by Abby Ayles
* * *
Colonel Jasper looked down at her out of the corner of his eye as if the answer was so obvious. However, Lady Louisa suspected he would not say the thoughts in his mind.
* * *
“I only wish that all of us can get along well to encourage more time together.”
* * *
“For Miss Mary, no doubt,” Lady Louisa added nudging him with her shoulder.
* * *
The Colonel joined her as she continued to walk down the lane and when she teased, he gave his own youthful nudge in return. Though he was much older than her, and very much older than Miss Mary, Lady Louisa thought the two of them made a very fine match indeed.
* * *
“Perhaps being able to enjoy Miss Mary’s company as often as possible is part of the reason.”
* * *
“Well, you can do that easy enough without me. In fact, I might encourage such thing,” Lady Louisa added thinking about how Miss Elisabeth and her aunt still insisted that the Colonel had affection for her.
* * *
“Well, I said, it is only part of the reason,” the Colonel stated without further explanation.
* * *
Lady Louisa looked up at the Colonel hoping to glean other reasons from his facial expression. All she caught, however, was the shimmer of light off of the gray hair at either side of his temples. She rather thought it made him look very distinguished.
* * *
“I suppose you plan to keep your other reason a secret from me?”
* * *
“I do.”
* * *
“Well then, I am not sure if I can condone your courtship of my younger cousin and in fact may have to protest to Lady Hendrickson as well,” Lady Louisa said with her chin out sarcastically.
* * *
“I don’t think a fine lady such as yourself would ever do such a thing.”
* * *
“I may have to. I mean,” Lady Louisa continued as if the ideas were all coming to her and seemed rather appalling, “not only do you seem to have secret agendas, you are also a military man. Does that not mean that Miss Mary would move around often with you as the militias stations are changed. How would Lady Hendrickson feel to lose her youngest daughter from her presence.”
* * *
“Well, I am happy to inform you that since meeting Miss Mary I have been considering selling my commission and staying here in the area.”
* * *
Lady Louisa stopped for a moment surprised at his words.
* * *
“You are? I had no idea. I was only joking, I never meant,” she seemed to stumble on her own words in embarrassment.
* * *
“I know,” he simply replied. “Honestly, I was considering it from the start. Rowland is really my only family so if I am to sell my Commission this is where I will stay. I guess it really all depends on if Rowland does decide to stay at Bassen long term.”
* * *
“Why would he not? I suppose he would go to town for the seasons but don’t most Lords settle in their country home upon marrying?”
* * *
“I don’t think Rowland has quite got the adventuring bone out of his body yet. In his mind, he will marry and then return to his travels leaving his wife here.”
* * *
“I don’t think any wife would enjoy that prospect. Who would marry him with such knowledge?”
* * *
“A woman not caring if he was around or not. A woman looking for the elevation more than the man I suppose.”
* * *
“Even still,” Lady Louisa hesitated to agree with his meaning. “I still don’t imagine someone marrying with such perimeters.”
* * *
She thought back to when he had initially spoken to her and asked for any assistance. Had he hoped she would seek out a desperate lady caring more for her own elevation in position and not having any desire to have companionship with the man.
* * *
“Trust me; I have tried to talk him out of his madness. He has yet to see reason. I have a feeling that until he actually meets a maiden that interests him truly, he will have no desire to change from his previous lifestyle.”
* * *
He looked down at Lady Louisa with a knowing eye.
* * *
“Men are a fickle species. We tend to find things that work well for us and then like to stay that way. When change is pressed upon us we fight it until we realize the value of it. Rowland has yet to see the value.”
* * *
“Or I suppose, in his case, found the value.” “Precisely,” Colonel Jasper agreed.
* * *
Colonel Jasper was kind enough to walk Lady Louisa all the way back to Mentheith House. Much to Miss Mary’s delight he also agreed to stay the afternoon for a light picnic luncheon.
* * *
Lady Louisa couldn’t help but watch the two interact with each other knowing that very likely they might be joined together. The age difference seemed no difference. Miss Mary was very mature for such a young lady, and he was quite youthful as of yet.
* * *
Lady Louisa was amazed that her aunt could not see the blossoming romance between the two. Lady Hendrickson still insisted on recommending Lady Louisa in every way to the Colonel and even couldn’t help but whisper to Miss Elisabeth that she wasn’t surprised that he had walked Lady Louisa home.
* * *
Lady Louisa was inclined to let the illusion play out for the benefit of her youngest cousin, however. Lady
* * *
Hendrickson and Miss Elisabeth never truly painted
* * *
Colonel Jasper in a good light when they spoke of him.
* * *
Though Lady Louisa couldn’t see how they found fault in such a gracious and kind man, they seemed to find a way to do it. Lady Louisa was sure that Lady Hendrickson would not approve of the man for her own daughter at this time.
* * *
Lady Louisa only hoped that if she bought some time for the two to grow a relationship together without her mother’s understanding, that Lady Hendrickson would come around with the opportunity to know him better.
* * *
The rest of the week went on quite smoothly. Lady Louisa went to town four more times with her basket of herbs and list of patients. At first, she was timid and shy as she knocked on each door. By the beginning of the next week, she felt she knew most people in the village well enough that she was no longer filled with trepidation as she stood on each threshold.
* * *
Miss Mary happily went with her as many times as Lady Hendrickson would allow it. Unfortunately, it was not often, and when the case did happen, it would be preceded by a lengthy discussion on who they would be attending too.
* * *
Apparently, Lady Hendrickson only found specific people in the village acceptable for her daughters to associate with. While Lady Louisa could understand wanting to see to your daughter's safety, she also thought some of her aunt's objections were a little silly and uncalled for.
* * *
On the afternoon of the following week, Lady Louisa returned from her trip to see little Jemmy who was sick in bed with a rather nasty chest cold and was hoping to spend the rest of the day in the garden and away from her aunt. Instead, she entered the house to find a great commotion and excitement.
* * *
Instead of heading straight back to the garden like she had wished to, she instead removed her hat and gloves and made her way to the drawing room. Inside she saw all three ladies standing and talking excitedly. Even Miss Mary who often kept her cool when the others didn’t, was joining in the merriment.
* * *
“Whatever is going on?” Lady Louisa asked intrigued.
* * *
All three ladies eyes turned and looked at her.
* * *
“Oh, you’re back,” Lady Hendrickson said with a d
eflated air.
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“We have all been invited to a masquerade ball,” Miss Mary said.
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The two older ladies looked at her not necessarily happy that she spread the news, though there would have been no way to help it.
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“Really?” Lady Louisa said catching on to the excitement.
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“I am sure it will all seem rather dull for you. You must attend so many balls during a season in London. I wouldn’t be offended at all if you don’t wish to come,” Lady Hendrickson added.
* * *
Lady Louisa was really starting to feel tired of her aunt's dislike. She was somewhat of the option that she had given this family relationship the best go she could for her mother’s benefit and had no desire to do it any longer. If it were not for the people who she had been helping in the village, no doubt she would have returned to London already.
* * *
“Actually, I have never been to a masquerade ball before. It sounds entertaining, and I do wish to attend if you would allow it, Lady Hendrickson.”
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“Oh, well I suppose if you want to so badly,” she added with an exaggerated look to her face.
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“Will it be in the public tent again?” Lady Louisa asked.
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“It is even better,” Miss Mary said. “The Duke of Rowland will be hosting it at Bassen Park. Aren’t private balls just wonderful? I have also heard that he has invited every fine family in three counties.”
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“Yes,” Lady Hendrickson said now turning to her youngest daughter, something she didn’t often do. “That means that not only will your sister have an opportunity to win over her match, but you too may find a Lord worth your while.”
* * *
“I can’t say that I need a chance to win over the Duke. I am sure I have already done so,” Miss Elisabeth said with a haughty air.
* * *
“If that were the case, my dear,” her mother retorted, “Then he wouldn’t be having the ball at all. Clearly, he is still looking, and you have not done enough to impress him.”
* * *
Miss Elisabeth sat down in a sulk. She was not accustomed to being chastened by her mother or being told that her charms were not working.
* * *
“We must order dresses right away,” Lady Hendrickson announced ignoring her daughter's pout. “And then there is the costume aspect of it that we must consider. I suspect most ladies with make themed costumes so we must begin to think of the same before we order the garments. I do hope that they will be ready, the ball is such short notice.”
* * *
“How short, Lady Hendrickson?” Lady Louisa asked still having not actually seen the invitation.
* * *
“Only two weeks.”
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“I am not sure if even Mrs. Esquire at the dress shop can complete three dresses in such time, especially since she will no doubt have many orders,” Miss Mary chimed in.
* * *
“That is a concern,” Lady Hendrickson said as she too sat and began to ponder the problem.
* * *
She absentmindedly fitted with a lace ribbon on her black dress as she considered the predicament. She certainly would not like to go in a gown worn in the past. No matter the cost, and the fact that the house was already short of funds, she would have her daughters shine that night.
* * *
Lady Hendrickson did feel she shone the most in this type of situations where the skill of mind must be put to use to solve problems in a unique way.
* * *
“Perhaps we could have her make us the basics of the garments and send them to us to embellish on our own. After all Lady Louis is so good at her sewing skills, there is no doubt that she could turn them out perfectly in time.”
* * *
“I would be happy to help, Lady Hendrickson. My only concern would be the time I have spent in the village helping the ill in Mrs. Vance’s place. I am not sure I will have much time for sewing.”
* * *
“Well then you will just stop going to the village, it is as simple as that,” Lady Hendrickson replied.
* * *
“I don’t mean to offend you, Lady Hendrickson,” Lady Louisa said as delicately as she could, “but I feel their needs far outweigh the needs of embellishing dresses for a dance.”
* * *
Miss Elisabeth scoffed at her words. She side glanced at her mother apparently looking for any chance to get back in her mother’s good graces.
* * *
Lady Hendrickson on the other had raised herself to her full seated height and narrowed her already small eyes on Lady Louisa.
* * *
“I did hope that having you here in my home, would be a great relief to me in such a time of need. I am sorry if that is an inconvenience to you. Though now that I look at the invitation,” she continued glancing over the parchment in her hand. “It is only addressed to Lady Hendrickson and her two daughters. Your name doesn’t seem to appear on it at all.”
* * *
“Of course I would be happy to take you as my guest, and sure the Duke would not mind such a thing, but I cannot fathom I will have the ability to entertain you as a guest if we cannot have our garments made in time.” Lady Louisa gave out a deep and long sigh. It was just the type of manipulation she greatly detested. She wondered if the ball was really worth going to for all of this. Yes, it was an exciting idea to go to a masquerade ball. It was less enticing to find out it was at the house of the Duke.
* * *
None the less, it was the excitement of the event and after all her whole main purpose of coming to her aunt was to help in any way that she could. So with great reserve, she agreed to focus all her attention on assisting the ladies as they prepared for the quickly approaching event. Perhaps if she were lucky she would also find a way to sneak to town and see her patients as well.
Chapter 20
The night of the masquerade ball finally came and not without its difficulties. Not only was the gown shopped fully booked with orders there seemed no way for new gowns to be made.
* * *
This, however, didn’t deter Lady Hendrickson. Instead, she bought bolts of fabric and insisted that Lady Louisa work tirelessly to create a new gown for each lady. Many late nights Lady Louisa stayed up working on the garments.
* * *
Though Miss Mary wouldn’t dare to do so in her mother’s presence, often after the others went to sleep, she too would stay by Lady Louisa’s side and work to create the garments. It was a good thing too, for Lady Louisa was sure she would have never finished three dresses otherwise.
* * *
During their quiet nights together Lady Louisa also learned many tidbits of information about her aunt. Not only was she choosing to live beyond her means it was also causing a problem for the two daughters. If Miss Elisabeth or Miss Mary were not to marry off well and quickly, they would be destitute within the year's end.
* * *
It was for this reason, and to be sure many others, that Miss Mary had kept her feelings about the Colonel a secret. Only when Lady Louisa brought up the matter, and after several minutes of denial, did Miss Mary admit that she did feel very fondly for the man and hoped he would ask her to marry him soon.
* * *
“I feel like such a deceiver,” Miss Mary said the night of the ball as they both got ready in Miss Mary’s room. “Colonel Jasper has no idea of my mother’s disapproval of him, or the fact that it is predominantly because she wishes me to marry a man that can take care of her acquired debt.”
* * *
“I know Colonel Jasper cares for you deeply as well. I don’t think it’s deceptive of you to keep your mother’s dislike from him. Certainly, he can already decipher her character. And of the debts, could the Colonel even help in such a situation?” Lady Louisa respo
nded as she handed some pearls to Bess who was stringing them in Miss Mary’s hair.