“It is not your fault and you know it. Do not let it vex you. I am certain your Father will find a husband for you soon and then Catherine can have the most glorious of coming-out balls and be wed in no time at all.”
Rowena sighed. She knew that the only reason her parents had held off on giving Catherine a coming-out ball was because they had yet to find a husband for Rowena. While having both daughters out at the same time was not uncommon, it was unseemly.
“I can only hope. I still feel ever so terrible about what happened with Lord Mortimer.” She shuddered at the memory. The year prior, her father had attempted to make a match for her with Louis Forbes, the Marquess of Mortimer. She had met the young man on several occasions, always properly chaperoned by her mother and found him as tolerable as one could hope for in a match. She’d expected that an offer of marriage would be made in no time at all.
In fact, her parents had been so confident that an offer would be made, plans were drawn up for a summer wedding as well as a coming-out ball for Catherine that fall, who’d been ecstatic at the idea.
And then the unthinkable had happened. Lord Mortimer had run off with his secret lover, the daughter of a local butcher, and wed her at Gretna Green. Utterly devastated by the events, Lady Hazelshire had taken to her bed for a week, and Catherine had cried until her eyes were puffy and red, and Rowena…well. She had done what she’d been raised to do. Kept her composure. While her mother and sister had fallen into despair at their respective disappointments, Rowena had carried on as always.
“Faith, don’t waste another thought on that scoundrel Mortimer. You’ll see, soon enough you will have a new match and Catherine will have a ball. And I, God willing, will have a suitable position.”
Rowena frowned. “Have you got any prospects?”
Her friend shrugged. “Lady Hazelshire is going to take me along on her morning calls when we get to London to introduce me to some of the families that might be in need of a governess.”
Rowena sighed heavily. “I shall miss you ever so much, Betsy.”
Her friend shook her head. “Don’t fret. I won’t go far. You all are as close to a family as I have. I’d never want to leave you. Well,” she winked, “unless a handsome young merchant asks for my hand in marriage. Then I might be inspired to go wherever he wants to take me.”
She swayed a little as she walked, and Rowena found herself pushing away a slight ping of envy.
Sometimes I wish I had the freedom to wed a man I choose, like Betsy.
She pushed the thought away, reminding herself of all the blessings she had in her life and of all the hardships Betsy had gone though. If Betsy could find a man who loved her and gave her a comfortable life, Rowena would be happy for her. There were few people who deserved happiness more than Betsy.
“Shall we return to the house?” Betsy asked after they’d walked for a while in silence.
Rowena nodded, “Perhaps we should. I have much packing yet to do. I dare say, Mama went a little over the top with her purchases.”
Betsy laughed out loud. “She does love fashion. I will say, I was surprised she took Lady Dorset with her to Paris and not you or Catherine.”
Rowena shrugged. “I expect she is trying to make nice with Margaret, since she will be the Countess of Hazelshire one day, when Charles inherits the title.”
Betsy shook her head. “I dare say I don’t–“She got no farther for up ahead, Catherine sprinted their way, running so fast she had to hold on to her bonnet to keep it from flying off her head.
“Rowena! Betsy! A messenger has come, a messenger!” She reached them, totally out of breath and bent forward, pushing her hands on her knees. In her hand she held a letter. Rowena recognized the broken wax seal at once as that of her father. She swallowed. Why would he be sending a messenger all the way to Herfortshire when they were going to be in London in less than a week?
“What is it, Lady Catherine?” Betsy asked, anxiety in her voice.
Catherine straightened and took a deep breath and then broke into a grin so wide it lit up her entire face.
“I am to have a ball. A coming-out ball! It is true. Papa has rented out the Worcester Ballroom for it and he will invite all the finest lords and ladies. It will be in a month’s time. Can you imagine? The Worcester Ballroom? It is glorious. And to receive such news on the day of Princess Charlotte’s wedding makes it all the more wonderful.”
She swayed back and forth, clutching the letter to her chest.
Rowena felt Betsy’s eyes on her before she even looked at her. When their eyes met, she could see that her friend knew what this meant just as much as Rowena did.
She steadied herself and then addressed her sister, who was swallowed up in a cloud of elation.
“Was there a letter for me as well?”
“What?” Catherine stopped swaying and looked up as if woken from a dream. Then she nodded. “There was. I am ever so sorry, I forgot. I was so excited about my ball.” She reached into her reticule and retrieved a sealed letter which was now somewhat crumpled from its journey inside Catherine’s bag.
She handed it to Rowena. As she took it, she suddenly realizing her hand was shaking. Forcing her hand to steady itself, she took a deep breath and broke the seal. She began to read the letter she knew would change her life forever.
Chapter 3
Christopher sat at the breakfast table, a steaming cup of hot chocolate growing cold before him. He held a beautiful golden necklace in his hand. Its long chain danced and twisted as he held it up to the morning light. The small pendant at the bottom caught the sunrays and sparkled. He’d found it on the ground after he and Thorpe had finally chased off the attackers two days prior.
