I wake up in the morning to find my mother sitting on the end of my bed,
talking to herself. I greet her and she seems slightly flustered.
“Elizabeth,” she starts. Great, I can already tell that we are going to
have a discussion about last night. And, most likely, the discussion will turn
into an argument as mother tells me all the terrible things about Lewis. “You
don’t really think that Lewis was being serious about proposing to you do you?
I mean, it was just a joke? Right? And if he did propose… You wouldn’t say yes,
would you?”
“Mother! Why would it be so bad if Lewis did propose to me anyway? You
seem so keen to get an offer of marriage for me from almost any eligible man in
the city, but when it comes to Lewis. He is a man from a good family, with a
good title and a reasonable fortune. What more could you want?”
“But Elizabeth dear, he is not reasonable! He does not do what is
respectable. He would make you look like a fool if you were to marry him. He
would never give you the kind of social life that one of your reputation and
position should have! You must see that.”
“No mother I do not see that. I like Lewis. He makes me laugh and I
enjoy his company. I can be myself around him. I don’t have to pretend to be
the perfect young lady that so many believe me to be. All the men you want me
to marry can’t even suck up the courage to come and talk to me let alone
propose. I have not had a decent conversation with any of the men that you deem
‘eligible’!”
“But dear, they are just shy. You must give them time, to warm up to
you.”
“Mother, they have had 18 years
to warm up to me. If they cannot yet even talk to me then they will never be
able to. I am not going to marry a man that won’t even say hello. And speaking
of respectable, are you saying that the way Michael fools around with other
young women is respectable?”
“Oh Elizabeth, that is just a rumour! Michael is a lovely young man, and
speaking of which you should not have sent him away and refused to go to the
ballet with him. It was a very generous offer and I am sure that after that it
is not likely to come again. You should have been more kind.”
“Oh really mother! We both know that it was not Michael speaking but his
mother. Michael would never have come over if it were not for his mother
insisting! And anyway…”
“Elizabeth I have no interest in arguing with you! I am getting tired of
you being so headstrong. Just promise me that you will make an effort with
Michael and Henry tonight? Now, I am going to work with Catherine to get the
decorations out and start embellishing the house for tonight. I am sure that
you can get dressed yourself? I will meet you downstairs when you are ready.”
Mother leaves the room and that is the end of it. We have sorted out
none of our problems. Now, not only am I mad with her but I am also left to
ponder over what happened last night and what may happen tonight. Will Lewis
say anything about last night or add to it? And what will Michael do? Is what
he said yesterday true? Will he ignore me? After what I said to him I would not
be surprised if he just avoided me the entire time.
I take my time to get ready, choosing a plain dress to wear for the set
up. Mother and I are going to pick up my dress from the fitters at midday and
until then we are all helping with the decorations. I am thinking gold but of
course mother has the last say on the matter.
When I finally make my way downstairs Catherine has made a collection of
boxes filled with decorations in the parlour and mother is telling her where
she wants them to go. Mother has already decorated the hall, with silver and
gold fabric hanging loosely from the ceiling in alternate colours. It does look
quite lovely and I am sure the whole house will end up looking marvellous.
I join mother and Catherine, and we all get to work on the dining room.
***
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