MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! HAVE THIS CHAPTER… *hands it to you*

Chapter 34: A Lost Hope

Lady Davidson sat quietly looking over the table at her daughter as she ate.

"Mama, if you continue to stare at me-"

"How was London?"

"It was very educating," she said as she sipped her tea.

"Any suitors?"

"Mama," she laughed quietly, "you know my answer already."

"Twenty six and still unmarried," Lady Davidson said under her breath.

"I have no need for men, Mama," she said quietly in return, "They all slobber and stare as if they have nothing better to do. No man in London allowed me to carry a conversation-"

"I will drop the subject, now-" Lady Davidson hushed herself when a maid came in with a tray of letters."

She plucked the pile of letters off the tray and sorted through them, waiting for the maid to leave the room. She did not trust prying ears.

"Another letter from Mr. Villeneuve for Miss Eve?" Lady Davidson said with a smirk, "Well then-"

"Mama, no," her daughter corrected her, "That is for Miss Eve. You cannot read it. Why do you insist upon intercepting the Meriweathers' letters?"

"Because they live on my property," she said, "and I will know if something scandalous is happening under my nose."

"Mama!"

"Arabella," she spoke back, "You will keep quiet on this matter. Your brother has been hanging by a thread for Miss Eve to accept his proposal."

"But she doesn't love him, Mama," she proclaimed.

"Love can be learned, Arabella," she corrected her, "I will see to it personally that she accepts Peter's proposal."

…

Two months had passed since Jean left for France. Eve had not received a single letter and it made her curious as to why. She worried that Jean had harbored anger towards her and perhaps did not write her purposely. Despite all the drama in Eve's life, Sarah's stomach was growing larger and she found herself confined to the house more often. She was exhausted because she could not sleep well. Eve found herself giving up the bed one night to allow her friend to rest. Sarah took up most of the space in the bed, that had once had ample room, as she was only comfortable laying sideways.

Eve groggily opened her eyes to see herself dangling halfway off the bed one night. She sat up and walked slowly out of the room, making her way into the room of the youngest girls, Grace and Georgiana. She shook Grace awake and her cousin sat up.

"What is it Eve?" she said with a mousey voice.

"I have found myself without a bed," Eve said, "Sarah needs some space."

Grace scooted aside, pushing the sack of potatoes that was Georgiana out of her way. Eve envied the girl's ability to sleep so soundly. She crawled into the bed and fell asleep very quickly.

When she awoke, the girls were clinging to her for warmth. She pried them away and found her dressing robe before heading downstairs. Mary and Jane were eating biscuits. Eve sat down and looked at the pile of letters.

"Is there one for me at least?" Eve asked. The girls shook their heads no. They had already eagerly searched the pile for a letter for Eve.

Eve looked worried and stood up from the table. She headed upstairs again. Mary and Jane watched her and looked at one another in wonder.

….

Sarah was sitting up in bed when Eve came into the room. She looked fatigued.

"No letter, again?" Sarah asked knowing why Eve looked so concerned.

"I don't understand it," Eve said, "He said he would write me. It takes just a little longer than a fortnight for a boat to reach Devonshire, good weather providing."

"Perhaps there was an extreme issue awaiting his attention in Blois," Sarah tried to sooth her. Eve was silent.

"Am I to understand that your feelings for him are a bit more than you've led me to believe?"

Eve looked back at Sarah and shook her head, "I believe you've misread me."

Eve lied. She had, in fact, found herself thinking of him as a potential husband. In fact, the prospect of this kept her from accepting Peter's proposal. She had found herself broken down and knew that it was time to marry. Peter was not a bad young man and he was kind but her feelings for Jean were beginning to sneak up upon her. However, with the lack of letters, Eve began to believe that she had lost his affections.

"Don't worry Evey," Sarah tried to calm her by tanning her hand in circles over her back.

"I am worried, Sarah," Eve said, "I'm beginning to think the time has come for me to accept Peter's proposal."

Sarah drew back, "What has happened to my strong willed friend?"

"She has begun to shrivel in the wind, Sarah."

…..

After church that Sunday, Eve was called to Twickencote Hall. It was sudden and Eve barely expected it. She was not wearing her best clothes and had been quite sad that week. When she arrived, Peter greeted her enthusiastically. Lady Davidson conveniently asked her to the garden but slipped away, leaving Peter alone with Eve. She sat on a bench and he sat awkwardly next to her.

"Have you thought about my offer since we last spoke of it?"

"I-" Eve said as she looked away, trying to look at the bare rose bushes to distract herself.

"I know you are very reluctant, given that you did not give me an answer the second time I asked you but I assure you, I would be honored-"

"I will marry you," Eve said reluctantly. The words that flowed from her mouth next made her question herself, "Nothing would make me happier."

"I hope that you truly mean that," he said with a wide eyes look. He kissed her hand and she looked away, letting her hand drop awkwardly into her lap.

….

DUHN DUHN DUUUUUUUUHNNNNNNNN (don't worry)