’s as charming as the first day.”

  “He is,” Sonia said with complete certainty because Robert had not changed for the worse. On the contrary, he was charming with her every minute of the day and that made her decision to leave him much more difficult.

  *****

  The night of the dance arrived very quickly and in less time than what they expected they were already attending the event together with their companions and watching a large number of high society people waiting in a line to enter.

  Sonia arrived first with her husband. They were announced and she could feel the piercing gaze of the other people on her. It was why she had taken great pains in her appearance that day. Her dress was an impeccable red wine color, made of French chiffon and silk with lace embroidered on the neckline. The lace embroidery was quite pronounced. In the lower part of the dress around the hem were capriciously placed garlands of artificial roses. Her hair was styled in a Greek style with small roses adorning it. It gave her an elegant and quite youthful appearance. She wore satin slippers and silk gloves to match the color of the dress. Madame Angelique had taken great pains to ensure everything was perfect. Not to mention Angustias dress that looked resplendent that night. Angustias looked like another person. She would be unrecognizable if not for her characteristic shyness in speaking to others. The tight bun at the top of her head was gone and now she wore a beautiful hairstyle that highlighted her face and the dress in white and gold gauze gave her a certain aura of elegance and delicacy that even surprised Angustias by the change. All the gentlemen admired her and in a short time, her dance card was almost full. Sonia approached her at all times to know how she was and apparently the advice that she gave her on deportment and certain words that were frowned upon had worked. The women looked at Angustias with obvious rage, because being so pretty and having such a great dowry, the young unmarried women saw her as a tremendous competition.

  “How are you, honey?” Robert asked his wife.

  “I feel good. Although, I would feel better if my husband invited me to dance.” Sonia teased with a mischievous smile.

  “If that makes my lady happy. I’ll do that.” Robert offered Sonia his arm, and she took it. They walked to where the other couples were and she felt like her husband was transporting her to another place, they seemed to float on the air. It was one of the things that she loved about Robert and that she would surely miss.

  Time passed and Sonia could see some gentlemen dance with Angustias and surprisingly, Angustias wasn’t making the sign of the cross, nor did she look at them as if they were the antichrist.

  Sonia looked toward the corner where her husband talked with some friends and noticed that they had been joined by two women who were looking at them shamelessly. One of them was a widowed dowager duchess who was about thirty years old, maybe older. It was said that she never sought to remarry because she liked being able to be with whoever she wanted without making a commitment. It was well known by everyone in high society that she was a very adventurous woman and yet despite her reputation high society did not forbid her entrance to their events. The other woman was a blond with an angelic face. She devoured her husband with her eyes and Sonia wanted to put her in her place. But she didn’t think that she had a right to do that when they had no obligations to each other.

  After a while, her husband seemed to feel that she was staring at him and turned to look where she was. He smiled at her in that way that he knew was irresistible, she returned the gesture but inside she felt annoyed. Robert seemed to notice that something was wrong and approached her. “Is something wrong, dear?”

  “Nothing to worry about, dear. I was just wondering who the woman that talked to you so animatedly was?”

  “The dowager duchess?”

  “No, the other one.” Sonia looked at him out of the corner of her eye.

  “That’s Lucida Tempest. A good friend,” Robert answered naively, keeping quiet that they had been lovers. “Are you jealous?”

  “Me? Please.” Sonia smiled. “You and I can’t feel that toward each other. Right?” She looked directly into his eyes.

  Robert watched her, amused. He knew that she was jealous and that if the opposite situation happened, he would not be indifferent either.

  “What kind of surname is Tempest? Do you know its meaning?”

  “Of course I do and she honors that name.”

  “Oh God.” Sonia rolled her eyes. “You men are the most passionate and least thinking creatures I know. I imagine she’s a tempest in the bed,” she said mockingly.

  “Do you really want to have this conversation here?”

  “Of course not. I already said what I had to say.” Sonia walked away to talk to other people and left Robert smiling at her jealousy.

  CHAPTER 10

  The next week Sonia’s parents had to leave and although she was happy that she was starting her own life Sonia was also sad at the possibility of not seeing them for a long time. Or perhaps never again if her father found out that she moved to another part of the country to live by herself, live the life of a single woman.

  “Sonia, promise me that you will do everything possible to make your marriage work. That you will take care of your husband and be a good wife.”

  “Yes, mother. I will. You don’t have to worry about anything.”

  “You can see that he is a good man, and he loves you.”

  “How can you tell that he loves me?”

  “In his eyes, there is a look that I used to see in your father’s eyes a long time ago. Don’t throw that away. Try to get along with your husband and remember that marriage is about getting along and knowing when to give up and swallow your pride.”

  Sonia wished it were true but Robert only saw her as a business associate. They might get along well but that was because they both knew that this wasn’t a real marriage.

  Her father talked with Robert and Sonia wondered what they were whispering about. Her mother walked to them and gave Robert a hug. “Please, take care of Sonia. She is my greatest treasure. My only daughter and I want to see her happy.”

  “I will Frances,” Robert assured her. “Don’t worry.”

  Frances looked at him with a pleading gaze. “I trust you.”

  While her mother said goodbye to Robert, Sonia’s father kissed her on the cheek. “I expect you to act with dignity. Like the daughter of the family Hearst that you are.”

  “Yes, father.” Sonia thought he would hug her that he would tell her that everything would turn out well, but his cold demeanor told Sonia that he hadn’t forgotten what happened and she wondered if he knew something about her future plans.

  “You have a good man, Sonia. Forget about your whims and the crazy idea about freedom. You’re married now and your first thought should be for your husband and the family that you will have together.” He turned and left without saying goodbye.

  “Good voyage, father.” Sonia felt like crying at her father’s indifference at leaving her there. When he didn’t know when they would ever see each other again.

  Robert placed a hand on her shoulders, comforting her. “Calm down.”

  Sonia saw her parents get aboard the boat that would take them to America. Her eyes were wet with tears.

  “Don’t worry, dear. You’ll see them later on.”

  Sonia looked at Robert. “How do you know?”

  “Well, I just know. They are your parents and they love you. You can’t just not see each other again.”

  “Today I felt that my father doesn’t love me.”

  “Don’t say that, Sonia. They love you.”

  “He is disturbed by something and I don’t know what.”

  Robert thanked god that his father-in-law had finally left because if he hadn’t with his attit
ude Sonia would have found out the truth ahead of time.

  Later that day they were home discussing plans that they had for when they returned. The discussion distracted Sonia from the sadness caused by her parent's departure. Robert’s father arrived like a tornado, giving orders and demanding to see his son immediately. The door of the room opened suddenly without giving the butler a chance to announce his arrival.

  “I need to talk to you immediately.”

  “Good afternoon, father.” Robert was annoyed.

  “It’s not so good for me.”

  “At the very least you can greet the people who live in a house that is not your own.” Robert motioned for Sonia to come close.

  The elderly man looked at Sonia like she was a cockroach and didn’t say anything. Sonia was tempted to be just as rude but controlled herself. “Good afternoon, milord.” The ticking of the clock was the only sound that was heard.

  “Dear, please wait for me outside. This disagreeable visit won’t last much longer,” Robert told Sonia as she left the room.

  Once they were alone Robert’s father began to yell. It was impossible not to hear him from outside the room although Sonia tried. But once she heard her name followed by the words American bitch Sonia was curious and entered a connecting room. She tried to hear what they were saying. Robert’s father yelled that that was the deal. That he would put up with Robert marrying a savage from the colonies and mixing his lineage with the American in exchange that she give her fortune to solve their financial ruin.

  “I can not believe that woman is so stupid that she has not realized that she is really married and I do not understand why you have not told her. She should jump for joy to know that she is married to a future duke.”

  Sonia heard them and couldn’t believe that it was all a lie. He had deceived her from the beginning. Robert never felt anything at all for her. She had been thinking for a few days that perhaps things would be different if she stayed with him. Instead of separating and going far away like she had originally planned. She had to give him credit. Robert really knew how to fake his feelings for her. What worried her the most out of their conversation was the part where his father mentioned that their marriage was real. If that was true then Robert was more cunning than she had thought and he took advantage of her desire for freedom to trap her. She didn’t want to think about it because if it was true her dowry belonged to him now and she wouldn’t be able to go anywhere. Furious she ran to her room to think and decide what to do next. Sonia didn’t have much luck because as soon as Robert’s father left he went in search of her and she couldn't contain her anger.