Page 3 of Convincing Marianne (The Widows of Lavender Cottage #2)

Chapter Three

M arianne had expected tea and polite conversation when Lady Joanna invited her to meet "a few local ladies." She had not expected to find herself in the most intriguing drawing room she'd ever encountered, surrounded by women who seemed to radiate purpose and barely contained energy.

"Lady Marianne," Lady Joanna announced with evident satisfaction, "allow me to present the Secret Society of Young Widows."

The assembled ladies looked nothing like any widow's circle Marianne had ever imagined. There was nothing subdued or resigned about any of them.

"Charlotte Pemberton," said a vivacious woman with dancing eyes and the sort of expressive gestures that suggested a natural flair for drama.

"Though I've recently been known in various circles as Lady Smalling, the tragically widowed countess with dangerous government secrets.

" She winked conspiratorially. "Quite an exhausting role, but tremendous fun. "

Marianne blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

"Charlotte is our actress," Lady Joanna explained smoothly. "She has a talent for... theatrical enterprises."

"Lady Margaret Thornfield," introduced a practical-looking woman with keen eyes and ink stains on her fingers. "I handle logistics and financial matters. Also occasional impersonation of wealthy widows seeking property investments, though that's more of a hobby."

"Miss Caroline Fairfax," said a gentle woman with a serene expression that somehow managed to look both pious and mischievous. "I coordinate our charitable connections and sometimes play deeply religious widows on spiritual pilgrimages. The Lord forgives dramatic license in service of good works."

"Lady Victoria Ashworth," announced the final member with a sweep of her fashionable sleeve.

"Social connections and high-society infiltration.

I recently caused quite a stir in London as a mysterious widow with government secrets and three marriage proposals.

" She laughed merrily. "I turned them all down, naturally.

One can't marry someone one met while impersonating someone else entirely. "

Marianne sank into her chair, feeling rather as if she'd stumbled into the middle of a very sophisticated theatrical production. "I'm beginning to suspect you ladies are not a typical widows' support circle."

"Oh, we support each other tremendously," Lady Joanna assured her. "We simply do it while supporting others as well. Which brings us to why we invited you here today."

She moved to a small writing desk and retrieved a leather portfolio, which she placed reverently on the tea table. "Ladies, shall we share our project with Lady Marianne?"

The change in the room was immediate. The playful energy focused into something deeper, more serious, though no less passionate.

"We're planning a festival," Charlotte began, her dramatic flair now channeled into genuine enthusiasm. "The grandest Somerset has ever seen."

"To raise funds," Margaret continued with business-like precision, "for a cause that's desperately needed but rarely acknowledged."

"A foundling orphanage," Caroline said softly, her gentle voice carrying unexpected resolve. "For babies born out of wedlock, abandoned because their mothers have no one to help them."

"Children who deserve love and care regardless of the circumstances of their birth," Victoria added, her society polish revealing the passionate advocate beneath.

Marianne felt something shift inside her chest—a recognition, a resonance she hadn't expected. "A foundling orphanage," she repeated slowly.

"The existing institutions are overcrowded and underfunded," Lady Joanna explained, opening the portfolio to reveal detailed plans, sketches, and columns of figures.

"We want to create something different. A place where these children aren't treated as shameful secrets but as precious lives deserving of every opportunity. "

Marianne leaned forward, studying the papers. The plans were comprehensive—not just for a building, but for a complete system of care. Education, trades training, placement with families, ongoing support for the children as they grew.

"How long have you been planning this?" she asked.

"Two years," Margaret replied. "We've been raising funds quietly, purchasing property, making connections. But we need something significant to push us over the edge—enough money to begin construction and establish our endowment."

"Hence the festival," Charlotte added. "A celebration that will draw people from across the county, with entertainment, goods for sale, competitions, demonstrations?—"

"And information," Caroline interrupted gently. "Because many people have never considered that these children exist, much less that they deserve our help."

Marianne found herself thinking of her own situation—judged by society for choices that harmed no one, living unconventionally because it brought her joy. How much worse must it be for women with no choices at all, and for the innocent children who paid the price for society's moral rigidity?

"What would you need from me?" she asked, though she already knew her answer.

The Widows exchanged glances, and Lady Joanna smiled.

"Lavender Cottage sits perfectly positioned between the village common and Lord Alton's estate, and the cottage grounds would provide ideal coordination space for some parts of the festival, the things that won’t fit right in the common.

But more than that..." She paused meaningfully.

"We need someone with your particular talents. "

"My talents?"

"We’ve heard you manage chaos beautifully," Margaret said with admiration. "Do you have any idea how complicated it is to coordinate a county-wide festival? We need someone who can juggle a dozen moving pieces without losing her composure."

"You're not intimidated by unconventional situations," Victoria added. "Half the county will think our cause is scandalous. We need someone who doesn't care what society thinks when she knows she's doing right."

"And you understand what it means to be judged unfairly," Caroline said gently. "Those mothers, those children—they need advocates who know that worth isn't determined by others' opinions."

Marianne felt tears prick her eyes unexpectedly. When had anyone ever suggested that her chaos management skills or her perhaps unorthodox thoughts were talents rather than character flaws? When had her unconventional choices been seen as strengths rather than failings?

"You don't know me very well," she managed. "I might be terrible at this."

"Nonsense," Lady Joanna said briskly. "You've managed to create a functioning household that includes peacocks and goats.

You've defended your choices against family pressure and social disapproval.

You've built relationships with everyone from village vicars to stubborn neighbors.

" She leaned forward intently. "You're exactly what this project needs. "

Charlotte reached over and squeezed Marianne's hand. "Besides, we're all making it up as we go along. That's rather the point of being independent widows—we get to decide what our lives mean."

Marianne looked around the room at these remarkable women who had somehow found each other and decided to change the world one foundling at a time.

She thought of her daily routine—feeding animals, avoiding suitors, managing household crises—and realized how small her life had become despite its constant motion.

"What if we could change things?" she said slowly. "What if we could actually make a difference for these children?"

"Oh, my dear," Lady Joanna said with satisfaction. "We're going to do much more than that. We're going to prove that a group of determined widows can accomplish anything they set their minds to."

Margaret was already reaching for her planning notes. "The festival is set for six weeks from today. We need to coordinate vendors, entertainment, publicity across three counties..."

"I have connections with every major family within fifty miles," Victoria added. "We can ensure proper attendance from those with deep pockets."

"The local churches will help spread word," Caroline said. "Once they understand this is about protecting innocent children, most will overcome their reservations about the circumstances of birth."

"And I can create enough spectacle to ensure no one forgets this festival," Charlotte declared. "We'll have them talking about it for years."

Marianne felt a familiar flutter of excitement in her stomach—the same feeling she'd had as a child when presented with a new adventure. But this was different. This wasn't just excitement; it was purpose.

"When do we start?" she asked.

Lady Joanna's smile was triumphant. "We already have. Welcome to the Somerset Widows, Lady Marianne. I have a feeling you're going to fit right in."

As the women launched into detailed planning, with papers spreading across the table and voices overlapping in enthusiastic discussion, Marianne realized she was seeing her future unfold.

Not the future of managing daily chaos while avoiding unwanted suitors, but a future where her energy and unconventional thinking could serve something greater than herself.

For the first time since Charles's death, she felt truly alive.

And if the project happened to require close cooperation with a certain stubborn neighbor who also owned the perfect grounds for festival overflow... well, that was simply a practical consideration.

Nothing more.

Wellington chose that moment to trot into the drawing room, having apparently followed her scent from home, and immediately made himself comfortable on Lady Victoria's silk skirts.

"Oh," Marianne said, mortified. "I'm so sorry, he must have?—"

"How lovely!" Victoria exclaimed, scratching behind Wellington's ears. "I was wondering when we'd meet your famous menagerie. Charlotte, didn't you say we needed animal entertainment for the children's section of the festival?"

And just like that, even Wellington had found his purpose.

Some days, Marianne reflected as the planning session continued around her, everything simply fell into place exactly as it should.

As they were winding to a close and Marianne felt very much like a good book and a coze in her own cottage, Lady Joanna approached her. “You have an interesting neighbor in Lord Alton.” Her lips twitched as though holding back a smile.

“Do I?” Lady Marianne laughed. “He seems pleasant enough, though of a much more uninteresting grey jacket variety?” She raised her eyebrows, wondering if there was more to the man.

Lady Joanna smiled as if she knew so much more than she was about to say. “I suspect he’s much more interesting than he at first appears to be.”

Marianne considered her. She didn’t seem to have any purpose other than to explain the neighbors. “We might be working together a bit more as our properties will be so useful to the festival. Perhaps we should include him?” She watched Lady Joanna who inclined her head in agreement.

“I shall enjoy hearing of your interactions.” Lady Joanna leaned forward and kissed her cheeks. “You will fit right in here my dear, and we are pleased to have you.”

Lady Marianne hoped she would fit right in, as Lady Joanna so boldly suggested. Time would tell. And in the meantime, she had a festival to help plan.