“Mother, you will never guess what Lady Julianna just found out,” Miss Elisabeth said upon returning home.
“What is it, dear,” Lady Hendrickson said with a heavy sigh.
Lady Hendrickson had been overly irritable these last few months. Lady Louisa suspected it was due to the absence of the Duke, but also because summer didn’t want to give in to fall.
For Lady Louisa, this was a wonderful thing. She was about able to collect two full harvests due to the glorious extension of the season. For Lady Hendrickson, who was still cloaked in black to mourn her husband properly aside from the night of the ball, this extension was rather uncomfortable.
Before Miss Elisabeth spoke, she handed over a cool glass of water to her mother. Lady Hendrickson took it with little thanks and continued to fan herself in the coolest part of the drawing room.
“I spoke to Lady Julianna at the market today. She was also acquiring a dress in green. Did you know that the shop has been quite unable to keep the color since the ball with the Duke? It quite ridiculous if you ask me,” Miss Elisabeth said.
Lady Louisa, who was seated next to the window as she worked on an embroidery pillow, rather thought to remind Miss Elisabeth that she had worn her green pastel dress when the Duke last came for dinner. Instead, she kept her focus on her work.
“What do I care of Lady Julianna’s knowledge of the color options at the seamstress,” Lady Hendrickson snapped.
“That is not the news, Mother,” Miss Elisabeth said ignoring her mother’s irritated tone.
“I have heard from Lady Julianna this day that the Duke of Rowland has finally returned. Even better, he has returned with no lady on his arm, or promise made. Apparently, he was quite upset about that.”
Lady Louisa felt a pang of guilt whereas her aunt immediately brightened at the prospect of the unattached Duke’s return.
“Did I not say his hunt would be for naught? He has wasted all that time and I assure you in the course has only realized no fantasy girl can keep up with your accomplishments,” Lady Hendrickson said to her eldest daughter, completely beside herself with excitement.
“Did Lady Julianna say anything about Colonel Jasper returning with him?” Miss Mary couldn’t help but ask.
“Even if she had,” Lady Hendrickson interjected, “it is of no consequence to you. I have told you before he is not a suitable candidate for one of my daughters. Uh, this infernal heat,” Lady Hendrickson added as her excitement had lead to perspiration.
“Mr. Henderson told me that in America, when summers are extended into the fall, it is called an Indian Summer,” Lady Louisa said by way of distracting her aunt from focusing on Miss Mary and Colonel Jasper. “He says that the trees turn the most beautiful shades of orange and red to match the natives' skin tones.”
“I don’t care a wit for what those disloyal ruffians call it; it’s inhumane,” Lady Hendrickson snapped back. “There are pressing matters we must discuss, and I can find no way to do so when this heat distracts me from every thought,” Lady Hendrickson said as she waved her fan furiously.
Just as Lady Hendrickson was finally beginning to calm herself, while Miss Elisabeth waited on the edge of her seat for their next move, a ring came to the door. After a
few moments, a note was delivered to Lady Hendrickson.
“Just as I suspected,” she said after reading it over and before using it too to fan herself with. “The Duke has invited us to Bassen Park for an afternoon picnic and strawberry picking. He says his fields have become overrun with his absence and have an especially good harvest.”
“What a wonderfully fun idea,” Miss Mary said, secretly happy to have a chance to see Colonel Jasper again.
Lady Hendrickson looked at her youngest daughter very severely.
“You will not attend, my dear,” she stated simply.
“What? Mother why ever not? Please let me go,” Miss Mary said in desperation.
“The emotion in your voice is the very reason you shan’t go. I will not have you speaking to that Colonel and putting false hopes into his head that you two are still attached. I have stated you are not and that is the end of that!”
Miss Mary struggled to keep her tears back. Lady Louisa rather wanted to lash back at her aunt. She knew that would be to no avail. Instead, she let her heart calm down for her cousin's sake before speaking. She did her best to sound indifferent to the matter.
“It might be offensive to the Duke if Miss Mary was not to attend.”
“Why would you think such a ridiculous thing?” Lady Hendrickson countered.
“Well, surely he must have at least some knowledge of the feelings between Colonel Jasper and Miss Mary. I feel the Duke might feel insulted that you would not approve his friend as a match for Miss Mary and still consider Miss Elisabeth one for him.”
Miss Elisabeth looked at her mother imploringly. No doubt it had crossed her mind as well at her mother’s original outburst.
“Are you so set on the Colonel?” Lady Hendrickson finally asked, considering it now that she saw there would be some use to the match.
“I care for him deeply, Mother. He is a great man. Not only has he prepared to sell his commission, but he will also be staying at Bassen Park in order to oversee the property. Surely you know that he will provide enough security for me.”
“Yes, yes,” her mother waved her off. Lady Louisa wondered if her aunt ever truly cared about her daughter's security or just securing a title to show to Lady Louisa’s mother. “I don’t care much about all of that. Does he have a great enough influence on the Duke so that you can recommend your sister to him?”
It was an uncomfortable feeling for Miss Elisabeth to realize the fate of her happiness might very well rest in the hands of her younger sister.
“I know that they are very good friends, practically consider one another brothers,” was all Miss Mary could say in honesty.
She knew that Colonel Jasper would be no more willing to recommend her sister anymore than the Duke would be willing to follow such recommendation.
“If your Colonel is willing to support our cause, I will consent to the marriage,” Lady Hendrickson said with a narrowed eye on her youngest daughter.
“What shall I do?” Miss Mary asked later while she walked with Lady Louisa to Mr. Johnson’s cottage.
His wife was pregnant with their third child, and Lady Louisa and Miss Mary had visited them every day to help Mrs. Johnson tend to the other children and see to the needs of the house.
“My mother could not have set terms more impossible than these.”
“Never fear, Mary. We only have to convince your mother that the Colonel is recommending your sister until your marriage.”
“And how can we ever make that possible?”
“Well,” Lady Louisa said slowly. “I suppose we could ask the Duke if he would be willing to show attention to Elisabeth for a time. In that way, your mother would think she had been recommended to him. Your marriage could be as soon as a month’s time from now.”
“Oh, that would be so wonderful,” Miss Mary said whimsically, and Lady Louisa couldn’t help but feel some of her excitement. “However, I am not sure the Duke would ever agree to such a thing.”
“I think he would. After all, we can be certain the picnic was only an excuse on behalf of his friend. I think he would be willing to do so for a short period of time.”