aunt's grandest talents is the
ability to be positive and enthusiastic in the face of adversity!”
“And I am that adversity?” she commented, amused.
“I'm afraid in this matter you are indeed, Lily.”
“I fear that I'm not as easy to match as she'd believed! I do promise that
I'm not purposely choosy, however I've yet to meet any man who can hold
my interest for more than two minutes!” Lily admitted with a laugh.
There was a snort from the stairs and both Uncle George and Lily turned to
behold their aunt, resplendent in tear-inducing chartreuse, tutting her
displeasure at Lily's words. “Honestly, niece! You do not even give the poor
gentleman a chance! Two minutes indeed! Pray, do not tell me that you are
one of these chits, who believe in love at first sight! Poppycock!”
“Aunt, I fear you have misinterpreted my words. I do not believe in anything
as foolhardy as that, but I do believe that I should at least enjoy my future
spouse's company. Just as you and Uncle George do and how my dear
mama and late papa also did. Surely you would not wish less for me than
you yourself have had the good fortune to experience?”
Millie turned her head to the side and Lily could see the battle taking place
behind those pretty features. She did not want to admit that Lily deserved
the same but she couldn't lie either. Instead, she sighed roughly and rolled
her eyes irritably. “Come! We must go!”
They were handed into the carriage and delivered smoothly to Lady
Rutherford's house, passing the various crowded streets as they traversed
from one end of London to the other. Uncle George's footmen lay wooden
boards upon the floor to protect Lily and her aunt's skirts from the horse
mess on the ground and they quickly stepped on to them and into Lady
Rutherford's mansion.
They were greeted by the Lady and her Lord and swiftly led into the
ballroom, where Uncle George soon left them to enjoy the party.
“I know you are more difficult than I ever imagined, dear child, but I
wouldn't change this for the world. While I wish your dear mama was here, I
cannot help but enjoy acting as your chaperone.
“Your uncle and I weren't blessed with children, though I prayed faithfully,
the Lord never blessed me with little George’s or Millie's of our own, but you
know I've always thought of you highly, my dear,” Millie murmured, her
voice faintly tearful as she gripped Lily's hand to impart the strength of
feeling behind her words.
“I know, aunt. I thank you for your patience!”
“I say all this, not to ruin my maquillage or both of our composure, but to
impart upon you my greatest wish for both you and your mama. I want to
find you the most eligible man available this Season. Coarse and crass it
may be, Lily, but it is the truth. You're a wonderful girl and I want nothing
less for you.”
“Thank you, aunt,” Lily replied with grateful eyes.
“You know, your mama and papa's engagement was discussed for years. It
was quite a scandal when they became affianced,” Millie murmured in a
confiding manner.
“It was?” Lily retorted, shocked by this revelation and unable to believe her
careful mama could be at the center of any scandal!
“Oh yes,” Millie imparted with glee. “It was quite the on dit and almost had
your grand papa close to apoplexy! I had never seen him so furious until the
day your papa asked him for my darling sister's hand. He was a notorious
rake, you know.”
“I certainly didn't, but I can imagine it! He was always the center of
attention at the balls we attended, but then mama was too.”
“Why, of course, they were quite the crème de la crème of any set,” Millie
replied without a whiff of jealousy. Lily could see it was the reverse. She
reveled in her sister and brother-in-law's notoriety. “While I was scornful of
love at first sight earlier, dearest, your parents met and in that instant, they
had fallen in love, for indeed, your papa would
ability to be positive and enthusiastic in the face of adversity!”
“And I am that adversity?” she commented, amused.
“I'm afraid in this matter you are indeed, Lily.”
“I fear that I'm not as easy to match as she'd believed! I do promise that
I'm not purposely choosy, however I've yet to meet any man who can hold
my interest for more than two minutes!” Lily admitted with a laugh.
There was a snort from the stairs and both Uncle George and Lily turned to
behold their aunt, resplendent in tear-inducing chartreuse, tutting her
displeasure at Lily's words. “Honestly, niece! You do not even give the poor
gentleman a chance! Two minutes indeed! Pray, do not tell me that you are
one of these chits, who believe in love at first sight! Poppycock!”
“Aunt, I fear you have misinterpreted my words. I do not believe in anything
as foolhardy as that, but I do believe that I should at least enjoy my future
spouse's company. Just as you and Uncle George do and how my dear
mama and late papa also did. Surely you would not wish less for me than
you yourself have had the good fortune to experience?”
Millie turned her head to the side and Lily could see the battle taking place
behind those pretty features. She did not want to admit that Lily deserved
the same but she couldn't lie either. Instead, she sighed roughly and rolled
her eyes irritably. “Come! We must go!”
They were handed into the carriage and delivered smoothly to Lady
Rutherford's house, passing the various crowded streets as they traversed
from one end of London to the other. Uncle George's footmen lay wooden
boards upon the floor to protect Lily and her aunt's skirts from the horse
mess on the ground and they quickly stepped on to them and into Lady
Rutherford's mansion.
They were greeted by the Lady and her Lord and swiftly led into the
ballroom, where Uncle George soon left them to enjoy the party.
“I know you are more difficult than I ever imagined, dear child, but I
wouldn't change this for the world. While I wish your dear mama was here, I
cannot help but enjoy acting as your chaperone.
“Your uncle and I weren't blessed with children, though I prayed faithfully,
the Lord never blessed me with little George’s or Millie's of our own, but you
know I've always thought of you highly, my dear,” Millie murmured, her
voice faintly tearful as she gripped Lily's hand to impart the strength of
feeling behind her words.
“I know, aunt. I thank you for your patience!”
“I say all this, not to ruin my maquillage or both of our composure, but to
impart upon you my greatest wish for both you and your mama. I want to
find you the most eligible man available this Season. Coarse and crass it
may be, Lily, but it is the truth. You're a wonderful girl and I want nothing
less for you.”
“Thank you, aunt,” Lily replied with grateful eyes.
“You know, your mama and papa's engagement was discussed for years. It
was quite a scandal when they became affianced,” Millie murmured in a
confiding manner.
“It was?” Lily retorted, shocked by this revelation and unable to believe her
careful mama could be at the center of any scandal!
“Oh yes,” Millie imparted with glee. “It was quite the on dit and almost had
your grand papa close to apoplexy! I had never seen him so furious until the
day your papa asked him for my darling sister's hand. He was a notorious
rake, you know.”
“I certainly didn't, but I can imagine it! He was always the center of
attention at the balls we attended, but then mama was too.”
“Why, of course, they were quite the crème de la crème of any set,” Millie
replied without a whiff of jealousy. Lily could see it was the reverse. She
reveled in her sister and brother-in-law's notoriety. “While I was scornful of
love at first sight earlier, dearest, your parents met and in that instant, they
had fallen in love, for indeed, your papa would
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