For Better or For Worse
Chapter 1 ~ Lord Edward Midford
Lady Catherine Rickard gazed out of the window. She really ought to have been working on her embroidery, which lay forgotten in her lap, but instead her hazel eyes were staring out at the sky more lost in thought than anything else. There was just too much on the young woman's mind for embroidery to be a priority.
One of the things that was a priority, however, was her father's words over breakfast that morning...
"Catherine, my dear child, have you put any thought to marriage?" He had asked with a twinkle in his eye.
The young lady had almost choked on her morning tea.
"Marriage, father?" She questioned in shock, after regaining her composure.
"Yes, marriage. Come now, don't tell me that you have never given the subject a thought? With all the fairytales that you read, you must have at least dreamt of a knight in shining armor sweeping you off your feet!"
"Why, absolutely, but I don't see what that has to do with marriage."
"It's settled then!" Lord Rickard cried happily before returning to his meal.
A look of alarm crossed Catherine's face. Her father could be quite, well, eccentric at times. But this was strange behavior indeed.
He looked up at her. "Now hurry up with your breakfast, lest it become cold. You have a busy set of days before you."
Now Catherine was even more confused.
Catherine shook her head free from the thoughts of the morning and attempted to return to her embroidery.
However, almost the instant her thoughts had drifted away again, a soft knock came from her door.
"Who is it?" Catherine called.
"Anne, my lady." Came the almost inaudible reply of Catherine's ladies maid and companion.
"Come in."
The young woman entered the room. Anne was not much younger than Catherine herself. Their difference in age being only two years. It was Anne's gentle spirit and caring heart that had earned her the position of Catherine's favorite servant.
"Your father is requesting your presence in the parlor, my lady. He also wishes for me to inform you that there will be important company arriving shortly."
Catherine frowned, confident that her father had not mentioned that they would be receiving guests that day.
"In that case, Anne, would you mind helping me change into something more presentable. The emerald green dress will do."
"Of course, my lady."
As Catherine entered the parlor, the other three people stood to meet her, one of which was her father.
"There she is," Lord Rickard beamed proudly. He turned to the guests. "Marquis, please allow me to introduce my daughter, Catherine. My dear, this is the Marquis Midford and his son, Lord Edward."
Catherine dipped into a polite curtsey.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," the Marquis said.
Catherine's eyes shifted to meet Edward's.
"It is a privilege to make your acquaintance, my lady." Edward said, bowing and, after gently taking her hand in his, placed a gentle kiss upon it, his bright green eyes never once leaving hers.
There was something about him that struck a chord in Catherine. It was a strange feeling—one she had never felt before. But, for some unfathomable reason, she didn't want to look away.
Edward released her hand and straightened.
Catherine tore her gaze from Edward to look at her father, who, for some reason, was beside himself with joy.
"Why don't you two go out to the garden? I shall have your Aunt Polly be informed and she shall chaperone you."
Edward stood to the side, allowing Catherine to exit the room first.
Luckily, the servant who had been dispatched had moved quickly and by the time the pair had reached the end of the hall, Polly had arrived.
Catherine was glad that summer had not yet hit, for that way the flowers were still blooming.
"You have a beautiful garden, Lady Rickard," Edward commented.
"Thank you, Lord Midford. Our gardener is quite talented. But, please, I must insist that you call me Catherine. Lady Rickard will always be my mother." She said.
"My apologies, Catherine. Were you close to your mother?"
"Very. It was awful losing her. There are still times when I miss her terribly."
"My mother said she was a very bright woman." Edward said.
"Your mother is very kind to say so," Catherine replied, her hazel eyes twinkling as she smiled at Edward.
Edward responded with a nervous smile as a faint blush dusted his cheeks.
"Do you have any idea what my father and the Marquis are discussing?" the young lady asked curiously.
Edward stopped and turned to look at her, shock laced into his features. "Did your father not tell you?"
Catherine frowned, "No, I was only told that we would have important guests and that was earlier today."
Edward looked uncomfortable. He was about to speak, but the previous look on his face was quickly replaced with a look of concern.
"Catherine, are you alright? You've gone terribly pale."
The lady in question swayed unsteadily on her feet.
"I just feel a...bit...faint."
Edward quickly escorted her to a nearby bench.
Polly, having noticed something amiss from her spot a little ways away, came over.
"What has happened? Catherine, dear, are you alright?"
By now the wave of dizziness had passed and the lady had regained her composure.
"I'm quite alright, Aunt Polly. Forgive me, Lord Midford, for alarming you. I don't know what came over me." She tried to stand.
"Please, Catherine, stay seated for a minute. I'll have Peter send for a doctor." Polly siad.
Catherine was quick to dismiss her Aunt's fears. "Please, Aunt Polly, I'm fine. I promise."
The woman still looked wary, but eventually ceased her worrying.
"Are you completely sure, Catherine?" Edward asked.
"Yes, please don't worry." She said.
The young lord still looked skeptical.
"Perhaps we should go back inside." Polly suggested.
Edward nodded and stood quickly, offering Catherine his arm. "Please, allow me to escort you. I would hate for you to fall."
Catherine smiled politely. "Thank you, Lord Midford."
"Please, call me Edward." He insisted as they headed back inside.
"You're back!" Lord Rickard said. "We were just about to send for you."
Edward said nothing as he escorted Catherine to a chair.
"Thank you, Edward." She said, smiling at him.
Edward returned the smile.
"I am delighted that you are both getting along so splendidly. Is it not marvelous?" Lord Rickard was overjoyed.
"If I may be so bold as to ask you a question, Lord Rickard?" Edward asked from where he stood, still beside Catherine.
"Anything, my dear boy!"
"Upon conversing with Lady Catherine, it appeared she knew not of the nature of my father and I's visit. Is it possible that the Lady has not yet been informed?" He asked eloquently.
Polly, who had entered the room along with the two young people, gasped in shock. "Peter!" She cried. "I know that you are forgetful, but to forget something such as this? Brother, how could you be so careless?"
The Marquis was in shock. "Great Scotts, man! I remember you being forgetful from our time at Weston together, but this is incredible!"
Catherine looked at her father.
"Ah, er..." Lord Rickard's face was slowly turning red.
"Shall we give you a moment?" Polly suggested, motioning for the Marquis and Edward to follow her from the room. "We shall be just outside."
The minute the door shut, Catherine turned to her father with wide, imploring eyes and all of the stewing curiousity that had been building up that morning came to the surface. "Father, what on earth is going on? What did you forget to tell me? Why is Aunt Polly so in shock? What's wrong? Has something happened?"
Lord Rickard chuckled. "You're so much like your mother," he paused. "Do you remember our conversation this morning?"
"About my knight in shining armor? Why, yes, of course."
"It has been decided that Lord Edward is to be your knight in shining armor, my daughter." He paused to let the words sink in.
"Are you saying that I am to marry Lord Edward?" She questioned after a moment of silence.
Her father nodded.
Another silence filled the air.
"Why was I not told of this sooner? Father, how could you forget this? If I am to marry Lord Edward, then these talks have been going on much longer than I am aware of! How could you not tell me!?" Catherine had stood to her feet and tears were stinging her eyes.
"Catherine, please, don't be upset. Lord Edward is a good, respectable man—"
"I am not hurt that you have arranged a marriage for me, I am heartbroken that you did not tell me!" she cried before fleeing the room.
As she rushed out of the parlor, she passed by the group lingering outside.
She was aware of her aunt imploring her to stop and come back, but the only thing she could think of at that moment is how much she missed her mother.
Eventually, Catherine found herself in the doorway of the kitchen.
"My lady!" One of the kitchen maids, Abigaile, cried, rushing to her side. "What has happened? Are you hurt?"
Catherine shook her head. "Where is Anne?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"She is attending to her duties, shall I fetch her for you, my lady?"
Catherine nodded.
"Would you like to sit here or would you like to be in your room?"
"I'll stay here, Abigaile, if that's alright."
"Of course, my lady. I'll get Anne right away."
Not more than five minutes had passed before Anne rushed into the kitchen followed closely by Abigaile.
"My lady!" the smaller girl was at Catherine's side in a moment. "Are you alright?"
"I'm okay, it's just my father failed to tell me of something very important and—oh, Anne, I miss Mother so much!"
"It's alright, my lady. Come now, let's get you to your room. The kitchen is no place for a lady."
Catherine allowed herself to be led from the kitchen and to her room.
"My lady, if it would ease your pain, you know you can tell me what is wrong." Anne said, Catherine's well being the first thing on her mind.
By now Catherine had managed to sober herself and was no longer crying.
"My father has arranged a marriage for me." She stated. "And it's not that I am not glad, Lord Edward seems so kind. It's just that Father never once mentioned it to me. I know not if he wanted it to be a surprise or what. But if it was to be a surprise then it was in very poor taste."
"Oh, my lady."
There was a knock on the door. "Catherine?" Came Polly's voice. "Lord Edward and the Marquis are leaving and Lord Edward wishes to bid you good-bye."
Catherine wiped her eyes and stood. "Thank you, Anne. You may return to your previous duties."
"Yes, my lady."
Catherine descended the staircase with grace and poise. Edward was waiting by the door, hat and coat in hand. His father was nowhere to be seen, most likely he was already waiting in their carriage.
"It was an honor to meet you today, Edward," Catherine said. "Please, forgive me for my outburst."
"It was nothing, Catherine. I only hope you are not opposed to what our parents have decided?" He asked, a wary, concerned look in his eyes.
"Of course not, I only wish my father had told us sooner." She said, bestowing upon him a smile.
The look in his eyes vanished, being replaced with a rather relieved and happy one. "If I may, and if it is alright with you, could I call upon you, say, wednesday afternoon?"
Catherine glanced at Aunt Polly from the corner of her eye. Her aunt smiled and nodded reassuringly.
"Of course," she smiled.
"Then I shall see you then." He bowed and placed a kiss upon her hand. "Until Wednesday, Catherine."
End Chapter One
Author's Note
HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Okay, some people were expecting me to start a new Hetalia story. Well, that didn't happen XD
As you can see, I have fallen hopelessly in love with Edward Midford! He may be a little out of character at first but I'm still getting into his mindset.
I HAVE BEEN DOING SO MUCH RESEARCH FOR THIS STORY LIKE YOU HAVE NO IDEA!
If you like it, let me know!
I LOVE YOU ALL~~~~~~
