“I do not think it is a good idea for me to go,” Lady Louisa said to her mother across the breakfast table. “I would worry about you, Mother.”
In Lady Gilchrist’s hand was a letter from a relative of whom Lady Louisa had not heard more than a handful of words spoken.
“I agree that it is regrettable that Aunt Sarah’s husband has died, but I don’t see how my attending to her can help. After all, does she not have children of her own?” Lady Louisa continued, pushing aside the toast and marmalade set before her.
“She does have two daughters. They are not much younger than you. I know that you cannot do much to help them, but it would be nice if you went anyway.”
Lady Gilchrist was looking much better now, though the year anniversary of her own husband’s death had been a difficult hurdle for her to overcome. She scarcely believed that she would have done as well without the constant companionship of her daughter. Lady Louisa always seemed to be a calm mind amid turmoil.
“I am surprised that Aunt Sarah wrote and told you in the first place,” Lady Louisa said, taking a sip of her hot chocolate.
“As am I. In fact, I cannot remember the last time either of us spoke to the other. I find it to be a gesture of good will and I think it would only be right for me to make one in return. Sarah is not as well off as us,” Lady Gilchrist continued. “It would do well for her to have the additional help. It also might be nice for you,” she finished with an arching of her blond brow.
“In what way?” Lady Louisa responded with skepticism.
She wasn’t sure how leaving town, her only home really, to stay with relations she barely even knew, would be to her benefit.
“Well, for starters, you only know our circle here in London. It might be nice for you to see prospects on a broader horizon.”
“Prospects? Mother, I am twenty-six, almost twenty-seven years old. I believe the time of prospects is over for me,” Lady Louisa said in honesty.
“I don’t think that is true,” Lady Gilchrist countered. “You are in your prime, if you ask me. Perhaps this new change of location will give you the courage to stand out. If you would only do that, I know you could find your own happiness.”
“Perhaps,” Lady Louisa said, doing her best not to roll her eyes.
Her mother was always encouraging her to step out more and be noticed. Lady Gilchrist loved her daughter dearly and for that reason refused to see that she would be nothing more than a demure wallflower for her entire life.
Lady Louisa was not like her brother who was always free with words and off on exciting adventures. It was not her way, nor would it ever be. Though she would have liked to have a romance and family of her own, she had resolved quite some time ago that the chances of that were very slim.
Not only was Lady Louisa quiet and reserved, she was also quite homely. Perhaps it didn’t help that her best friend Isabella, the Duchess of Wintercrest, was just about the most stunning creature in the whole of the ton, both in looks and personality.
In truth, Lady Louisa was a bit curious to learn more of this family that she had otherwise never heard much about. She knew that some rift had been created between her mother and aunt, but nothing beyond that. Her aunt's house was, in fact, not very far from their own county seat.
“If I am to go,” Lady Louisa said timidly, “I would like to know what caused the hostility between you two. I would hate to make a situation worse.”
“I highly doubt you could do such a thing. You always seem to be the pillar that all the rest of us can rely upon. You have such a calming, steadying force,” Lady Gilchrist complemented.
She was hoping it would distract her daughter from the question at hand. The rift with her sister seemed very petty now that she was older and somewhat of an embarrassment to have to tell her daughter about it.
When Lady Louisa wouldn’t let the subject go without a straight answer, however, the Dowager Countess had no choice but to explain it all with an exasperated sigh. “I suppose my sister grew resentful over time.”
“Of what?” Lady Louisa encouraged.
“Well, she was intended to marry your father.”
“What?” Lady Louisa let out in shock.
She couldn’t believe the words her mother was speaking. How had she never heard of this before?
“They had never even met each other when the arrangement was made. In fact, I am certain our parents arranged the match when she was still an infant. Sarah had a bit of a rebellious streak in her youth and was determined against marrying a man she didn’t know for the sake of our family connections.”
Lady Gilchrist moved her hand to her hair and, out of habit, smoothed back a curl that framed her face. It was easy to see this wasn’t a comfortable subject for her.
“Sarah fell in love with Mr. Hendrickson, and they ran away and eloped before my parents could say otherwise.”
“I do not understand. Then why is she upset with you?”
“Well, the reason for their rushed elopement was because your father was to come and acquire his bride that very week. He wasn’t aware of the events until he and your grandparents arrived on my family’s doorstep. It was most embarrassing for your Grandfather, my father that is. I fear he never forgave Sarah for that.”
Lady Gilchrist was silent for a moment as the past seemed to flash before her eyes.
“Luckily, the Frasiers were very good friends, and understanding of the whole situation. Even your father, God rest him, was not too hurt by the slight and insult of it all. They stayed for a time, and the result was our union.”
“I still don’t understand why Aunt Sarah would be angry with you. She had no interest in Father, it would seem. Why would she care that you married him in her stead?”
Lady Louisa acknowledged the complications arising from the situation, but if anyone ought to be angry, shouldn’t that be her mother? She was the one forced to marry the man meant for her sister.
“We married to honor the promise between our families, not because we cared for each other. I am not the first to do such a thing, certainly, but I am one of the lucky ones that actually found enjoyment in the arrangement.”
“Your aunt held tight to her conviction that she should have been free to choose for herself and not be forced into a union. When she heard of me taking her place, she thought of me as weak. I was marrying a man for the security of his name and fortune, and she married for love.”
“Unfortunately for her, she has lived a very hard life due to her choice. Mr. Hendrickson, though a landowner, did not have the means to give Sarah the life she was accustomed to. I think that, over time, and because of her great many hardships, she resented her choice.”
“Our parents also disowned her for her actions,” Lady Gilchrist added at the end. “All that was to be split between us two sisters upon my father’s departure from this world, was given to me in whole.”
“I see,” Lady Louisa said.
“I offered to give Sarah her portion, at the very least. They certainly needed it more than we did. She would not hear of it. I suppose that was the last straw for her. I had meant it in goodwill, but she took it as an act of gloating.”
“I am not sure how I can help in this in any way. I cannot imagine anything I could say or do would change Aunt Sarah’s heart towards us,” Lady Louisa said, searching her own thoughts.
“I am sure you are right, in fact, at least in my view.
None the less, it is our duty as Christians to extend the hand of friendship and love to those in need. I know she would never receive me. Our relationship is permanently destroyed, but that doesn’t mean yours has to be with either your aunt or your cousins.”
“So… what would you have me do?” Lady Louisa asked.
“I would ask you to simply be there for your aunt. Help in any way that you see fit. Be a good friend to your cousins. In such manner, you can mend the bond severed between our two families.” Lady Gilchrist paused for a moment before giving a half smile. “If you should happen to chance upon your prospect at the same time, all the better.”
Lady Louisa did roll her eyes this time at her mother’s words. Yes, her mother wanted her to go and create a connection where once it had been and now was lost. But Lady Louisa suspected the request was more than that: her mother’s last effort to see her only daughter settled in life.
If only she had the courage to tell Lady Gilchrist that such a thing was not just unlikely, but surely impossible. She did not possess a great beauty or eloquence when it mattered. Yes, in the safety of her home or around close friends, she was more open than she would otherwise be. But even in these instances, she would still be considered reserved.
Why Lady Gilchrist thought sending her to a distant county to stay with relations she hadn’t met before would make her into that shining light she always wished her to be, she didn’t know. If anything, it would have an adverse effect on her ability to be outspoken.
“I suppose it would be the right thing for me to go and at least see if I could alleviate their pain a bit. After all, I have experienced the loss of a father myself and can therefore comfort my cousins.”
Lady Gilchrist broke out in a satisfied smile before setting aside the note that had rested in her hand for the entirety of their conversation.
“I will write to your aunt today and suggest the arrangement.”
Lady Louisa nodded before turning back to her hot chocolate. She wondered how her mother would fare all alone here. With the Earl of Gilchrist and his wife, Abigail, gone to the Americas, there didn’t seem to be anyone here to keep her company.
Of course, she did have all their friends here, as well as London’s society and several others to keep her busy. Perhaps her mother would scarcely notice her absence. Though the year mark of her father’s death had caused her mother a deep depression, she had been wise enough to keep her hands busy. In that way, the Dowager Countess had overcome the memory of the darkest day in her life.
Lady Louisa reflected on this newly discovered information on her mother and father. If she had never been told otherwise, she would surely have believed they had married for love. The affection and warmth that seemed to emanate from her memory of her parents, never once suggested an arranged marriage.
Perhaps while she was away with her aunt, she could somehow show that her mother had never meant to slight her sister. Nor had she intended to take away any possession that belonged to Aunt Sarah.
Lady Louisa knew that pride and jealousy were not easy vices to overcome, especially those rooted so deeply for such a long time. Perhaps in her own small ways, though, she could begin to help her aunt see the providence in her elopement and the resulting marriage of Louisa’s parents. For surely all things were done for a purpose. If there was one thing that Lady Louisa was actually good at, it was to see the virtue in a difficult situation, the answer amid the darkness.