Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
‘Have you seen Frank?’ I ask, going back to gazing at the woman reflected back at me, in her best dress made of the softest muslin, that is squeezing against her ribcage, making it tricky to breathe, and lace sleeves that are itching her skin. I inhale and push air out.
‘He is dressing,’ Mama says. ‘The carriage has arrived.’
‘Then I suppose we ought to be going.’ I walk to the door in even, determined strides and pull it open. Frank is coming out of his room, and he looks up at me. Then, quickly looks away, unable to face me.
‘You look beautiful,’ he murmurs, eyes low.
‘Thank you.’ Though all this effort is wasted on a man who will not appreciate the effort. Not because he is a bad man, of course, but because he does not love me. To feel bitter is probably unreasonable, and yet I cannot help it. I shake my head to myself for having such thoughts, for I never considered or desired to be loved by a man. Now? Now I am angrier than ever that I allowed myself to feel things and dream of things so far out of my reach. I have had a taste of the dream and that only makes reality harder to face. To lie with a man because I desire to and not because it is my duty. That thought brings me full circle back to now. My wedding day. And after the day, comes night. I have not received any kind of talk from my mother regarding what will be expected of me on this eve. Because she knows I have engaged in the act already, because I am certain Papa will have shared the shocking news with her. She is, for want of a better phrase, feigning ignorance of my transgressions. Not one person in this house can look me in the eye. Well, Clara can, but she is a fool in love with the stable boy. I hate that she, too, will face the horrors of reality as soon as she is launched into society, just as I have.
Frank rushes out and I take the stairs, pass Father outside his study, and leave the house, eyes forward, not wishing to see the hordes of Belmore residents who have come out to see the blushing bride.
‘You look beautiful, Eliza,’ Father says, joining me.
‘Thank you, Papa,’ I murmur, and he flinches, appearing to struggle with my acquiescence.
‘Eliza, I do not know wh––’
‘There’s no need,’ I say with a strong voice, walking on. ‘Let us get this over with,’ I brace myself to board the carriage, before I break out in a run and ruin everyone I love – my father, my mother, Frank, Clara… and the Duke. I wince, lifting my dress to step up.
‘Eliza!’
I freeze and every hair on my body stands up on end.
‘Eliza, wait!’
I look across the gardens and see Johnny running this way. What on earth?
‘Get down from that carriage,’ he orders, sounding out of breath. ‘Now, Eliza, I demand it.’ He comes to an abrupt halt and grabs my hand, pulling me down. ‘You are not getting married today.’
I feel all eyes on me. ‘What in God’s name are you doing?’ I ask. This is all very gallant, but, good heavens, is he determined to ruin us both? Johnny’s mouth falls open, ready to speak, but a carriage, travelling at quite an impressive and perilous speed, rounds the corner into the square, tilting precariously on two wheels.
I recognise the elaborately decorated carriage immediately, as does Father, who I would expect to appear alarmed but instead looks plain tired by the sight of the Lymington’s transport.
‘What took you so long?’ Papa says, looking to Johnny for an answer.
‘What’s going on?’ I murmur, frowning, noticing Johnny’s back visibly straightening, his chest, which is impressive under normal circumstance, puffing out farther, his eyes narrowing to slits as Lymington struggles down from his carriage, followed by Frederick.
‘It took longer than expected to find Porter’s wife,’ Johnny mutters.
‘Find me the constable!’ Lymington barks to no one in particular, pointing his stick at Johnny. ‘I want this man arrested!’
‘Wait,’ I cry, alarmed, stepping forward. ‘That was not part of the deal!’
‘Stand back, Eliza,’ Johnny warns, his arm coming out to restrain me. ‘I will deal with this.’
‘Deal with what, exactly?’ I ask, my eyes darting back and forth between the men. Short of circling each other, which I highly expect to begin soon, they may as well be foaming at the mouth like hungry lions.
‘Would you like to explain?’ Johnny asks Lymington. ‘Or would you prefer me to undertake that honour?’
‘Explain what?’ I ask.
‘About this,’ Frederick says, holding up a newspaper in his hand, waving it in the air for all to see, before he walks towards Johnny and passes it across to him and then joins me. ‘I think I will take your advice, Eliza,’ he says quietly.