Thus begins her protest, Gwen thought, slightly frustrated. "He is a good man, of humble means, but we are no better." When Beth wouldn't move, Gwen almost became angry. "Beth, stop acting as though you have been sent to the stakes. It is a marriage proposal, not a death declaration." At the least, she was getting marriage proposals, not lewd remarks, disgraceful suggestions and… and words to tease.Suddenly, Beth's hand grabbed her arm. "No I really can't! I_" The urgency in Beth's actions piqued Gwen's curiosity, and her shifty eyes prompted closer attention. What was afoot?Quickly, Beth set the basket down and rushed to shut the door, her movements betraying a sense of urgency. When she returned, she grasped Gwen's hands tightly and locked eyes with her, her expression fraught with uncertainty. "I cannot, Gwen." She confessed surely, her voice tinged with anxiety.Gwen's heart skipped a beat at the seriousness in her sister's tone. There was something great afoot, she realized, so
The truth, and the mere thought of its revelation filled Gwen with a sense of dread. There would be disaster. What if their father found out and, driven by a desire to protect the family name and salvage their reputation, demand that the Duke marry Beth? And what if the Duke refused, insisting that Beth was only a friend?What if, in a cruel twist of fate, he agreed to only make her his mistress, a fate all too common for women of their family's economic state? Gwen felt a terrible headache.And worst still, what if Beth turned out pregnant? There were so many destructions for the little time her sister claimed to have spent with the Duke, and there was so much to repay if things were ever to go wrong. This was not what she had prayed for. It was not what she had hoped to happen between them. This was so far away from what she had wished.Beth's gentle touch on Gwen's ear, a simple gesture of tenderness amidst the turmoil, belied the gravity of her words. "It has ended." She declared,
***"Aunt Marrily, would you please? Enough with the crying." Gwen chided her Aunt as they stood on the stairs, watching the wedding carriage ride out into the sunset. Everyone had come out to watch and wave, bidding farewell as the newly-weds departed, leaving for their honeymoon. They intended to spend some weeks in London, before leaving for their new home. "She is still your daughter, she has only gotten married."Aunt Marrily sniffled. "I cannot believe it, my little girl, married and off to raise a family of her own." She sniffled again."It is what you have always prayed for." Gwen interjected."It is not always as easy, dear." She wiped her cheeks with her handkerchief. "Lucy now has a household to command. Can you believe it, Victoria?"Her mother was teary-eyed too. "At least yours is eager to start her family. Beth wants nothing to do with marriage."Aunt Marrily tapped lightly on her mother's shoulder. "That is not true. Did you not say she stayed behind because of the pro
February 1827Alexander walked out of the main castle doors, flanked by his brother, who insisted on joining him for some target shot. As it was a fine day and with most of the duties of the court finished, he proceeded to award himself an outing. Craving solitude and sport, he had asked Edmund to have a shooting area prepared, little did he know that his brother would insist on attending too.All had since returned to a nuance of normalcy since they returned from their attack on the pirates of the west seas. As he had appointed, Carlisle had taken the responsibilities to see the plunder awarded rightly and put to good use.The artificial shade had been set up and the servants were ready, waiting for him. they bowed as he and Brand approached, taking their jackets. His brother helped himself to a cup of water. "Shall we compete and see who is the better shot?" Alexander asked, checking the rifle he had been given.Replacing the cup on the table, Brand collected a rifle too. "Is it nec
His brother obliged the manservant. Biting into a scone, he asked. "What if after some time has passed and you no longer want her? Would you put her away or take another?"Silence. Alexander had for long refused to confront that question and the possibility of it coming to pass. He would admit, it was uncanny and quite disturbing the attraction he had for Guinevere, and the power she had on him. Women were no problem to him and forgetting them was even easier, but not Guinevere. She was not of the standards of women he had had, but that day, she had walked into his courtroom and into his mind."Alexander, what would you do then?" Brand reiterated, pressing on him. He did not know the answer, but he was sure of one thing, he would never become like their father."I would search for something else that I will want."What did he even want now? There was no guarantee that he wanted something now, or that he would want something later. What did he truly want from Guinevere? Captivating as
Gwen plucked the other clothings from the line and heaved them into the basket, then supporting the weight with her hips, she entered the house.Mrs. Grace was waiting for her. "Mrs. Grace?" She gasped, startled. "Why are you in the kitchen?"The older woman was smiling. "Your father is calling for you." She collected the basket. "Go to him. He is in the Marble Room."The Marble Room? "Is it something of great concern?""I should think not. Rather something of great joy."Her eyebrows hitched. "Would you be kind enough to share?"Mrs. Grace dropped the basket by the door. "A rider came in earlier, asking for your father, and asking for you." She took Gwen's hands, her eyes twinkling. "I believe it is your admirer. It seems he has finally come to reveal himself."Gwen's heart skipped a beat at the news, a mix of excitement and apprehension swirling within her. Her father calling for her, the mention of the Marble Room, and the revelation of the caller left her mind racing with possibil
It read: Radclyffe Fitzgerald, I am in dire need of a lady in waiting and is requesting the services of your youngest daughter, Guinevere Fitzgerald to fill that position. She is to come to the castle in a fortnight to resume her duties and you are to be in escort to ensure her safe arrival. King Alexander. As the words of the king's missive filled the room, a hush descended over them, the gravity of the message sinking in with each passing moment, his request hanging heavily in the air. As each word of the king's message pierced the air, Gwen felt a stabbing pain shoot through her stomach, like a series of knives twisting and turning within her. Rather than unravel, the knot that had beforehand taken root, tightened further, constricting her with a suffocating grip. "This could not possibly be true, could it?" Her mother asked, collapsing into a chair. "Oh Radclyffe, what is this? Why would the king ask her to come be his lady in waiting?" "What happened when you visited the
Gwen remained by the wall outside the Marble Room, listening to her parents bawling, blaming each other when truly she was the one at fault. She peeped through the door and saw them seated together in a close embrace.They had lost what little comfort they had when they chose to keep her as their child, and now what little dignity they had managed to keep would soon be destroyed because of her. The king had called her his friend, how could he do this to her, and her family?As she watched the pain etched upon their faces, Gwen felt a surge of determination rise within her. She knew that she could not undo the past, but she refused to allow her family to suffer any further because of her.With guilt and desperation heavy on her heart, Gwen ran to her room and settled down at the desk. Her hands shaking with emotion, she grasped a quill and parchment to scribble a letter to her sister.Perhaps Beth could offer guidance or assistance. With her sister's wisdom and resourcefulness, and Lor