A Duke, a Governess, and a Little Lady
Maria smiled when she saw Max and Liz come riding in.
Liz got off the horse and made her way over to Maria.
"You knew, didn't you?" Liz said excitedly.
"Yes, he talked to me when you were sick." Maria nodded.
Maria continued chattering and Liz spotted a messenger come riding in fast on his horse. He gave a letter to Max.
The look on Max's face made Liz stiffen. Maria noticed and turned around.
Max was now talking to Michael. Michael nodded at Maria.
"Why don't you come inside with me?" Maria pulled Liz into her parlor.
"What's going on?" Liz said almost in a panic. Remembering to breathe correctly, Liz settled herself in her chair.
"Beth, I have to tell you something, why those nice gentlemen out there chose me to tell you, I'll never know."
"Maria, what is it?" She asked.
"In case you don't remember, Beth, you are married."
Liz's eyes flashed with anger, how in the world did she find out? Max told her. He completely went against her trust.
"No, Beth, don't get upset with him. Michael, my husband, is the magistrate. He had to know." Maria smiled proudly.
"What?"
"You didn't know that?"
"No." Liz shook her head. "Maria, d-don't say anything. I have to explain." Liz said starting to get panicked. "I was going to ask Max that question, but he was just so happy, I couldn't do it." Liz looked down at her hands.
"No worries, Beth." Maria laid her arm on Liz's leg.
"Beth, while you were sick, Max rode back to the docks, to try to settle on something for an annulment. When he got there a terrible fight had taken place. Two drunken men got in a brawl and one ended up dead on scene and one died soon after from stab wounds, the man who had died on site was identified as Rafael Derevko."
Liz gasped.
"Max rode back to our house as soon as he heard and talked to Michael. He had it reported and it was indeed him." Maria nodded.
Liz felt awful, yet so relieved. She smiled. Then burst out in tears.
"I have been crying more than I have ever cried in my life." She wiped her tears. "I feel so bad that he died, but I feel so relieved. I don't have to look over my all the time anymore. Maria, is it ok to feel this way?" She asked.
"It's perfectly ok." Maria sat by her.
"Now I can get married." Liz smiled.
"Well, not exactly." Maria said sadly.
"What? Why not?" Liz asked.
"You see, if you're not properly introduced into society, they'll never accept you as Max's duchess."
"How am I to do that?" Liz asked.
"You will come live with us." Maria explained. "You will be Michael's cousin from America, and his ward. Max has agreed, since you shall be his wife, to pay for everything needed for you successful debut. You will stay at our house; Emily will stay here, so Max isn't all by himself. You only have to keep up the charade till you have met and have been properly introduced to him. You know all the rules of English society and shall be completely ready within the next few weeks. The first party starts in three weeks." Maria smiled happily.
"But how will I get enough gowns in three weeks? I'm sure all dressmakers will be swamped." Liz said not sure of the plan.
"Isabel has already arranged for her personal dressmaker to make your dresses. No one will think anything of it since we are best friends, well, you too of course." Maria shrugged.
"I'll leave Max and Emily?" Liz asked.
"They'll come over everyday, Emily can even stay the night once or twice. But yes, you will have to. Beth for you to be with Max, you have too."
"Alright." Liz nodded her consent, then smiled. "Do we get to go to London again?" She asked.
"Yes, you will stay at our town house, we leave in a fortnight." Maria stood. "Let's go get you packed."
Liz nodded. She had just gotten back and now she had to leave again. She would see Emily everyday though, and Max in the evenings.
****
"Emily, it's time for you to leave with Max." Liz called.
Emily stood and nodded. She didn't know exactly what was going on but she knew 'Mama' was leaving again. She knew she would see her everyday.
Max pulled Liz inside Michael's study. "Max, I have to say goodnight to Emily."
"I know." Max affirmed. "But I get to say goodbye to you first." He lifted her chin and placed a kiss on her mouth.
Liz eagerly accepted. They stayed in that embrace until Liz pulled away.
"Max, what about Tess? She knows, won't she tell?" She asked worriedly.
"No, she has the princess's word against hers, who do you think they will believe?" He asked confidently.
"I didn't think about it that way." She smiled.
"Mama?" Emily called.
"Here." Liz stepped out of the study and bent down to say goodbye.
"Emily, be good for Max, ok?"
Emily nodded and studied the two of them. "What's going on, why are you staying here?" Emily asked hugging her.
"We'll tell you tomorrow, Sweet." Liz kissed her forehead and handed her to Max.
"Goodnight, Mama." Emily whispered and snuggled into Max against the cold.
"Goodnight, Sweet." Liz whispered but looked at Max and met his eyes.
"You sure you don't want a carriage?" Michael asked.
"No, don't trouble your groom. It's not a long ride, we'll be fine."
Max nodded and entered into the snow.
****
"Do you like this one?" Isabel asked holding up pink silk.
"No, no pink please." Liz smiled. She squirmed under all the measurements.
"My Lady, will you please hold still?" The dressmaker grunted. She had gotten used to being addressed as 'My Lady' at Maria's house. She had protested at first but Maria reasoned. She said that if she were to go to London as miss she couldn't be Michael's cousin and within a few months she would be 'your grace'.
"Sorry." She mumbled.
"Beth, this one's perfect." Maria held up to her. Liz glanced over at the material.
"It is." Liz smiled. Maria brought it over to her. Liz felt it.
The material was a pale red, not pink, and softer than any silk she had ever seen.
"Can it be made like my Christmas dress?" Liz asked looking at Isabel.
Isabel looked at the dressmaker who nodded.
"I want it made like that." Liz said getting excited.
"It will be then." Isabel nodded.
"When are Emily and Max coming?" Liz asked anxiously.
"Clara is bringing Emily over, Max has work to be done before heading to London for the season."
"He's not coming?" She said quietly.
"He can't, Beth." Maria sympathized.
"Here!" Christopher burst into the room and straight to Isabel.
"Hello, Sweeting." Isabel picked up her son.
"Hi, Mama." He smiled.
"Who's here?" She asked.
"Millie."
Millie was his nickname for Emily. He couldn't get the Emily down quite yet.
Liz looked up smiling.
"Mama!" Emily came running in front of an exasperated Clara.
"Lady Emily!" She said out of breath.
"I'm sorry, my Lady." She pulled her away from Liz's leg and an annoyed dressmaker.
"It's fine." Liz smiled.
"Were you good for Miss Clara?" Liz asked.
"Yes, Mama." Clara had taken up position as governess after Liz left. Max had discovered that she taught at finishing school for three years. With a lot of twisting and pulling she got Max to reluctantly agree.
"I like that." She pointed to the material Liz had picked out.
"I like it enough." Liz stepped down from the stool and stretched.
"What were you going to tell me, Mama?" Emily asked walking closer to her once again.
"Let's go to my room, and I'll explain there, ok?" Liz asked unsure of how to tell her now that Max wasn't here to help.
"Fine." She said happily and skipped next to her.
****
Maria smiled when she saw Max and Liz come riding in.
Liz got off the horse and made her way over to Maria.
"You knew, didn't you?" Liz said excitedly.
"Yes, he talked to me when you were sick." Maria nodded.
Maria continued chattering and Liz spotted a messenger come riding in fast on his horse. He gave a letter to Max.
The look on Max's face made Liz stiffen. Maria noticed and turned around.
Max was now talking to Michael. Michael nodded at Maria.
"Why don't you come inside with me?" Maria pulled Liz into her parlor.
"What's going on?" Liz said almost in a panic. Remembering to breathe correctly, Liz settled herself in her chair.
"Beth, I have to tell you something, why those nice gentlemen out there chose me to tell you, I'll never know."
"Maria, what is it?" She asked.
"In case you don't remember, Beth, you are married."
Liz's eyes flashed with anger, how in the world did she find out? Max told her. He completely went against her trust.
"No, Beth, don't get upset with him. Michael, my husband, is the magistrate. He had to know." Maria smiled proudly.
"What?"
"You didn't know that?"
"No." Liz shook her head. "Maria, d-don't say anything. I have to explain." Liz said starting to get panicked. "I was going to ask Max that question, but he was just so happy, I couldn't do it." Liz looked down at her hands.
"No worries, Beth." Maria laid her arm on Liz's leg.
"Beth, while you were sick, Max rode back to the docks, to try to settle on something for an annulment. When he got there a terrible fight had taken place. Two drunken men got in a brawl and one ended up dead on scene and one died soon after from stab wounds, the man who had died on site was identified as Rafael Derevko."
Liz gasped.
"Max rode back to our house as soon as he heard and talked to Michael. He had it reported and it was indeed him." Maria nodded.
Liz felt awful, yet so relieved. She smiled. Then burst out in tears.
"I have been crying more than I have ever cried in my life." She wiped her tears. "I feel so bad that he died, but I feel so relieved. I don't have to look over my all the time anymore. Maria, is it ok to feel this way?" She asked.
"It's perfectly ok." Maria sat by her.
"Now I can get married." Liz smiled.
"Well, not exactly." Maria said sadly.
"What? Why not?" Liz asked.
"You see, if you're not properly introduced into society, they'll never accept you as Max's duchess."
"How am I to do that?" Liz asked.
"You will come live with us." Maria explained. "You will be Michael's cousin from America, and his ward. Max has agreed, since you shall be his wife, to pay for everything needed for you successful debut. You will stay at our house; Emily will stay here, so Max isn't all by himself. You only have to keep up the charade till you have met and have been properly introduced to him. You know all the rules of English society and shall be completely ready within the next few weeks. The first party starts in three weeks." Maria smiled happily.
"But how will I get enough gowns in three weeks? I'm sure all dressmakers will be swamped." Liz said not sure of the plan.
"Isabel has already arranged for her personal dressmaker to make your dresses. No one will think anything of it since we are best friends, well, you too of course." Maria shrugged.
"I'll leave Max and Emily?" Liz asked.
"They'll come over everyday, Emily can even stay the night once or twice. But yes, you will have to. Beth for you to be with Max, you have too."
"Alright." Liz nodded her consent, then smiled. "Do we get to go to London again?" She asked.
"Yes, you will stay at our town house, we leave in a fortnight." Maria stood. "Let's go get you packed."
Liz nodded. She had just gotten back and now she had to leave again. She would see Emily everyday though, and Max in the evenings.
****
"Emily, it's time for you to leave with Max." Liz called.
Emily stood and nodded. She didn't know exactly what was going on but she knew 'Mama' was leaving again. She knew she would see her everyday.
Max pulled Liz inside Michael's study. "Max, I have to say goodnight to Emily."
"I know." Max affirmed. "But I get to say goodbye to you first." He lifted her chin and placed a kiss on her mouth.
Liz eagerly accepted. They stayed in that embrace until Liz pulled away.
"Max, what about Tess? She knows, won't she tell?" She asked worriedly.
"No, she has the princess's word against hers, who do you think they will believe?" He asked confidently.
"I didn't think about it that way." She smiled.
"Mama?" Emily called.
"Here." Liz stepped out of the study and bent down to say goodbye.
"Emily, be good for Max, ok?"
Emily nodded and studied the two of them. "What's going on, why are you staying here?" Emily asked hugging her.
"We'll tell you tomorrow, Sweet." Liz kissed her forehead and handed her to Max.
"Goodnight, Mama." Emily whispered and snuggled into Max against the cold.
"Goodnight, Sweet." Liz whispered but looked at Max and met his eyes.
"You sure you don't want a carriage?" Michael asked.
"No, don't trouble your groom. It's not a long ride, we'll be fine."
Max nodded and entered into the snow.
****
"Do you like this one?" Isabel asked holding up pink silk.
"No, no pink please." Liz smiled. She squirmed under all the measurements.
"My Lady, will you please hold still?" The dressmaker grunted. She had gotten used to being addressed as 'My Lady' at Maria's house. She had protested at first but Maria reasoned. She said that if she were to go to London as miss she couldn't be Michael's cousin and within a few months she would be 'your grace'.
"Sorry." She mumbled.
"Beth, this one's perfect." Maria held up to her. Liz glanced over at the material.
"It is." Liz smiled. Maria brought it over to her. Liz felt it.
The material was a pale red, not pink, and softer than any silk she had ever seen.
"Can it be made like my Christmas dress?" Liz asked looking at Isabel.
Isabel looked at the dressmaker who nodded.
"I want it made like that." Liz said getting excited.
"It will be then." Isabel nodded.
"When are Emily and Max coming?" Liz asked anxiously.
"Clara is bringing Emily over, Max has work to be done before heading to London for the season."
"He's not coming?" She said quietly.
"He can't, Beth." Maria sympathized.
"Here!" Christopher burst into the room and straight to Isabel.
"Hello, Sweeting." Isabel picked up her son.
"Hi, Mama." He smiled.
"Who's here?" She asked.
"Millie."
Millie was his nickname for Emily. He couldn't get the Emily down quite yet.
Liz looked up smiling.
"Mama!" Emily came running in front of an exasperated Clara.
"Lady Emily!" She said out of breath.
"I'm sorry, my Lady." She pulled her away from Liz's leg and an annoyed dressmaker.
"It's fine." Liz smiled.
"Were you good for Miss Clara?" Liz asked.
"Yes, Mama." Clara had taken up position as governess after Liz left. Max had discovered that she taught at finishing school for three years. With a lot of twisting and pulling she got Max to reluctantly agree.
"I like that." She pointed to the material Liz had picked out.
"I like it enough." Liz stepped down from the stool and stretched.
"What were you going to tell me, Mama?" Emily asked walking closer to her once again.
"Let's go to my room, and I'll explain there, ok?" Liz asked unsure of how to tell her now that Max wasn't here to help.
"Fine." She said happily and skipped next to her.
****