Chapter 1
London, England
Spring 1816
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Mrs. Ada Givens sat in the middle of the maroon and cream decorated parlor at Matron Manor, as she had been told it was called. She clutched her reticule in her lap and did her best not to fidget. She wasn’t quite sure why she was here. No, that was a lie. She was here at the behest of her best friend, Mrs. Margaret Hines, who had urged her to join this club. They called themselves the “Wicked Widows,” but Margaret had assured Ada there was nothing untoward about the friendships she had made during her stay there. Maggie had been Ada’s friend since they were in pinafores, so she had reluctantly agreed to sign an agreement and pay the quarterly membership dues. What Maggie had failed to tell her, was that she would have to endure a consultation with one of the council members to see if she would be a good fit with the society. Maggie knew how much Ada hated being a spectacle, especially when it came to critical examination. She’d dealt with enough of that following the death of her husband, Archie, two years before. But then, doctors and scientists alike failed to see how being struck by lightning had killed a young man, whereas a female who had suffered two stillbirths had managed to remain alive.
Unfortunately, her survival from that terrible accident hadn’t been without its consequences. She continued to struggle with various ailments of the brain, as the physician had so eloquently phrased her “episodes.” It was suggested that she never drive a carriage or ride a horse, because she could be struck at any time with disastrous consequences. As she got older, the symptoms would likely worsen.
Definitely something for her to look forward to.
Ada sighed just as the door opened and a lady came in. With rich, brown hair neatly coiled on her head, and striking green eyes the lady carried herself with calm assurance. Ada rose to her feet as the lady offered her a kind smile. “Mrs. Ada Givens?” At her confirmation, the lady said, “My name is Mrs. Claudine Grant. I’m here on behalf of Lady Wyndam and the rest of the council.” She waved a hand. “Please, sit.”
Ada did as she was told and waited patiently for the lady to conduct the interview. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, and her nerves were still taut, but Mrs. Grant quickly set her at ease with her polite and charming manner. She held a folder in her grasp and opened it now to read from the paper inside. “I see here that Mrs. Margaret Hines suggested you be considered for membership.” She glanced back at Ada. “What makes you think that you might be a good fit for the club?”
Ada carefully considered her answer, but in the end, she spoke truthfully. “I have no idea. Maggie mentioned the club to me, and I thought it sounded like a good way to pass the time.”
Mrs. Grant didn’t seem disapproving of her answer. She merely smiled. “The clock tends to grow tedious in the silence, does it not?”
Ada thought of the hours she’d spent staring at the first and second hand and wishing time would speed up or cease ticking altogether. “Indeed.”
“How long have you been a widow?”
“Just over two years.” She swallowed thickly. “He was a soldier in the war, but he didn’t die in battle. Instead, it wasn’t long after he returned when we had gone on a picnic to Hyde Park. A storm rolled in, and we took shelter beneath a tree. It turned out to be a deadly mistake.”
Mrs. Grant’s eyebrows rose slightly. “He was killed by lightning?”
“Yes.” This was the part Ada hated to reveal. It always made people ask a lot of questions and study her as they might an insect beneath a microscope. “Somehow I managed to live through it.”
However, instead of being judgmental, Mrs. Grant adopted an empathetic expression. “It must have been difficult for you to overcome such a sudden loss. Have you experienced any lasting effects? No doubt it affected you physically, as well as emotionally.”
Tears sprang to Ada’s eyes. It was the first time anyone had asked her how she was faring. “It can be trying at times, but I do my best. The doctors say I will have trouble the rest of my life. I certainly don’t want to give that heartache to anyone else. There’s just times that the loneliness creeps in. And with the problems I’ve had giving birth to a living child, I think it’s best that I remain alone. My husband left me with a generous allowance that, if I use wisely, will keep me settled for what is left of my days.”
She fell silent at the end of her tirade. It was the most she had ever revealed to another person, other than her friend, Maggie. But then, she supposed her rambling proved just how alone she had been feeling of late. It was the reason she had come here in the first place. If they rejected her application…
Mrs. Grant rose, and Ada did the same. Panic struck her in the middle of her chest, and she feared that this was the point she would be asked to leave. Instead, relief flooded her when the lady said, “On behalf of the council, I would like to welcome you to Matron Manor, Mrs. Givens. I think you would make a fine addition to our house.”
With shock still piercing her, Ada blurted, “You do?” She gave a self-conscious laugh and said, “I’m sorry, it’s just that most people are reluctant to spend much time in my presence after they learn what happened to me. I think they must believe I will start convulsing in the midst of our conversation.”
Mrs. Grant offered her a consolatory wink. “You will find that all the widows here have their own stories. It is not our place to condemn them but to offer a safe place of refuge. Would you care for a tour?”
Ada nodded, as words suddenly escaped her.
The first thing she had noticed when she walked into the sprawling manor was the grand staircase situated in the midst of the large foyer. But as they traversed it now, Ada took particular interest in the painting of five women with precedence at the top. “Those are handsome ladies.”
Mrs. Grant paused. “I agree.” She paused with a certain fondness in her eyes. “They are the original founding members of the Wicked Widows.” She slid a glance at Ada. “Of course, the title was invented in jest, but it stuck after a time.”
“I see.” As Ada passed the portrait, her gaze lingered. They all appeared to be confident women who were ready to conquer the world. She wondered if she would ever feel that way, but looking at those women made her believe it was possible.
About an hour later, Ada’s tour was concluded. She had met several of the women in residence and was impressed by their warm welcome. Her friend, Maggie, wasn’t there, unfortunately, but one of the women said she had gone to London for the day and would return later that evening. At least by then, perhaps Ada would be settled into her new residence. She still planned to maintain her townhouse in London and split her time between Matron Manor and the heart of the city. However, for someone who easily grew weary of the hustle and bustle, she was grateful to have a pleasant place in which to go. This membership would definitely be money well spent, especially if she made some additional friends who understood what it meant to love, followed by a terrible loss.
Walking Ada to the front door, Mrs. Grant said, “When should we expect you? I’ll make sure to have a room prepared for when you return.”
Ada considered that, and said, “I should like to come back tomorrow.”
Her hostess inclined her head. “Consider it done.”
