confused.
“Heliocentricism.” When she saw that her friend still looked puzzled, she explained further. “The movement of the earth around the sun.”
“Oh, you mean like Galileo?”
“Yes, he’s one of the men who proposed that theory but his work has been much improved upon since then, by the likes of Copernicus, Keppler and of course, our own Isaac Newton.”
It seemed clear that Elizabeth had little interest in science. “Do you enjoy it?” her friend asked.
“It keeps me occupied.”
Elizabeth frowned at such an odd response but she rallied none the less. “Well, as long as it gives you pleasure, that’s all that matters.”
Damaris didn’t comment again. “And life here is treating you well?”
“Very well,” Elizabeth smiled. “I’ll introduce you to my husband later.”
“Do I know him?”
“I don’t believe so. He’s the second son of a Scottish Laird.”
Unlike Damaris, whose family had no wealth but two sons, Elizabeth was the eldest daughter of a wealthy family but they had no male heirs to pass the family’s wealth to. The match that their eldest daughter made was therefore of vital importance. Of course, it wasn’t uncommon in such cases for the parents’ choice to be more important than the child’s, but Damaris hoped that her friend’s forthright nature had seen off any suitors who were more interested in her estate than her wellbeing.
“And do you care for him?”
“Very much,” Elizabeth smiled. “He is quite the handsomest man I have ever met, and he is ever so genial. I’m sure that in no time at all, you will love him as I do.”
Damaris gave her friend a wicked grin. “Not exactly as you do, I hope?”
Elizabeth giggled. “Oh, Mari, you are bad.”
“ Lady Wellesley, Lady Wellesley!”
The women turned to see a short, stout lady, who was waving at them and doing her best to rush without running.
“Oh well, Eliza, it was fun while it lasted,” Damaris lamented.
“Never fear, dearest, I shall call on you soon and we will have hours to chat and reminisce.”
Damaris gave her friend a brave smile, then they turned to the lady, who was about to come within hearing distance.
“Oh, Lady Wellesley, how lovely it is to see you here again. I declare, our town hasn’t been the same without your radiant image about the place.”
“Thank you, Mrs Sanders. I have to admit, I have missed the many familiarities of Lanford.” ‘ Although not many of the people ,’ she silently added.
“I was so sorry to hear the news of your father, but then with him so long missing, we could hardly expect anything else. I never believed for a moment that he had run off; he was such a responsible gentleman.”
“Indeed, he was. Did you know my father well?”
“Oh no, not really. Which is to say, no more than most. But I recall that he was always a very reliable man, always kept his word.”
“He did.” Damaris realised that Mrs Sanders didn’t know anything useful, so moved the conversation on. “I hope you have been well?”
They resumed walking around the edge of the Green.
“Oh yes, very well. My o ldest three daughters are now married to fine young men, only my son, Arthur remains unattached. He is very pleased to know that you are back in town and told me to ask you for a dance this evening, if you are attending.”
Whilst aristocratic by birth, Mrs Sanders’ family had little wealth and she had long been hoping to marry all her children off to wealthy individuals, hence before her marriage to a Wellesley, Mrs Sanders and her children had hardly given Damaris the time of day. Now that she was a wealthy widow however, that had changed.
“Then I shall save him one of the cotillion s.” If she recalled correctly, Arthur Sanders had never liked cotillions. “I must claim surprise at his interest however; why in six months out in Society before my marriage, I don’t believe I had two dances with him.”
Eliza beth elbowed her gently in the ribs by way
“Heliocentricism.” When she saw that her friend still looked puzzled, she explained further. “The movement of the earth around the sun.”
“Oh, you mean like Galileo?”
“Yes, he’s one of the men who proposed that theory but his work has been much improved upon since then, by the likes of Copernicus, Keppler and of course, our own Isaac Newton.”
It seemed clear that Elizabeth had little interest in science. “Do you enjoy it?” her friend asked.
“It keeps me occupied.”
Elizabeth frowned at such an odd response but she rallied none the less. “Well, as long as it gives you pleasure, that’s all that matters.”
Damaris didn’t comment again. “And life here is treating you well?”
“Very well,” Elizabeth smiled. “I’ll introduce you to my husband later.”
“Do I know him?”
“I don’t believe so. He’s the second son of a Scottish Laird.”
Unlike Damaris, whose family had no wealth but two sons, Elizabeth was the eldest daughter of a wealthy family but they had no male heirs to pass the family’s wealth to. The match that their eldest daughter made was therefore of vital importance. Of course, it wasn’t uncommon in such cases for the parents’ choice to be more important than the child’s, but Damaris hoped that her friend’s forthright nature had seen off any suitors who were more interested in her estate than her wellbeing.
“And do you care for him?”
“Very much,” Elizabeth smiled. “He is quite the handsomest man I have ever met, and he is ever so genial. I’m sure that in no time at all, you will love him as I do.”
Damaris gave her friend a wicked grin. “Not exactly as you do, I hope?”
Elizabeth giggled. “Oh, Mari, you are bad.”
“ Lady Wellesley, Lady Wellesley!”
The women turned to see a short, stout lady, who was waving at them and doing her best to rush without running.
“Oh well, Eliza, it was fun while it lasted,” Damaris lamented.
“Never fear, dearest, I shall call on you soon and we will have hours to chat and reminisce.”
Damaris gave her friend a brave smile, then they turned to the lady, who was about to come within hearing distance.
“Oh, Lady Wellesley, how lovely it is to see you here again. I declare, our town hasn’t been the same without your radiant image about the place.”
“Thank you, Mrs Sanders. I have to admit, I have missed the many familiarities of Lanford.” ‘ Although not many of the people ,’ she silently added.
“I was so sorry to hear the news of your father, but then with him so long missing, we could hardly expect anything else. I never believed for a moment that he had run off; he was such a responsible gentleman.”
“Indeed, he was. Did you know my father well?”
“Oh no, not really. Which is to say, no more than most. But I recall that he was always a very reliable man, always kept his word.”
“He did.” Damaris realised that Mrs Sanders didn’t know anything useful, so moved the conversation on. “I hope you have been well?”
They resumed walking around the edge of the Green.
“Oh yes, very well. My o ldest three daughters are now married to fine young men, only my son, Arthur remains unattached. He is very pleased to know that you are back in town and told me to ask you for a dance this evening, if you are attending.”
Whilst aristocratic by birth, Mrs Sanders’ family had little wealth and she had long been hoping to marry all her children off to wealthy individuals, hence before her marriage to a Wellesley, Mrs Sanders and her children had hardly given Damaris the time of day. Now that she was a wealthy widow however, that had changed.
“Then I shall save him one of the cotillion s.” If she recalled correctly, Arthur Sanders had never liked cotillions. “I must claim surprise at his interest however; why in six months out in Society before my marriage, I don’t believe I had two dances with him.”
Eliza beth elbowed her gently in the ribs by way
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