Chapter
One
London, England, December 1817
* * *
“I will not be joining you in Kent,” Lady Lavinia Stewart, Marchioness of Teviot, a widow, announced from the center of the grand staircase. Her younger sisters and brother stopped in the process of putting on their winter outer clothing and gaped at her from the entry. The four of them had just spent days traveling from Clarington Abbey, their home in Westmorland, and had stopped in London to sleep in their townhouse for two nights before continuing to their destination to spend the Christmas holiday with their family.
“What do you mean?” Augustus demanded as if he had authority over her. He may be the only male in their company but he was also five years younger and Lavinia made her own decisions.
“Exactly what I said,” she answered. “I intend to spend the holiday very much alone.”
“But it is Christmas,” Sabina, the youngest of her sisters, reminded Lavinia.
“I am well aware, but that should not require my presence.”
Aurora, the next to the youngest, stared at her. “Everyone will be there. Everyone! It promises to be a grand celebration and house party.”
“A house party that includes our siblings as well as the family our sister married into,” Sabina cried as if she could not imagine missing such a celebration. “Even our aunts, Ladies Priscilla, Joanna and Esther will be present. Certainly, you wish to see them.”
“I would like very much to visit with them,” Lavinia admitted. “However, I can do so at any time and since there will be so many people underfoot it is unlikely there will be an opportunity to have a quiet conversation.”
“Please, Lavinia,” Sabina begged. “We need you there.”
“You will do fine without me.”
“Yes, but…”
Lavinia held up her hand to stop Augustus from voicing whatever objection he wished to impart. He was likely afraid that he’d be put in charge to make certain that his younger sisters did not get up to mischief, thus ruining what enjoyments he may have planned for himself and Lavinia simply did not care. “I want to spend a quiet Christmas by myself. Now go so that you arrive at Sessile Court in time for the holiday festivities.” She then turned and marched back up the stairs to make it clear that she would no longer discuss the matter. Lavinia only stopped when she was out of sight and listened to make certain that her younger siblings did leave and continued their journey. When she finally heard the front door open and close, Lavinia stepped to a window and peeked out through the crimson curtains and observed while Augustus held the carriage door for Aurora and Sabina. Each looked back at the house with concern before they entered the carriage and then they were gone.
Finally, she was alone. Well, except for the servants who huddled and worried. As she would be remaining in London, they probably feared that their Christmas holiday, one that they likely hoped to enjoy with their families, might be ruined. That certainly was not her intention, especially since she was quite capable of taking care of herself.
Her decision to spend Christmas alone had not been made suddenly. The idea had simply occurred to her as they began their journey from their home in Westmorland and, at first, she dismissed such a possibility but with each turn of the carriage wheels the need to be alone grew until Lavinia had been quite settled on her decision by the time they arrived in London. After all, she had been discontent for months and did not want to be part of a large family gathering and pretend to be happy when she was not.
She was not certain what she wanted, but it was not to be bound to yet another husband until one of them kicked up their toes. Such made for a long, unpleasant and tedious life.
Besides, she had already done her duty. Well, except, there had been no children, and now she was a widow, rejected by her husband’s family and returned home for her brother to support. Her responsibility was now guiding and chaperoning her younger sisters and overseeing Leopold’s household because he had not yet bothered to marry. She also had been acting part secretary and household steward because her brother had sacked the incumbents for embezzling funds. As Leopold no longer trusted anyone, he was happy to have Lavinia fill these positions. The only person he trusted to consult with and arrange contracts and such was the family solicitor, Mr. Demetrius Valentine.
It was really a shame that Valentine was such a rake and of questionable moral character, for his intelligence was impressive, and she genuinely liked him
Turning from the window, Lavinia gathered her pelisse and bonnet, then requested the small carriage that Leopold kept in London be brought around so that she could visit Matron Manor. Mrs. Blythe Clay, a widow who recently joined the Wicked Widows’ League, was expecting her for tea, not that anyone knew there was such a league. Further, Lavinia certainly was not wicked but she was glad to have found friendship and to be part of a group of women who were widows such as she.
“I thought you were traveling to visit family for Christmas,” Blythe said after they had settled into the parlor of Matron Manor and had tea delivered.
“I changed my mind and sent the others on without me.”
Blythe’s eyes widened in surprise. “Why?”
Lavinia sighed. “I am simply dissatisfied with my life. I want something else, or more, but as I do not know what that is, I am not certain what to do. I only know that the answer cannot be found while surrounded by family so I took the opportunity to be away from them when they are least likely to need my presence.”
“Have you considered remarrying?”
“Heavens, no!” Lavinia answered emphatically and without even pausing to consider the question. “I had a husband and I do not want another. Further, I already run a household and supervise my younger siblings so marriage would change nothing except I would have a duty to perform that I thankfully no longer need to endure.”
Blythe frowned and tilted her head. “What duty would that be?”
Lavinia’s face heated, but if she could not be honest with Blythe and within the walls of Matron Manor, then who could she confide in? “The duty that often brings about an heir.”
