AWW YEAH, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! HAVE ANOTHER CHAPTER… *wraps it in sparkly paper for you*

oh, btw, I just discovered has an image submitter… perhaps I shall upload some illustrations when I'm able to get my Wacom Tablet program installed again. My main computer will hopefully be back soon after its crash in September. If you want to see some existing illustrations you can always go to my deviant art page (username: WisdomsPearl) or just click on my homepage link on my profile.

Chapter 35: Announcements

When Sarah heard what Eve had done, her heart sank to the floor. She couldn't understand why the friend she always knew as strong minded would decide to throw away her dreams. It was desperation, she knew, but it had to be something else. Eve was not acting like herself. She hadn't laughed much in the two weeks since she agreed to the proposal. Lady Davidson was planning the wedding to be in two months. Letters had been written and sent to everyone in Eve's family and Sarah began to wonder how long it would be until Eve lost her mind.

A man arrived on a horse one day at the Parish unannounced. Eve was sitting in the window seat and perked up when she saw him.

"Oh dear God," Eve shockingly announced. The maid looked out the window with her.

"Do you know him?"

"It's my cousin," Eve said confusedly, "My father's cousin. The Duke."

"Oh Heavens to Betsy," the woman said in shock. "We've never received a Duke before! Mrs. Meriweather!"

Eve plugged her ears when the woman screeched at the top of her lungs. Everyone began to panic. She looked out the window and rolled her eyes. She knew him better than she had led on. He was a very calm man and he didn't care if things were perfect. He rode in a horse, which wasn't exactly how a Duke would travel. Amongst the insanity and commotion, Eve stood up and walked to the door. Everyone froze when she opened it.

"Ah! Eve, my dear!" he joyfully announced, hugging her tight and lifting her off the ground.

"Why-Why-," Eve couldn't get her words out. He put her back on the ground.

"I got a letter from Lady Davidson," he laughed, "announcing your engagement."

Eve slightly smiled. His smile dropped when he realized what was happening.

"Get some tea!" Mrs. Davidson shouted, making Eve cringe.

…

Eve tapped on the table awkwardly as her cousin looked down at his tea cup. She knew the Meriweathers were shoved against the door on the other side, listening in.

"Eve, what is this business?" he finally asked, "Peter is a good man but you aren't shining like I would have expected you to."

Eve looked down at the table.

"Your mother wrote me awhile ago," he broke the silence, "She told me about a gentleman named- oh goodness- it was very French- Mr. Ville- Villeneuve?"

Eve looked up and he smirked.

"What happened with him?"

"I don't know what mother told you-"

"Oh, the usual," he joked.

"Mother," Eve groaned.

"He sounded like a good chap," he chuckled, "Well- he was a bit older from the sounds of it."

"Forty three," Eve corrected him.

"Ah," he said. He could feel the awkwardness in the air, "Honestly, Eve, the reason I came here was to ensure that you were indeed- well- happy."

"I am?" Eve couldn't say it without it sounding like a question.

"Oh dear," he clanked his cup down, "Eve, you know you are my favorite cousin."

A smile crossed Eve's face, "I will not tell Anne you said that."

"Thank you," he said as he smirked, "Perhaps you need to spend some time in London. Breathe the air of the city. Meet some beaux. Put all this Davidson business behind you-"

Eve slightly laughed, "I cannot abandon Sarah. I'm sure you heard."

"You know I'm not one to care about scandal," he said as he began drinking his tea again.

"Yes, you were always an odd man," Eve joked, "How is it that you're a Duke?"

"Unfortunately for my father, I was his only son," he laughed.

Eve pushed her cup aside. She was very tempted to take his offer but she knew Sarah needed her there. He looked around the room as she finished her tea. He was very enthralled by the simplicity of the home.

"I thought I would stay in town for a bit," he said jovially, "I might as well, I need to get out of London for a bit. Perhaps I'll go hunting or just take in the fresh air."

At that moment, Mrs. Meriweather came bursting in. He stood up out of politeness.

"You're welcome to stay here, if you wish," she exclaimed. Eve looked at her aunt and gave her a look of confusion, "Pardon the intrusion."

"No, it is quite alright," he laughed, "I think that perhaps it would be nice to stay here. I do love the rustic style of the country. I need to abandon my responsibilities for a few days. Don't let Lady Davidson know I'm here until tomorrow. I don't want her prying in."

Mrs. Meriweather chuckled, "Oh, don't you worry, I'll take care of that."

….

Lady Davidson called for a dinner at Twickencote the following day. Eve's cousin stayed behind with the youngest children and Sarah, wishing for some peace and quiet. However, he wasn't aware he wouldn't get any, considering the trouble Jacob always found himself in. The others all walked to Twickencote but it seemed to take ages for Eve. She was completely silent the whole walk. Her uncle kept watching her as she ahead of the group. He tried to catch up to her but whenever he did, she increased her walking speed. She didn't want anyone to talk her out of it. She was tired of being told she needed to marry and knew that if she didn't soon, she'd never hear the end of it.

Twickencote finally appeared in the distance. Eve took a long breath to try and dispel any nervousness in her stomach but it did not accomplish the task. She let her family catch up to her. She felt her uncle rest his hand on her shoulder reassuringly. She looked up and caught a pained look in his eye as no words could come to his mouth. He patted her shoulder and walked ahead of everyone. Mary linked arms with Eve and they walked up the massive amount of steps which led to the entrance of the manor. When the door opened, Eve almost turned away but caught herself in time to gain her composure. They were herded into the drawing room, as was the usual procedure. Eve sat down quietly in a chair and didn't say a single word to Lady Davidson until the woman spoke to her.

"You seem a bit grey today, dear," she said with a bit of concern in her voice. Eve shook her head and tried to assure he that she was fine.

Peter came in, nearly skipping in excitement to see Eve. She, however, did not share in this feeling and felt a bit guilty seeing how he lit up when he saw her.

"Mama, would it be possible to excuse Eve and I?" he asked as he took Eve's hand. She stood up and Lady Davidson nodded her head, continuing her conversation with Mr. Meriweather.

They walked into his father's old study and Peter sat down with Eve on a small settee. She watched the fireplace. The crackling sound of the fire comforted her. Peter was talking and she barely noticed until he put his hand on hers. She looked away from the fire and noticed he was handing her something. It was a flat box and Eve felt dread as he opened it. He presented a small gold chain with a locket at the end. She thought it quite beautiful but didn't want to be drawn in by it. She could feel the life being sucked from her and she feared she would be giving her soul away for pretty little things. It devastated her. He put the necklace on for her and she lifted the locket to look at it closer. She pushed the little mechanism on the side and it opened. A very small portrait of Peter looked out at her. Her future stared out at her from a tiny object. Her life was to be confined to a gilded cage. She felt her heart panic and she immediately closed it, putting on a false smile before she lost her mind.

"Do you like it?" he asked. Eve nodded reluctantly.

"My father gave it to my mother when they were to be married. I thought I'd carry on the tradition," he happily remarked. Eve's heart nearly stopped. She knew Peter was fully aware that she didn't love him but she also knew he was under the impression that she would grow to love him, eventually. Eve was beginning to try and convince herself it would be that way but everyday that passed, she began to get cold feet.

….

Blois, France

George buttered a biscuit and looked up as his father entered the room with a letter in his hand. He put it on the table and poured himself a cup of tea. George pulled the letter closer with his finger for inspection. He saw Eve's writing on the front but the wax seal was that of the Davidson family. He grabbed it and snapped it open. His father looked up as he was helping himself to the bowl of biscuits.

"George," he admonished him, "It is addressed to me, is it not?"

"Well, it says George Cromwell," he joked, "It could be either one of us."

His father rolled his eyes and took some butter for himself with a knife as his son continued reading the letter.

"Oh Dear Lord," George stood up and practically threw the letter in his father's face, causing him to almost choke on his food.

"What has gotten into you," he coughed as he tried to compose himself. He took the letter and read past a few lines until he saw the words, "I am engaged now."

He let out a riotous roar of glee and he nearly knock down his chair as he ran to tell his wife. She was sewing in the parlor when he thrusted the letter in her face.

"I haven't seen a smile that massive cross your face since George was born," she jested as she read the words on the page. However, when she read it, she did not jump for joy. She looked up at her son who was standing in the doorway shaking his head. She stood up and led the room. She left her husband in a state of confusion. He rushed after her and found her in his study, preparing to write a letter.

"Are you not happy, dear?"

"George," she said as she stared him straight in the eyes, "Did you read this letter? Did you truly read it? I know when my child isn't happy. I can assure you she isn't. I can feel it in my bones."

"I'm sure she is," he tried to assure egis wife. She put down the quill and glared up at him, "You are going to Devonshire to talk Eve out of this, or I will do it myself."

"I will do no such thing," he defended himself, "She is doing something good with her life."

"Oh, is that so?" she kept writing, "Then I will be on the next boat to Devonshire if I have to be."

…

Jean was sitting in his study when Adele and Alphonse came rushing in. The look on their faces made him jump up. His nephew was holding a letter and shaking his head as he slowly handed it to him. It was from Lady Davidson. Jean sat down and began to read it slowly, dreading what he was about to discover. There it was, the line that made him almost give up, "My son and Miss Cromwell are to be married…" Alphonse watched his uncle drop the letter on his desk before he quickly pushed pass them. Alphonse ran after him.

"Where are you running off to?" he shouted.

"I'm going to speak with her father," Jean responded.

"Why speak with him?" Alphonse sounded confused, "You need to be on the boat to Devonshire."

"I wrote her three letters," Jean said with agitation, "She hasn't responded to any of them."

"What would her father have to do with it?"

Jean paused for a moment. Any clarity he once had was gone. He sat down and buried his face in his hands.

"You can't run from this," Alphonse said, "I ran and look what happened. I may never see her again. I could have kept pursuing her but I didn't."

Jean took his hat and coat from a servant and made his way outside. He mounted his horse and Alphonse watched him ride off. Adele stood by with the letter in her hand.

"I don't understand how this could happen," Adele worried, "He asked her to marry him in his third letter but she hadn't sent him a single one."

"There is something strange going on," Alphonse said, "I feel it."