Months Later...
Lilias sat at her tapestry loom sewing whilst Rose lay across the sofa in the salon complaining of a dreadful headache.
"How gloomy it is today. I'm sure it will rain. A pity we won't be able to venture out into the gardens today, isn't it Lily?"
Rose sat up rising to go to the window as if to confirm the almost certain forecast.
"A carriage approaches," she said as she looked out of the window. "Lilias, who could that be? Were you expecting other guests?"
"No, I've no idea."
Rose's vision could not quite make it out, but it looked as if a man was leaning out of the side window gazing towards the house-a man in uniform. She ran from the room without another word to Lilias and to the entrance.
"ALBERT!" Rose exclaimed. She nearly tripped over the stone steps sprinting towards the carriage as it came to a halt.
He stepped out and lifted Rose into his arms.
She let out a high-pitched series of giggles.
"You're here. You've really come back to me. You never wrote in your letters you were coming home."
"I wanted to surprise you. Your parents told me I could find you here at Misselthwaite."
Archie and Lilias stood together at the threshold of their home smiling kindly at the reunion.
...
It was but a fortnight past when Rose and her husband returned to their home that Archie & Lilias received an invitation that in a little over a month to follow they were requested to attend a homecoming ball in London honouring the return of Albert's regiment.
Archie and Lilias were in the library. Lily rested her head in Archie's lap as they took turns reciting the poetry of Tennyson to each other. Lilias smiled and shut her eyes listening to Archie's deep and soothing voice which held a certain honesty to it. How she loved the sound of his voice!
Medlock entered.
"Excuse me, Milord and Milady, a letter come for ye."
"Thank you, Medlock." Archie replied. She handed it to Archie but he gave it over to Lilias to open and read.
"We are invited to London to an evening assembly honouring Albert's regiment."
Lilias looked up at Archie and could see his face was not thrilled with the idea of attending such a social gathering.
"Darling, I know how you so hate..."
"All I need is to have you, my bride, there at my side, and I shall not hesitate to acquiesce. That is, if you don't mind my filling all of the spaces on your dance card." Archie answered. Lilias grinned.
She lifted up to plant a quick and sweet peck of a kiss upon his lips.
They learned an invitation had arrived for Neville to attend as well.
The Craven family had a residence in London. They would attend the event and then retire there for the evening.
Over a month hence, the evening approached. Her gown was delivered to the London residence.
Aisling called her to try it on. If it needed any altering, Aisling could quickly manage something herself, as there would be no time to send it back to the seamstress.
"Well, what do you think?" Lilias gently asked.
"I think Lord Craven won't be able to keep his eyes off you, Milady."
Lilias blushed.
Her gown was constructed of tulle and Duchesse lace appliqué on net, over cloth of the palest blue,trimmed with cloth of silver, silver sequins, opalescent sequins, and pearls. The gown featured a square neck, and short ruffled sleeves with lame' bows, and a corsage accent on the bodice of pearl sequins forming a floral design and a V waist band of the palest blue lame'. The full skirt was slightly gathered at the hip with underskirt and train embellished with pearl sequins.
...
"You're so very beautiful, my angel." Archie replied in awe as Lilias descended the stair, and he held out his hand. His eyes twinkled with sparkling adoration.
The candlelit ballroom in which the event took place was a very intimate setting. It was filled with benches and chairs, settees, and ottomans for seating. There was a full orchestra. Their were introductions and accolades given to the militia, and then the dancing and the social part of the gathering began.
Archie and Lilias gave their greetings and appreciation to Albert and Rose for including them on their guest list.
"Rose, dear," a rather loud and uncouth pretty woman approached, noticing Lilias's arm linked with Archie's.
"Introduce me to your twin sister and her gentleman. My dear, your gown is simply magnificent." She complimented Lilias.
Rose spoke, "Oh, ah, Lady Constance, this is the Lord Archibald Craven of Misselthwaite, husband to my sister Lilias. I'm sure you've heard of Misselthwaite."
Archie took her hand and bowed slightly.
"Oh, yes, how remarkable! Very grand!" Lady Constance had a nervous expression on her face.
Archie then noticed she was staring at his shoulders.
He looked down to the floor self-consciously.
Lilias interjected.
"Ladies, you must forgive us, but my husband and I have an appointment on the dance floor."
It's not as if Archie wanted to parade Lilias around. He disliked being the center of attention, but he so loved dancing with her.
After several dances, they became out of breath laughing.
"Darling, would you like some refreshment? A glass of wine? I will go and see if I can find a footman."
"Yes, thank you, sweetheart." Lilias answered.
Lilias began slowly walking around searching through the crowd, but there was not another familiar friendly face with whom she could converse. The ballroom became quite crowded as she tried to find a place to sit. She was weaving her way through a labyrinth-like maze of people and overheard Rose speaking to another woman Lilias had seen once before. Lilias knew Rose had several snobby and very rude friends who dearly loved to gossip-sometimes about unspeakable and improper topics.
"Rose, is that man truly your sister's husband? Poor creature!"
"Yes, it is unfortunate." Rose answered.
"Well, no wonder she is not yet withchild. Can you imagine what it must be like to bed such a pathetic creature? How cumbersome? With his crooked legs and crooked back, writhing, spasming, and thrashing about so violently ungraceful... I could not bear it! She cannot possibly enjoy it!
Though, you two are wondrous beauties, she's the black sheep of your family indeed. "
Even Rose, shallow though she was, would not take and would not hear of those insults upon her sister's circumstances. She tilted the glass of wine in her hand until some spilled upon the lady's gown.
"Oh, I beg your pardon! How clumsy of me! And yes, her husband Lord Craven does have the body of a crippled beggar, but you should learn to be a little less crass in polite society."
Lilias heard all of this and tears started to freely stream down her face. Her expression did not change, because she froze. Her heart seemed to still. Suddenly coming to from the shock of this very disrespectful and rude conversation, her eyes roamed to Archie being handed two small glasses of wine.
She rushed towards him and through her arms around him from at his waist as he held his arms higher to secure the wine not spilling over.
"What on earth?" He uttered with a deep and soothing voice. "What in God's name?" He spoke very softly like a lullaby with those words. "Whatever is the matter, my love?"
She wouldn't let go of him, but he managed to turn slightly to put the wine down on a side table.
"Let's leave this place. Please, may we go?" Lilias spoke.
"What's happened?" Archie asked, though he would not object to the prospect of an early departure.
"My head is splitting." Lilias hesitated to think of what to say. "I'm suddenly very weak and rather tired. I'm sorry. We've done our duty by making an appearance. We know no one here beyond Rose, Albert, Mother, and Father...Let us retire. I've no more energy for this. Please, darling." She spoke in her musically sweet voice but there was a sadness to it this time.
Archie asked no more questions but complied.
"Let us make our goodbyes, then."
They gathered their cloaks.
"You're leaving so early?" Rose questioned as they approached.
Lilias was silent with a sullen look upon her face.
Archie spoke for her. "Yes, we apologise. Lilias is feeling a little unwell. It is but a headache, but it's quite exhausted her."
Lilias wouldn't make eye contact with either Rose or Albert.
At the Craven London residence, Aisling was attending to Lilias as she dressed for bed.
"I expect it's always so crowded and too hot at those grand city gatherings. If I were dressed in such a corset and gown, I fear I would have fainted. It's no wonder you felt weak."
Lilias began to cry.
"Milady, what is it?" Aisling gave a sympathetic look.
"It's nothing. Just gossips making cruel remarks."
"Is that what ruined your evening?" Aisling placed a hand on the back of Lilias's shoulders.
"What sort of impertinence was that, Milady, If you don't mind my asking? If you'd like someone to talk to, I can listen.
"Only they remark of why I'm not withchild. Evil and cruel-hearted beasts they all are. They don't know anything about anything. None of them. Nothing." Lilias continued through tears.
Aisling's face fell, "They should not have said such things."
Aisling thought to herself...Her lady would show them. She would give His Lordship a son. She knew it! Theirs was a true and powerful love and God would bless true love.
...
Lilias got into bed under the covers with Archie who was already lying there.
"Lilias, my love, talk to me. What has bothered you, tonight? Was something said to you?"
He wondered what truly would cause such a drastic change in the atmosphere and Lilias's demeanor at that night's event. She seemed so full of joy dancing.
He only guessed. "Was it...about me?"
Lilias cuddled against him. She was silent against him for some moments.
"They know nothing of love." She responded.