Elizabeth looked out from her window, watching her father's brother leave the home in his carriage. She had just turned down yet another marriage proposal at her mother's will. Not that she wanted to marry the boy; he was her cousin! It was vulgar and scandalous to the young Englishwoman. At the age of sixteen in the year 1864, she had a lot on her shoulders to be a prim and proper woman. She had debuted to the queen when she was thirteen and had made quite the impression on a good number of men. But who couldn't be impressed when she had such porcelain skin, beautiful green eyes, silky blonde hair, and pink lips? Yes, she truly was a beautiful young woman: the crowned jewel of the family. With a sharp mind and an even sharper tongue, thanks to her father, Elizabeth was extremely intelligent and even had a beautiful singing voice. Her poise was perfect and her embroidery was without flaws.
"Miss, the master wishes for you presence," a maid, Judy, broke the silence behind her. Elizabeth gave the elderly woman a smile and nodded, turning away from the window.
"Yes, of course. Thank you for informing me, Judy," Elizabeth said before walking towards her father's study. Once inside, she smile brightly at the sight of the aging man. "Hello Father. You called for me?"
"Ah, yes, Elizabeth! Come here, my child, I have something to tell you! We are going to be visited by a young man from America! He is here to study and learn about business. Now, his mother and yours were childhood friends and so he shall be staying with us. I wished to inform you to make sure you approve of such a thing. You will always be supervised and have an escort with you, so there is no need to worry if he is a vivacious young man," the Lord Benedict Kirkland told Elizabeth cheerfully. The happy tone her father had made her smile, nodding at the information.
"Yes, of course, Father. It is for his education and therefor he must get any opportunity to receive top-notch education," Elizabeth said softly, earning her father a chuckle.
"Yes, of course, my dear! No education is better than the one here in England, I must say so myself. And there is one other thing. He might be a potential suitor. Your mother has fantasised about this moment for years. So do not be surprised if she expects you to fall in love the moment you see him," he said.
"Of course not, Father. I shall only accept a suitor if the Lord grants it and tells me through my heart that he approves," she replied easily, "but may I ask, what is his name?"
"That's my girl! Always listening to the good lord's will! Just like the protestant you were raised to be," he said brightly before sobering up. "To answer your question, Elizabeth, he is from the Jones's family. Do you remember them? Or at least their letters?" He paused for a moment as Elizabeth nodded silently. "Good. Well, he is their eldest son, the eldest of twins I may add, and had already proven to be quite the young man. His name is Alfred. Alfred Frederick Jones."