Page 19 of His Illegitimate Duchess
D uchess Sophie’s parents, the Sedgewicks, had gone to their Winchester estate for their mid-season respite, and all three of their daughters had joined them there.
Lady Isabella, of course, couldn’t bear being unentertained, so she used the last fox hunt of the season as an excuse to put together a house party.
The gentlemen would go hunting, the ladies would sketch, embroider, and walk the estate, and in the evenings they would all dance and play parlour games together.
Elizabeth had received letters from all three sisters and the mother inviting her to join them, and she immediately invited Lady Burnham for tea in order to ask her what one might expect from a four-night house party.
“I always feel more confident when I know what to expect, you know this of me by now,” she told her teacher nervously.
“I do,” the older woman smiled affectionately at her. “Let us start with what clothes you shall need.”
Elizabeth nodded, and Lady Burnham enumerated, “Informal dresses for morning, attire for receiving visitors, appropriate garments for outdoor activities and sports, formal dress for dinner, and dancing gowns.
I can go over the contents of your trunks with your maid when she makes a selection of what to pack, if that would ease your nerves? “
“It would!” Elizabeth brought her entwined hands to her chest before she remembered herself and dropped them into her lap, hiding any trace of excitement from her face.
Lady Burnham nodded approvingly.
“Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by the hostess and shown to your chambers, where you can see to your needs, change your dress, arrange your hair and the like. Those who travel without a maid or valet are usually assigned someone from the household to assist them during their stay. Those servants need to be given tokens of appreciation for their troubles, so be certain to bring enough coins for that.”
Elizabeth marvelled at all this new information.
“Breakfast is typically eaten without a set schedule, so whenever a guest rises, they may go and help themselves. Some days, the men might be up very early and eat before they head out for some shooting or hunting, and some days they might not get up before ten, especially if a card game kept them awake until dawn. During the day, men and women are most likely to enjoy different aspects of the estate and only spend time together in the evenings. If your hostess schedules an excursion for all the guests to enjoy together, you will be notified of it beforehand.”
“So, while the men hunt and shoot, what will we be doing?”
“In the morning, you might read, write letters, play music, embroider, so any sort of needlework, really. If the weather is agreeable, you might go for walks or rides, even play some outdoor games if the rest of them are so inclined.”
“I hope not,” Elizabeth said fearfully.
She didn’t know how to ride, and, although she was very good at most outdoor games, she often had trouble subduing her enthusiasm (and temper) as she played.
“If the weather prevents the men from hunting, they might play billiards, or everyone might play parlour games together. In my time, there was no midday meal, though now I hear that there is sometimes a small repast set out for those who wish to partake. Then there is, of course, tea, and a formal dinner.”
“Luckily, I already know how to behave at those,” Elizabeth smiled weakly.
She was both excited and apprehensive about the house party, and about all the people who might be there.
*
“That all sounds very expensive,” Mary mused that evening, as they sat in Elizabeth’s dressing room, selecting what to pack.
“Unbelievably so,” Elizabeth agreed. “The amount the Sedgewicks shall spend on food alone is probably more than enough to feed a person for a whole year. And still, the guests have to spend their coins as well!”
“Now that I’ve learned about these vails, I’m no longer opposed to house parties,” Mary grinned impishly, and Elizabeth laughed. “The York tan boots or the black ones?”
“Both,” Elizabeth responded without lifting her head, but she could feel Mary’s stare, so she eventually looked up.
“Two pairs of boots for four days? I shall be there to clean them if they get muddy, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“It’s not that.” Elizabeth suddenly felt strangely shy.
“You and I know more than anyone how many expenses a Season carries with it. We used to rent an entire home for our two families for ￡25, and now I keep a carriage for ￡100. And I spend that money because my brother wishes it, and I want him to be happy. Meanwhile, Elinor, who will be attending the party as well, has very limited funds. She is only able to stay in London due to cousins who are kind enough to bear some of the cost, but I’ve seen her attire, and I know she doesn’t have everything she will need at this party. ”
Mary grabbed hold of her hand.
“You’ve always been so kind, Lizzie,” she said in a shaky voice. “Let’s just pack two of everything, and you can always use me as an excuse, say that I packed too much.”
“What, accuse you of being a poor lady’s maid?”
“I shall gladly be your sacrificial lamb,” Mary said theatrically. “Elinor has a bigger bosom than you do, and a different colouring, so we must keep that in mind as we choose.”
“Thank you for reminding me of my inadequate bosom, Mary,” Elizabeth sighed, feigning affront, and got hit with a bonnet.
“Oh, shut up, with your perfect complexion. No bosom can make up for this face,” Mary waved a hand around her blemished cheeks.
“Oh, Mary.”
Lizzie was at a loss for words. Throughout the years, she’d offered all kinds of reassurances and compliments to her friend, but nothing changed the fact that Mary’s skin was her greatest insecurity.
“I don’t know what’s happening, it’s like these few weeks it’s worse than it’s ever been.”
“Shall we order more of the willow bark lotion?”
Mary looked away as she shook her head.
“It helped last time, didn’t it?” Lizzie insisted.
“It’s too expensive,” her friend protested.
Lizzie shook her head in disapproval, determined to send Mister Ed out for the lotion as soon as they were done packing.
*
The young women all travelled to Winchester together in Elizabeth’s carriage.
It was only mid-March, but the days were already pleasantly warm, so everyone’s spirits were high.
Lizzie was the only one bringing her lady’s maid.
It was most likely unnecessary for only four days, but Elizabeth needed a friend to help her feel more secure.
“Why, Lady Elizabeth, upon seeing your trunk, one might think you were moving to Winchester!” Amelia exclaimed when she saw it.
“Mary was nervous about our first house party, so I’m afraid she’s overpacked. I have two of everything I shall need, including footwear. Don’t hesitate to ask me if you’ve forgotten to pack anything we might end up needing,” Elizabeth said innocently, and Mary kept her gaze on the window.
When they arrived, Isabella and her mother greeted them at the door. They were shown to their spacious, bright rooms and encouraged to rest before dinner.
The cheerful young maid, whose name was Sarah, brought up a basin of warm water to the room. Elizabeth let the familiar smell of her lavender soap soothe her as she washed up.
Mary helped with her hair, unpacked her trunk, and laid out her dinner attire before retiring to the servant quarters to rest.
“You should stay here with me; no one would know.”
“I don’t want to give anyone a reason to utter a word against you. You know that some of them are just waiting for you to do something they consider low-bred.”
“I know,” Elizabeth sighed. “I shall hate sleeping alone in this big, unfamiliar room.”
“I know,” Mary said, squeezing her hand before getting up from the bed. “I shall come help you get ready for bed.”
The hostess had informed her that dinner would be served at seven.
At a quarter to, Elizabeth descended the stairs in her evening primrose gown, and was shown into the drawing room.
Several of the guests were already there, and Elizabeth exchanged greetings and pleasantries with everyone: Lady Isabella and Viscount Oakley, Lady Violet and the Marquess, Lady Amelia, and a young woman who looked vaguely familiar and was introduced as Lady Louisa, Viscount Oakley’s sister.
She looked almost afraid as she stood next to her brother’s vibrant wife, but then again, almost everyone faded into the background next to Isabella.
“Louisa is accompanying me to London after the party, so I hope you two shall be seeing each other a lot,” Isabella proclaimed enthusiastically.
Elizabeth gave Louisa what she hoped was an encouraging smile and made haste to introduce her to Amelia. The two young women were soon engaged in spirited conversation, and Isabella squeezed Lizzie’s hand gratefully.
“She is such a lovely girl, my Lou, but she hides so much of herself.”
“That is not always a bad thing,” Lizzie reminded her.
Shiny, bright people like Isabella sometimes forgot that it wasn’t some great misery to be different from them.
“I know, I know,” Isabella sighed. “I worry about her, that is all. I worry about some rake taking advantage of her na?veté and marrying her solely for her dowry.”
“She has friends to look after her well-being, has she not? And she seems like a girl who has good discernment.”
“Are any of us wise when it comes to love?” Isabella asked, not a trace of irony on her face.
Of course, she has the luxury of speaking of love , Elizabeth thought with a bitterness that surprised her.
She was spared from having to answer by the arrival of and introductions to the other guests: Miss Elinor, Lady Helena Grey ( She’s Earl Sinclair’s cousin , Isabella informed her in a whisper), a young man by the name of Mister Arthur Pratt, Colonel Harding, Lord George Slaymaker and his father’s heir, Nathaniel, styled Baron Waldegrave.