Page 5

Chapter four

Mother had an unusually bright countenance in the morning. She even hummed a tune between bites of toast. After these last few days of strain, twas a relief to see a modicum of joy about her. She continued to cast loving glances my way until she finally spoke.

“What if, my dear, there was quite another course of action for you?”

“Yes, Mother?” I scooped egg from the cup and plopped a bit onto my toast. “You mean instead of governess? Can’t imagine what you have in mind.

” I hadn’t the ability to go into any sort of trade.

I’d never actually sewn my own gowns. However, I had been taught to hem and stitch the finer things.

Embroider cushions and the like. “I might rather work with children, truly.”

“Yes…” her voice trailed off, and I wondered what she was thinking. It would be impertinent to ask. A dim smile lit her lips as she spread jam on her bread.

Poor Mother. She’d been thinking about my plight a great deal. “Tis a shame you can’t work at Lord and Lady Weatherington with us! But as Lady Weatherington stated, she refuses to place you in a position below your status.”

Below my status…I wondered if my status was something to consider. I suppose I was of the more useless sort. Born and bred a lady but suitable for little outside of replenishing the next generation of ladies with things ladies ought to know. My situation was laughable!

Had I been a farmer’s daughter, down on her luck, I’d be able to milk cows, make cheese, and who knows what else. Indeed, I felt quite out of any useful sphere. I wasn’t even marriageable because of my status. Who would desire the dreaded governess?

Lila arrived with a smile on her lips as she handed forth a bouquet—a clutch of crimson and white roses—a lavish expense considering the time of year.

The message caused my heart to stop.

Dear Miss Chilton,

I thank you for the honor of your acquaintance, the pleasurable dance, supper, and walk.

My mind is quite clear with steadfast purpose.

I owe it to you for suggesting such exercise.

Do not forget to take a shell from the beach with you so that you might still hear the ocean and remember its endless possibilities.

Safe travels,

Col. Nate Stewart

I wanted to bury my face in the beauty of those blossoms if only to hide the blush that rose to my face.

A few days passed of packing away personal belongings, sorting through items I might find useful in my new position, and the horrifying ordeal of watching strangers tour our home that they might find it suitable to rent.

The house took on a rather foreign appearance, what with family portraits taken down and some furnishings sold. I slogged through the days, putting on a brave front but weeping at night. The future swiftly became a reality.

I’d not known life without my family. Time ticked, and we were brief moments away from spending the rest of our lives apart. As it were, my dear Mama and Papa called me to them during tea. My favorite tarts were upon the platter, along with delectable olives and the like. Were we to have a party?

Mother poured tea. “Do you recall my thoughts the other morning, Cassandra?”

I nodded. “Yes.” They were as yet unfinished and unexplained.

“Well.” She handed me a hot cuppa. “It has come to your Father’s and my attention that there truly might be another path for you to take aside from being a governess.”

Another path? Unlikely. “But it’s all settled, isn’t it? In your reply to Lady Weatherington and Mrs. Seals?”

Father took a tart from the plate. “Not entirely.” He bit into the thick lemon filling.

“I don’t understand.”

Father finished his tart and dusted his fingers of the crumbs. “You were never meant to suffer, dearest. I made a terrible mistake, and I won’t stand by and see you endure the worst of it. No, indeed, I won’t!”

Mother’s lips pursed. “What your father means to say is that we—you—you’ve been offered a more permanent situation.” She allowed her statement to sink in.

“Permanent?” Even as I repeated the word, I knew what would come after.

Father smiled. “Marriage, my dear. Security!” He leaned forward. “Cassandra, the gentleman who offers for you has not only an upstanding reputation but a true desire to see you well-set.”

“What your father means to say—” Mother shot him a glance once again, “is that we’ve been made an offer for your marriage, and we agree. All that remains is for you to also agree.”

The olives and lemon tart sat like a stone in my stomach.

Mother scooted closer to me like old Lady Ridgeport about to share a tidbit of gossip.

“The gentleman in question is to raise a pair of young wards. You won’t believe it, but I’ve had a letter from my uncle, the vicar in Butterton.

The gentleman in question came to him seeking a potential match and he thought of you instantly! Isn’t that Providential?”

Providential? I was stunned. Marriage…to a stranger? Wards. Children.

Father cleared his throat and blinked rapidly. “My girl, I thought you’d be pleased.”

I licked my lips and tried to be interested. It was all so sudden. “This man—he needs a mother figure for his wards?”

“Desperately.” Mother put a hand on my back and rubbed.

“He plans to raise them himself as though belonging to him. I know you were always disappointed not to have siblings. More children about the place would have been a delight. In this way, as a wife, you will retain your status and respect. You will be not only provided for but cared for.”

I thought of the roses that hadn’t yet withered on my dressing table. “And what if we do not suit?”

“Alas—this has been considered, though from what my Uncle Harris says, he thinks you shall get along admirably. You will travel to Butterton to stay with him and his new wife to spend several days before Christmas. The gentleman and the children will be in attendance for the introduction. If you agree to the match,” Mother clapped her hands.

“Then you shall be married by Christmas Day. Uncle will officiate himself.”

Father placed a hand over his heart. “Think of it, dear—you’d be saving your old father his heavy guilt of making such a gross mistake.”

And perhaps loosening the noose that held a chokehold around his neck. “Father—you know I do not blame you.”

His brows rose, then fell. “I shall feel much better to see you settled with so honorable a man.”

Was honor better than love? Perhaps it was. He was willing to take Great Uncle Harris’ word of my character, though I hadn’t seen Uncle Harris for nearly a year.

“Our daughter is a romantic, John.” Mother heaped a plate full and put it into my hands. “Do eat, and do know that in the end, it’s God that puts people together. He is also a romantic, you see. I do believe a better kind of love will grow between you in time.”

I mindlessly popped an olive into my mouth.

Father shoved my teacup across the table towards me. “You are to go to Butterton, but the choice is yours. If, after the holiday, you find you cannot abide the man to marry him, well. We shall employ Lady Weatherington’s influence for a situation once more.”

Twas fair. More than fair. “Alright. I will go to Butterton.” I didn’t have to marry him if I didn’t desire it. I would truly like to see Uncle Harris again and meet his new wife.

I would have to entirely set aside my dreamy thoughts concerning Colonel Stewart. And the roses he’d sent.

“When do I leave?”

Mother and Father looked at each other before Mother spoke. “In but two days, dear.” They each took one of my hands. “I despise that we must spend Christmas apart. So, tomorrow, we shall have one last evening just us three together. We shall break out the Christmas pudding early for the occasion.”

In two days…time would fly in a blink.

That afternoon, Susan appeared much penitent for her abandonment of me during my final assembly dance.

“Cassandra! I was quite beset with gentlemen! I couldn’t turn about without being asked to dance or to take a turn about the room.” Her cheeks flushed with color.

“So I noticed.” I gave an encouraging smile, for that is what she wished for. My approval so that her guilt might be assuaged.

She lowered her head. “My brothers were indomitably rude—to abandon you as they did.”

No one corrected the slight. “It is alright, Susan. I didn’t expect my hand to be much desired.” However, I had expected some care for my evening as they were the ones who were generous enough to supply me with a gown and a ride.

Lila brought in the tea tray. I poured a cup for Susan and added cream.

We’d no more sugar nor coin to purchase such a sudden extravagance.

Father mentioned that we mightn’t like how sugar was procured if we knew of what the trade entailed.

High time we abandon its use, he’d muttered under his breath. I handed Susan her cup.

She sipped her tea and winced at the lack of sweetness. “When must you depart?”

“Wednesday morning, I’m told.”

Susan set the teacup down and threw her arms around me. “Life simply won’t be the same any longer.”

No. It certainly wouldn’t.