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The air was fresh as a gentle breeze swept across the lush green pastures of a sought-after estate in the county of Somerset. The staff had been busy preparing for a very important visit by two young people, who were arranged to be wed. They were to finally meet, after many months of negotiations between their respective parents.
The atmosphere at Woodlock Manor was bustling as the help prepared. The maidservants served a delicious breakfast on the terrace, the manservants ensured the grounds were in pristine condition. Merriment and excitement were in the air.
However, in the east wing of Woodlock Manor, submerged nearly entirely in warm water, Kitty did not share in the excitement.
Of course, she would not openly admit it in front of the two young maids, who were washing her long, black hair. The sweet aroma of flowers allowed her to drift into a surreal wonderland where there was no need for her to jeopardize her beliefs for a man.
But it was, indeed, a very real world, as she was fully aware. Her mother, Lady Dunne, the Countess of Dunne, had prepared her only daughter for this exclusive gala, as she ceremoniously referred to it, and proceeded to compliment her daughter’s suitor as a man of integrity and outstanding reputation.
He was considered one of the most eligible bachelors in the county—if not the country—and his wealth far exceeded most of the other eligible men. This was the sole reason Lady Dunn and her husband, the Earl of Dunn, had desired that James of Somerset wed their daughter.
Despite the earl’s formidable reputation, their family was on the verge of bankruptcy, as the earl’s business partner had embezzled a great deal of money from their business venture, leaving Lord Dunne to stand among the ruins as they fell down around him.
Arranging a marriage between their daughter and James of Somerset would ensure their financial survival and rescue their family from a life of poverty.
Of course Kitty was well aware of the situation, but it most certainly did not stop her from expressing her distaste for the arrangement itself. Despite not having ever met James, and the fact that she was in no position to judge him or despise him, she was, however, not impressed with the depths to which her parents had stooped.
Arranged marriages were archaic to Kitty’s way of thinking, but unfortunately, there was not much she could do regarding the situation. Plans had been made, and her family had travelled to Woodlock Manor to meet with James.
The bedchambers were far more luxurious than she had ever seen, with light rose inlaid wallpaper and gold trim. The furniture was constructed of solid cherry wood, and three large windows provided a panoramic view of the meadows. It was certainly a comfortable and luxurious lifestyle in which she had now found herself, but no amount of extravagance in the entire world would make her wish this of her own accord.
“There you are, my lady,” the maidservant said in a soft voice, and Kitty glanced at her rather than the sunlight that danced through the drapes.
“Oh, do make haste, child,” Lady Dunne, who had been sitting quietly on a chaise near the window throughout the duration of Kitty’s bath, said. “There is still much to do.”
Kitty rose to her feet while the maidservants wrapped her in soft muslin as she stepped out of the bath. The warm air inside the bedchamber allowed a comfortable transition from the heat of the bath to where she would now be dressed for her breakfast with James.
The young maids worked gently and diligently as they first dried Kitty’s tresses with a cloth, and afterward dressed Kitty in her inner-wear, the soft fabric skimming her skin. It caused her to shiver, but it was purely out of anticipation, not excitement.
Kitty was aware this was the only way in which her family’s financial survival would be ensured, and she most certainly did not wish for her mother and father to be punished for something that was entirely out of their hands.
The servants slipped a lovely, pale blue day dress over her head and assisted her in straightening it out, then tying it at the back. She caught sight of her reflection in the mirror and a small smile brightened her visage.
She had not expected to enjoy any of this ridiculous preparation, but she had to admit, the dress was perfection. The colour suited her skin perfectly and the style accentuated the curves of her body. She was not as petite as most young women her age, but her curvy body apparently made her even more sought-after.
Her mother, of course, disagreed.
“It is a good thing you have been blessed with a striking face, my dear child,” Lady Dunne pointed out nonchalantly, as she had done from time to time, which annoyed Kitty to no end. She was convinced her mother did not approve of her body because she enjoyed being out of doors. Even more appalling, at least according to her mother, was her love of horses.
Kitty had been interested in the amazing creatures since she was a young child, and had ridden her first mare when she was a mere five years of age. Her father had taught her to ride, which annoyed the countess to no end.
In the countess’ opinion, it was not proper behaviour for a lady of her stature and lineage. Of course, Kitty paid no notice to her mother and had spent much of her free time riding her father’s horses. She adored them and hoped that James shared her love for the majestic beasts. If not, their dinners as a married couple would be rather quiet.
The maidservants gently brushed her dark locks, and intricately wove it with their fingers, placing white blossoms between the layers.
Kitty watched as she was transformed from a young woman who spent too much time out of doors, into a refined lady who would soon be the Duchess of Somerset.
Lady Dunne moved across the room, her reflection catching Kitty’s eye. She glanced at her mother, whose expression was even more pleased than her previous one.
“My dear girl, may I be so bold as to say you have not looked more beautiful in your entire lifetime.”
“That certainly does not seem complimentary towards my usual ungainly features, Mother,” Kitty retorted with a grimace.
“I wish not to insult you. You look beautiful was all I wanted to say.”
“Why not simply say it? There is no need for such theatrics,” Kitty said.
Lady Dunne pursed her lips, apparently stopping herself from uttering a word that was not suitable to be heard, especially by James’s staff.
Kitty was not entirely convinced this was the case in every instance, but she knew better than to argue with her mother.
“Where is Father?” Kitty inquired.
“I left him to his own devices, although I do suspect he is in James’s grand library. We are well aware of how your father can immerse himself in a world that does not exist,” Lady Dunne answered.
This time it was Kitty who pursed her lips to stifle the words that nearly escaped. It had been no secret that the marriage of her mother and father was also arranged , and despite having had a union that had lasted more than twenty years, Kitty was well aware of how miserable both her parents were.
Her father was a quiet, passive man in the best of times. A well-read gentleman of fine lineage and intelligence. He was not boastful, nor did he treat his servants and staff as if they were beneath him. He was humble and would often be found in the kitchen late at night, playing cards with the manservants. Or even in the stable, among the horses.
Her mother, on the other hand, was raised with a silver spoon of privilege in her mouth, and would not even dream of speaking directly to a maidservant. It was simply a product of her family experience, but it still infuriated Kitty.
Kitty had inherited her father’s kind heart, and adored the maidservants at their estate. She would miss them all dearly when she no longer resided there.
Soon she would become the Duchess of Somerset, and settle in Woodlock Manor with her new husband, and the new staff. It would most certainly be a strange and difficult adjustment, especially since she did not wish to get married in the first place.
It was not that Kitty did not believe in love, she simply didn’t believe in forced love. One cannot be compelled to fall in love with a particular person, and as her father had philosophized many times, sometimes the heart desired what it desired, no matter how inconvenient.
Kitty pursed her lips as she gazed at her reflection and cocked her head. Nervous bubbles rose up inside her, despite her best attempts to not allow this meeting to affect her too much.
She was to meet the man she would soon marry, whether it was what she wanted or not. There was no need to be nervous. She had only heard great and noble things about him, but unfortunately that knowledge did not make the situation any less stressful.
Other people’s words were not credible, as they did not know him personally.
“Utter perfection.” Her mother beamed beside her, distracting Kitty from the imminent tragedy that lay before her. “There will be no doubt that His Grace will fall madly in love with you the moment he sets his sights upon you, my dear.”
Kitty glanced at her mother over her shoulder and smiled weakly. Perhaps her mother was under the impression this may happen, but she was not convinced. Not in the least.
In fact, she was not certain whether she would even meet with James, as one could easily become lost in the thick foliage of the trees in the meadow that had caught her eye at that very moment.
“Are you ready, my dear?” her mother smiled and held her hand out, sheer excitement radiating on her face, her green eyes twinkling with hope.
Despite Kitty’s initial instincts to show defiance, or perhaps give a witty retort that her mother would certainly not appreciate or find amusing, she nodded quietly and stood up from the stool.
The skirt of her dress slid to the floor and Lady Dunne’s eyes sparkled even more. Her mother clutched her hand against her chest and sighed.
“Utter perfection,” she repeated.
Unfortunately, Kitty felt like nothing close to perfection.
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LINK FOR KITTY AND the Duke’s story here: https://geni.us/seymourbook1