Huge thank you to RegalPixieDust for her help with this chapter!
The next morning, the Mills family was having breakfast when one of their servants entered the room and gestured to Emma. "Miss Mills, you have a letter from the Booth mansion."
There was a gasp throughout the room as Emma rose to take the letter. The rest of the women in the family waited with bated breath as she read its contents before sharing them. "'Tis from Ruby Booth, asking me to dine with her this evening."
"Only Miss Booth?" Cora repeated. While it was somewhat expected that Emma would be asked to dine with the whole Booth household, for the invitation to come from Ruby instead of August was unexpected. "Oh dear, this won't do."
"Mother, this is perfect," Regina interjected. The patriarch of the family had shared his predictions about the impending inclement weather earlier that morning, and Regina knew that given those conditions, she had to ensure that her sister was safe. "There will be snow tonight, so Emma can take the carriage so she's safe."
"The carriage?" Cora repeated. "Certainly not. She'll go on horseback."
The two oldest MIlls girls looked at each other, their expressions appalled, and repeated, "Horseback?" Surely, even their mother's schemes did not include sending her eldest out on horseback in the snow. Then again, Regina considered, her mother was conniving, her plots, while ridiculous, elaborate. If Cora Mills did not want Emma to come home that night, she would not be returning home until the next day.
True to Regina's and Emma's prediction, Emma was sent on horseback to the Booth residence. Regina fretted the entire time, and sure enough, Emma did not return that night, just as her sister predicted and her mother had planned. Instead of getting lost or hurt in the snow, which Regina had feared, Emma had spent the entirety of the night with the Booths and Mr. Locksley, a fact which was confirmed when a letter from her to Regina arrived the next morning:
Dearest Gina, Regina read,
I hope that you did not worry all night, as such
fears were unnecessary. I am well, and have been
well taken care of by both August and his father,
Marco, as well as Ruby. Even Mr. Locksley has been,
to echo his words about you the night we made his
acquaintance, "barely tolerable." All three men
insisted that I could not return home in the weather
last night, and indeed, refuse to send me home on
horseback. Therefore, conditions must improve
enough to accommodate a carriage in order for me to
return home.
Do not worry about me. August and his father
and even Ruby have been very kind, and I shall return
soon. When I do, we shall have much to entertain, for
my stay here has been most informative.
Until then, I remain your most devoted sister,
Emma
Regina finished the letter and informed her family that she was going to visit Emma, who would be staying at the Booth residence until the snow melted. Knowing her sister's gentle nature and remembering the way in which Ruby Booth had summoned her the day before, she wanted to ensure that her sister was in fact being treated well. She would delay the journey, but the snow from the night before had abated, making the way passable on foot.
Cora protested, but that had never stopped her strong-willed daughter. Without a word, she rose from the table and set off for the Booth mansion.
As she had anticipated, the journey to the Booths' mansion took more time than usual due to the inches of snow that still covered the ground. But as she walked, she couldn't help admiring the scenic view around her. Snow blanketed everything from the ground and trees to the rooftops of the buildings that appeared as she approached the Booth mansion. While she wasn't eager to see Mr. Locksley again, she was anxious to observe Mr. Booth's interactions with Emma, to ensure that he was treating her older sister the way she ought to be treated.
Once she had arrived at the mansion and the butler who answered the door had announced her arrival, Regina was ushered into the drawing room, where she found Emma sitting beside Ruby while the men faced them.
"Good Lord, Miss Regina, did you walk here?" Ruby barked, her expression shocked.
"I did," she confessed, unashamed in her admission. "I often cherish the solitude that walking to town provides. With three younger sisters, an older sister, and a mother and father, the house often seems crowded, so I take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself for some time to think."
While both Mr. Booths acknowledged her answer with grace, Mr. Locksley and the female in their family did not. Two pairs of eyes, deep blue and olive green, pierced her with identical looks of incredulity. While she perceived that she was accepted by father and son, it would be more difficult to persuade these two of their worth, an assumption that was proven by Ruby Booth's next words, "Yes, I suppose it is difficult for anyone to think with so much… buzzing around the house," her emphasis on "buzzing" clearly indicating who she was referring to.
Regina's heart sank as she looked at Emma. She had noticed stolen glances between her sister and the younger of the two Booth gentlemen since her arrival, and while she would do everything possible to ensure her favorite sister's happiness, she knew that given Miss Booth's and Mr. Locksley's disdain, the road would be long and difficult. "While yes, it is wrong to gossip, a fair amount of discourse is necessary in every relationship," she argued. "A woman must be a partner with her husband in everything for their marriage to succeed. If the balance is skewed one way or the other, it will not be a real marriage."
"Men and women must be partners!" Miss Booth scoffed. "Next, you'll be telling us that women should be in government! While yes, an accomplished woman must be educated, her areas of study need only include a grasp of the modern languages, drawing, dancing, and needlepoint for her to truly deserve the title."
"And she must not attempt to improve her mind through excessive reading," Mr. Locksley interjected, his gaze fixed on Regina. "I believe I have only had the pleasure of being acquainted with six accomplished women in my entire lifetime."
She glared back. "My goodness, if you encompass so much in the word, I am amazed that you have known six accomplished women. I would have thought that you would know none if you attach so many attributes to the word."
"We have nothing but the highest standards, but there are women who fill them," Ruby informed her, standing and beginning to walk around the room, her posture ramrod-straight, her steps soft but sure, full of a grace that Regina instinctively knew was borne from hours of practice. "My mother, Eugenia Booth, was an example. While she was alive, she was full of poise and grace, and was the belle of every ball she attended."
Tears filled Marco's eyes at the mention of his late wife. Regina murmured her condolences, which were graciously accepted by the older man. She had wondered why there was no Mrs. Booth present, but thought it improper to inquire after her. Now she was thankful that her instincts had been right.
"And in truth, there is one that we neglected to mention. There is something in her air and manner of walking that marks a woman as truly accomplished. Come, Miss Regina, join me in a turn about the room."
Regina stared at her, dumbfounded. What were her aims in asking Regina to walk with her? It was not possible for the auburn-haired beauty to think that they had affairs of any nature to discuss. From what she had learned over the course of their acquaintance, she and Ruby Booth were nothing alike.
Then she saw the way that Ruby was looking at Mr. Locksley, and while the reasoning still baffled her, Miss Booth's intent was clear at last. He was regarding them indifferently, and it was obvious to Regina that Miss Booth wanted his attention. Whether she would aid her in her efforts, however, remained to be seen.
Suddenly, her mind was made up. Despite the fact that she wanted to help Emma gain everything her heart desired, she was a woman with an ironclad will. No matter how much she wanted her sister to find happiness, she would not help the conniving Ruby Booth with her schemes. For all her commenting on how unseemly it was for her mother, Mary, and Kelly to gossip, Miss Booth seemed to take pleasure in readily pointing out when others whom she perceived as beneath her status acted in an unseemly fashion, which to Regina amounted to the same thing.
Eventually, she took her leave with the intention to return home with Emma. Mr. Booth- August, as Emma called him- seemed dejected at the news, but saw them to the door with his friend. As they exited the room, Regina caught his sister's voice, "Did you see her hem? Covered in mud. She looked positively medieval."
As they walked out into the remnants of the snow, which had melted enough for them to take the Booths' carriage home, Regina turned to August. "Thank you for your kindness in allowing my sister to spend the evening with you. It was far safer than if she had attempted the trip after nightfall."
"Of course, you are all welcome at any time," he told her earnestly, his smile bright. He turned to Emma to bid her farewell, leaving Regina to address Mr. Locksley.
"Mr. Locksley," she said with a curtsy, bowing her head before standing erect once more.
"Milady," he breathed, reaching for her hand. As Regina looked at him, she saw something in his fathomless blue eyes that she had never seen before that despite her skill with words, she did not know how to describe. But she sensed that somehow, things had shifted between them- whether for better or worse, she was unable to deduce.
"Yes?" she whispered, her voice almost as soft as his as she waited for him to say more.
He did nothing but stare at her for a moment before turning to walk indoors, leaving Regina to ponder what had just occurred.
As the two sisters rode home, Regina was silent, memories of the last few minutes passing through her mind. He had treated her with nothing but disdain thus far, and even if he had not, she would not want anything to do with him. His portrait of the ideal woman had demonstrated to her beyond a doubt that he was the worst man she had ever encountered, and nothing could change that.