Prologue
March 1818 - London, England
A recent observation has captivated my attention.
It is the reemergence of Lady Blythe, formerly Claxton, widow, and former wife of Lieutenant John Clay. What I do know is that Lady Blythe fell in love and married Clay when she was only nine and ten and even though she was the eldest living daughter of the Duke of Arscott, she chose to follow the drum and remain by her husband’s side during the Peninsula War, despite the difficulties she must have endured and all because of devotion. However, when she lost her husband at Waterloo and returned to England, Lady Blythe took up residence with her brother, Lord Seth Claxton, and was rarely seen outside of his home. That is, until last year when I believe it was Lord Seth who convinced her to return to Society, or it was her matchmaking to see her brother wed that prompted her to step outside.
I am to understand that Lady Blythe did return to her father’s home for only a short time last autumn, the first visit since she left nearly seven years ago. However, she was not gone long before she once again returned to London to live in the home of her brother even though Lord Seth had chosen to retire to the country permanently with his new bride, the former Miss Frances Hawthorn.
I had wondered if Lady Blythe would once again become a recluse or if she would make more of an effort to join Society. The answer came when I observed her entering the Venetian Breakfast hosted by Lady Lavinia Teviot. Though, this should not be a surprise since the two did appear to become close last autumn after Lord Seth wed. Further, Lady Lavinia is formerly a Tilson and her brother also happens to be married to Lady Blythe’s cousin, therefore, they also share family.
I only began to reconsider the reasons for the Venetian Breakfast before the Season had even begun after I observed Lady Lavinia being escorted about by their family solicitor, Mr. Demetrius Valentine. Odder still, many of the guests were of a relation to Mr. Valentine. Besides the Valentines there were Tilsons and Claxtons aplenty with most of the gathering made up of the three families with the remaining guests being an eclectic group of individuals whose only connection was Athena’s Salon, which I very much enjoy attending.
I have digressed.
Yes, Lady Blythe’s attendance at the Venetian Breakfast should not be considered unusual other than I had wondered if she would shun Society once again. What was intriguing however was her reaction when she was introduced to Dr. Orlando Valentine. There was a wariness or surprise and it was certainly unexpected, which of course piqued my interest.
Dr. Valentine shares a medical practice with Dr. Xavier Sinclair and while both are known in Society, Dr. Valentine attends few balls as well, nor is he seen at many Societal events. Since I am often attending entertainments, several each week, I would have noted if those two had been at the same function previously, and I can assure you that they had not been, which begs the question: How do they know the other?
This was a meeting that took them both aback and I am convinced that they were not strangers first being introduced but the two shared a history.
I am certain that this will not be the last time that I will observe the two and I am quite anxious to see what might develop. But first I need to know when and how they first met and what became of what I am certain was an attachment for the other.
Observations of a Wallflower
Chapter One
May 16, 1815 – Brussels, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
Humiliation, the likes of which she had never experienced before, and hopefully never would again, engulfed Blythe’s entire being. It took everything not to cower, but to stand tall as her husband led her from the tent they had once shared toward the crowd of soldiers who had gathered near the stable yard where the cavalry kept their horses. If they were walking side by side, perhaps she might not have been as mortified, if John had not tied a rope around her waist, then looped it around her wrists, knotted it, then led her to the gathering as if she were his horse.
“This is your own fault,” John claimed. “Had you held up your part of the bargain, this would not be necessary.”
“Bargain? We had no bargain,” Blythe argued.
“It was assumed that when we wed that your father would provide me a life that I am entitled to.”
“You assumed!”
“Why else would I choose to court and marry you?” he demanded.
She had been such a fool to believe his honeyed words of love and succumbed to near ruination.
She should have listened to her father when he tried to discourage her from accepting John’s offer of marriage. He hadn’t cared what the gossips said and it was only the appearance of being ruined, not that she was. Besides, even if she had been, there were far worthier men to marry and who would overlook her indiscretion.
Blythe had not believed him and it also would not have mattered because she had been convinced that what she and John shared was a deep love—the type of which the poets wrote.
Blythe nearly snorted at how foolish and naive she’d been while her father had seen John for who he was.
Never again would she trust in her heart. Instead, she would be led by her mind.
“Do you truly believe that your life will be for the better when you do return to London?” John had to be mad if he thought there would be no repercussions from his actions this day. “My father will learn what you have done and it will not go well for you.”
Blythe comforted herself knowing that once word reached her family, she would not be surprised if her four older brothers found their way to Brussels to deal with John personally.
Well, maybe not Wesley, the oldest because he did have duties, but Seth, Cecil and Nevil would not let anything keep them from seeing John harmed, likely irreparably, by the time they were done.
“I will not be returning to London, or even England. Instead, I will use the funds I gain today, and what you brought to the marriage, and as soon as possible, sell my commission and leave this place.”
