Lola wasn't even fully awake yet when the information had begun being thrown in her face. All she wanted was a strong cup of tea and some quiet to fully awaken.
“Countess?”
“Just...can you give it to me?” she asked the footmen, trying not to yawn in his face.
He handed over the written schedule, bowed, and left her standing in the dining room with her now cooling up of tea.
Lola sank onto the couch, trying not to resist the urge to just fall asleep and try this again in a few hours. It was exhausting enough working her career as a glamorous stage actress. One would think that performing not a mile from her home would make it easier, and perhaps it would have been if she also wasn't the Countess of Rippon. Since her husband's previous disappearance to join his best friend on a privateer ship- pirate ship for those with not so timid tongues- it fell to Lola to uphold the duties of the family title, on top of the career she chose to keep.
It was more complicated than the story of an actress who had married an Irish Earl. She sometimes wished that it had been just that, but she knew their way of life was a choice to keep their friends safe.
Once upon a time, they had both been young and in love, the last of their friends to marry. Their peer group included Wesley's navy friends and their families of various ranks, both on and off the ship. They had met through their mutual close friend, Lord Aaron Bamber, who had grown up beside the already growing famous Lola. For awhile, all seemed well, easy and happy.
Then things came crashing down. Aaron had to fake his own death, a fate believed by his ill health, in order to save their friend and his brother-in-law, Harold Harper, from the noose. Harold had murdered their captain in a bid to save the ship from the old man's nonsensical mind. Everyone involved in the situation knew it had to be done, but the military court saw it in a different way.
Married to Aaron's sister, Harold had assumed the title, and Aaron had faded into the background, changing his name, hiding his wife and child away, and sailing under a different identity. Wesley, with a dark background already, had chosen to follow Aaron, depriving the navy of two of the greatest minds it had ever known. With Aaron undercover, and Wesley keeping a low profile, the decision had been made to switch grand manors. Aaron's wife and child lived in the hidden hills of Ireland, where Rippon Manor lay, and Lola took up residence in Bamber Manor. Harold alternated between the two with Annabelle, trying to take care of both his sister-in-law and the house that was now his. It wasn't an easy way to live, but Lola considered their struggle fairly easy, given the undercover life that Aaron had to endure.
In order for all of them to remain alive, the sacrifices that had to be made were astronomical. Harold inherited a title and land he knew didn't belong to them. Lola upheld the Rippon family duties, even if it meant not sleeping much most days. Shauna and Gwendolyn lived in secret, pretending to be little more than peasants taken in to a grand house, when they should have been ladies of a grand manor themselves.
Annabelle had to pretend every day that her twin brother was dead, when she was used to being attached to the hip with him.
Lola knew it was worth the price of all of them being alive; but sometimes, it seemed too much.
The footman had handed her a document outlaying her duties as Countess for the next two weeks. There were appearances to be made, sometimes three or four a day, suppers she couldn't turn down, and a fair bit of traveling to do.
Of course, she wasn't giving up her shows either, which meant after all of this, she would still be working a few hours each night.
There were many who frowned upon the fact that the Countess Rippon was an actress, direct from the stage. However, Wesley's family was long dead, and so there was nothing to actually be done about it. She mostly rolled her eyes at those who stared at her, and offered unkind words if they were spoken to her.
Still, it meant enduring it, which sometimes gnawed on her soul.
This was going to be exhausting.
She groaned, closing her eyes for a moment, and then took a deep breath. She certainly was going to need another cup of tea if this was her schedule for the next bit. There was even a palace visit in there, which made her raise an eyebrow. She had never done that before, and she had no idea how to even enter the palace.
She heard the door and turned her head to see Harold coming in. He must have gone early to the Navy HQ, as he often did. Harold seemed to work just as tirelessly as she did, and then some.
He looked tall and regal in his dress blues, which told her there was something official happening this morning. It was late, almost 10am, but she had been at the theater until nearly midnight, so she didn't have any qualms with the fact that she was still in her robe.
“Have you ever been to the palace?” she asked. He looked surprised to find her there, but gathered himself quickly.
“I have,” he said. “A few times.”
“I mean...on official business. Titled business?”
“On titled business, no,” he said. “On Navy business, as a consultant to the King, yes.”
“Apparently I must attend on titled business,” she said, holding up her schedule.
“The King's birthday,” Harold said. “I thought you knew. All the titled nobles are invited.”
“So if Wesley would just come home,” Lola lamented as she yawned. “Where's Annabelle?”
“I've just walked in the door, Lola,” Harold reminded her. “Although there was correspondence from Navy HQ that a certain pirate ship was spotted just off the coast.”
“Off our coast?” she said in surprise “What are they doing here? Aaron is risking everything.”
“He could just be dropping off Wesley,” Harold said, with a shrug. “He does do that, from time to time.”
“He shouldn't risk so much still,” Lola answered as she stood up. “But maybe he knows it the king's birthday and came home.”
“It is hard to keep track of those things at sea,” Harold admitted. “But it doesn't mean it's impossible.”
“Remember when life was simple?” she asked, as she headed back upstairs. She knew the rest of the world would likely object to the way they were talking, but she didn't care. Yes, married ladies typically ate in their rooms for breakfast. However, married ladies typically had their husband's with them, at least some of the time.
Most would balk at the way that Lola's marriage worked. They had spent many years unmarried for that very reason. Neither wanted to give up their career or change their lives and they were comfortable apart for long periods of times. Still, when she was doing things that he was supposed to be here for, it was a bit harder.
“I also have to do a ribbon cutting,” she said. “This afternoon, but luckily, it's in London. Apparently the Rippon family donated several books to the London library, and they are being re-displayed.”
“That's odd,” Harold said. “Are they artifacts?”
“I have no idea,” she shrugged, as she headed up the grand staircase. “And truthfully, I'm not really sure that I care. I'll see you in an hour or so, if that suits you.”
“Whatever your schedule today,” he said, with a shrug. “I'm sure I can accommodate. It's not like I'm going to leave my desk the rest of the day.”
The rents for the Bamber estate were due, and it meant he had to figure out which tenants were behind, which were paying lower than they should, and in which part of the business he was going to invest them.
He knew that Aaron wasn't exactly in a wonderful position, but he did envy him, sailing the high seas undercover. However, if he could change places with him for awhile, just enough to relieve the tension in his shoulders and breathe the sea air for awhile, he wouldn't complain.
Having risen quickly in the Navy, it was rare that he was on the ship these days. They thought his management skills were too valuable to risk in battle. As a result, he was often at HQ, working behind a desk and feeling more like an army officer than that of His Majesty's Navy.
He knew things were precarious in the palace, as well, with the prince ruling in his father's place.
It seemed nobles everywhere were having a difficult go at things.
“Hello, husband,” his wife, Annabelle, said as she slipped in, and he couldn't help but smile.
With clear blue eyes and a smile on her rosy cheeks, Annabelle could bring a smile to anyone's face. He had been in love with her since he first set eyes on her. Their courtship had also been long, mostly due to the fact that he could not work up the courage to ask her. Her personality was strong, and her humor was loud. Like her brother, she was energetic, strong and always optimistic. She could make anyone feel comfortable, which was part of what drew him in. Harold knew he was stiff, sometimes even perceived as emotionless.
He needed Annabelle with every fiber of his being; with every part of his heart.
Today, she looked lovely, with a green gown and simple jewels, fitting of a lady of the manor. Had she been born a boy, she would have inherited her brother's title with no issue. However, because she wasn't, it was his only his fake death that put the coronet on her head. There were no male relatives, and it was an uneasy crown for any woman. However, with a strong husband by her side, they lived in relatively happy peace.
“The children have been taken to the market for a treat,” she said. “In case you were wondering why the house is so quiet.”
“Quiet?” he said, with a smile as he kissed her. “I was accosted by Lola as soon as I walked in the door.”
“Ah,” she said, leaning into his arms for a moment. “Well, I only said our children were at the market. I didn't say anything else. You know I love Lola, but she made a clatter of noise coming in last night.”
“Should we consider leaving a few candles lit, perhaps?” Harold asked, with a smile. “Or perhaps we should consider just waiting up for her?”
“The joys of living with an actress,” Annabelle replied. “How was HQ?”
His face changed.
“It was ...alright,” he answered, but Annabelle was smarter than that.
“What's the matter? You can tell me, it's not as if I would spill it anywhere else.”
“It's...” he paused “A difficult time in the war. The Spanish have threatened to ally with the French.”
Her jaw dropped.
“And if we lose their alliance?”
“If we lose their alliance...” Harold said, with a sigh. “Then we are outnumbered by vast numbers. Not impossible to win but...”
“But you need more than you have.”
“We do,” he admitted. “But I don't want you to worry about it, my love. It's not your job.”
“I'm not worrying about it,” she answered, with a shrug. “All you need is to lure Wesley back into the Navy, and with him, my brother, and the fire power that comes with the pirate alliances.”
She said it as if it were simple, as if it were as easy as snapping her fingers.
Still, Harold knew if he didn't, he might be out of options and they may very well lose the war.