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I was just sitting down to arrange a vase of flowers I had picked when Aunt Pen bustled into the room and told me that she hoped I would accept Nathan Throckmorten's hand in marriage.
"Mr. Throckmorten?" I was shocked. "He has not asked me."
"I am sure he will," Aunt Pen said. "I needn’t remind you that he has already asked my opinion, and if it was up to me I'd have already accepted on your behalf."
"I am glad it is not up to you," I muttered. Did my brothers know anything about this?
"What was that, Elizabeth? You are mumbling. It is most unbecoming."
"I only said that I will take your opinion under consideration if Mr. Throckmorten should present me with—” I couldn't say the word without gagging. Fortunately, Aunt Pen seemed to be fine with it.
"Good. Now I've made arrangements for you to come stay with me for the rest of the Season in London. Some of the finest musical instructors are there," Aunt Pen added. "We can work on some of your manners then as well, so you are more suited to becoming a wife."
"I bet I can think of someone that would say I'm just fine the way I am for being a wife," I grumbled, as I thought of George.
"That may be. Mr. Throckmorten thinks rather highly of you, but he really needs a wife with more decorum than you currently possess. That man is going places."
"Perhaps he needs a different woman entirely."
"Elizabeth I am shocked at you! Throwing away a perfectly reasonable match."
"I don't love him, Aunt Pen." I decided I had had enough of this conversation and tried to leave.
"Love is not all there is to making a good match. If you are blessed, you can learn to love the one you marry."
"Father and Mother said I should only marry for love," I countered, feeling frustrated.
"They did you a grave disservice then, Elizabeth. Only a wealthy man can afford to wait to marry for love. Love is a luxury for women."
***
"I don't want to go!" I repeated again, my hands balled up in tight fights at my sides. "Don't make me go, Edward."
Edward tried reasoning with me." I would much prefer that you didn't, but Mouse, consider the benefits."
I glared at Edward. "And what would those be?"
"You'll get experiences, you will be able to see real Operas, visit the art exhibit at the Royal Art Academy."
"At the cost of my happiness?"
"What if you never marry then?"
"I don't think it would come to that," I said with a wave of my arms.
"One of Aunt Pen's assurances to me if you go is that you'd have a chance to meet eligible gentlemen."
"I don't think you've been concerned about that before," I pointed out. I wanted to scream, what about George?
"Mouse, just listen for a moment. I am not insisting that you go with Aunt Pen, only that you consider it. I do think you need to know two things. Aunt Pen has offered to pay for James's expenses on this trip to the Orient that he desires to take in exchange for your company. Second, Aunt Pen is actually very lonely, and she's offered to treat you as she would her own daughter. That includes a hefty inheritance which would enable you to not need to marry if you choose that."
"I don't want the inheritance," I insisted. "Is there any way we could afford to pay for James's adventure?"
"I wish there was," Edward replied. "You do know we are well enough off to be all right, but not for extravagance."
"How long do I have to go?"
"Just until the New Year. I will send for you then."
"You'll come for me?" I insisted. "You have to come for me."
"I will." A sad look flashed across Edward’s features before I could be really sure it had been there.
"Is there something you're not telling me?"
"I am going to miss you terribly if you go." Edward engulfed me in a hug.
"I have not agreed to go," I reminded him. Yet I knew I would. I would go for James, I would go and secure the inheritance so that Edward wouldn't have to worry about what would happen to us.
I would not give up hope that George would ask for my hand.
***
The day we arrived in London, a runner brought a message from Mr. Throckmorten. He was aware we were in town and he would come calling. Aunt Pen was delighted by the news. And so I found myself in the sitting room, serving chocolate to Mr. Throckmorten.
"How have you been, Elizabeth?" Mr. Throckmorten inquired after a lengthy uncomfortable silence.
"Very well, Mr. Throckmorten." I finished filling his cup and put the chocolate pot down.
"Please, call me Nathan. I must say, I do appreciate how you serve chocolate over tea. It’s a nice change and chocolate will forever remind me of you.”
I cringed inwardly but managed to smile. “Aunt Pen hasn't been down yet to see to the tea."
"Well then, I'm glad I came early."
"I'm not," I muttered under my breath.
"What was that, dear?"
"I just meant that I wish you hadn't arrived early, as we've not had time to really prepare."
"I see. I hope you can forgive me for showing up early. But believe me, it was only because I was eager to see you again. And to give you this," he added taking out a small parcel.
"What is it?" I asked, accepting the parcel.
"You’ll see when you open it,” Mr. Throckmorten said.
I did. Inside were a beautiful brush and comb set, with a set of hair pins. "Wow." I drew in a breath as I fingered the blue sapphires on the hairpins. I could tell they would have been expensive. "I can't accept this."
"Yes, you can. Adelaide picked it out if you must know, so consider it from her."
"I don't know what to say." I was baffled.
"Go riding with me tomorrow."
“I’m actually still tired from the trip here. Perhaps another afternoon.” I could at least get out of that.
Mr. Throckmorten studied me a long moment. I began to grow uncomfortable under his scrutiny. “I see that I may have imposed on you a bit early. Well, let me see how these hair pins look on you before I go.”
I nodded as Mr. Throckmorten took out the hairpins from their box, and stood up. When he was standing beside me I felt him place the first hairpin in my hair.
“I see you like hair sticks. Perhaps we should have given you those instead of pins. I shall have to let Adelaide know.” I felt his fingers rest on George’s hair stick.
"I hope you will agree to attend the opera with me on Sunday. The last time I invited you we couldn’t make it."
"I..." I hesitated.
“Mr. Throckmorten,” Aunt Pen said coming into the room, "do forgive me for not realizing you were here. I must have gotten the time wrong.”
"It is fine, Mrs. Pendry.” Mr. Throckmorten turned back to me, a hand touching my arm. “Elizabeth?"
You’ll come, Elizabeth. We belong together.
"Of course," I said.
***
Mr. Throckmorten had requested that I wear the hair pins, and Aunt Pen was insistent. The Throckmorten’s had a private box in the balcony of the theater. We were alone in the box except for Adelaide. She did not have a date with her. I found myself looking forward to the music, even if the company was lacking.
"I have hopes that he'll soon be in town, and accompany me next time. I’m delighted, Elizabeth, that you are wearing the hairpins I selected. My brother tells me that you are fond of hair sticks, though.”
“Just a certain pair,” I said.
“Oh? Why is that?”
“They were a gift.”
“I see. Perhaps from your parents?”
“No, just a friend,” I said.
“A gift from a lover perhaps?” Adelaide smiled in her brother’s direction.
My heart went into a gallop, and I was grateful that the lights were being dimmed. I really hoped that they hadn't seen my blush.
“The curtains are about to go up,” Mr. Throckmorten said.
I felt grateful for that, as I was starting to feel bothered by Adelaide’s questions.
During one particularly moving song, Mr. Throckmorten leaned in towards me and moved a curl off my shoulder with his fingertips. "I hope that you will consider calling me Nathan," he said in a sultry whisper.
"Perhaps someday, Mr. Throckmorten." I tried to inconspicuously scoot over in my chair, even as my mind urged me to call him Nathan.
"Nathan," he corrected. His fingers found my chin and he turned my face to look at him. There was a strange glint in his eye, and I felt chills radiate down my back.
I wanted to refuse. I opened my mouth to tell him so, and instead, I said, "Nathan." Stupid girl! I shook my head to try to clear the fog that was compelling me to listen, and a few more curls escaped. I could feel an approaching headache. I would have to put up with it for now.
Nathan noticed my tresses coming loose. He smiled, and I wasn’t sure, but I thought he said something softly, under his breath. Like a secret.
“You’ll soon be mine, beautiful Elizabeth. There’s no reason to fight it.”
My life was about to get very complicated. As if it wasn't already complicated enough.