“Sit, please,” he then added, giving her a smile.
“Do not smile at her.”
“She is my daughter, wife. I can surely smile at her.”
“Liberty, you were seen playing chess with your glasses on!” her mother shrieked with more force than necessary, as she was seated close enough to hear should she wish to whisper. “How could you make a spectacle of yourself like that where anyone could have seen you… and did!”
“Most people would be proud of what I achieved by beating Mr. Hasslebach who has yet to be beaten in his tournament,” Liberty said.
“Proud! You wore your glasses in public, and played chess… with men!” her mother shrieked.
“And won.”
“And that is supposed to appease me?”
The shrill tone made her wince. “I’m quite sure I don’t know whatto do with you. Perhaps you could step in, my lord?”
“Liberty, we only wish for what is best for you, and your mother thinks what you are doing is not that. Personally, I’m happy you beat that Hasslebach. He’s been lording it over everyone at the chess club for—”
“Happy?” his wife demanded. “Your daughter embarrassed herself and us. I want you to censure her. It will be a miracle if all of society doesn’t find out. Marrying her off is hard enough, but—”
“Yes, well, thank you for reminding me I’m not up to society’s high standards, Mother. At least I can rely on you, my own parent, to ensure I know my limitations.”
“Liberty—”
“Perhaps, for once in your life, you could accept me as I am, like you do Edward,” she interrupted her mother. “But of course he’s your son, so he can do whatever he wishes,” she added bitterly.
She’d fought hard to be everything her parents wanted her to be when in society, but it was exhausting, and clearly, she failed.
“We are not discussing Edward, Liberty. I forbid you to wear your glasses again in public.”
“Calm down,” her father said.
“I have a headache every night,” Liberty said. “I can’t see where I walk, or read anything. I have tripped over so many things I am now thought of as clumsy. Is this what you wish for me, your daughter, Mother?”
“I wish for you to be married!” her mother shrieked.
“And the cost doesn’t matter?” Liberty said, all fight leaving her. She was suddenly tired of all of this.
“What cost? You are a duke’s daughter and live in luxury,” her mother demanded.
“That will do,” her father said.
“And because I have all of that I am therefore happy, and expected to wed a man whom I have no wish to spend the rest of my life with?” Liberty asked.
“What man?” her mother demanded. “From where I am standing, no one is offering for you, and considering—”
“Enough!” Her father cut his wife off.
Liberty rose from her chair and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
*
After a fewhours spent in her room, with her door locked, Liberty climbed into the Talbot carriage that was to take her to book club. Her mother awaited her inside. They then spent the journey in strained silence.
Relieved when they arrived, Liberty stepped down first, and entered the townhouse leaving her mother to follow, or not, as was her wish.
They were greeted with sweet, faintly musky smelling kisses on the cheek by the three women who lived here, after being escorted through a house with more furniture than required, and each delicate side table or cabinet full of figurines and topped with vases of flowers.
