Chapter Eight: After the Rain
The faster courting in record happened during the markedly wet season of 1804, when Miss Mary Leopold secured a betrothal over a plate of sugared almonds and licorice in just four and a half minutes. Of course, Miss Leopold and her new husband would leave London mere hours after the wedding. Reason unknown. Of all that I have imparted to you, dear reader, there is but one bit of wisdom you must heed most. One can never know the truth of a marriage hiding behind closed doors.
Beware indeed, blushing newlyweds. You know not the future that awaits. Will there be hardship or indignity? Or will one's future see the rarest accomplishment of all, a true love match? As for which of these fates await the eager matches of the season of 1813, only two things will tell. Time and, as always, this author.
For one debutante, this lesson was learned before the marriage was even in question. Miss Letitia Everly was seen running from the modiste's shop early this morning by several witnesses, tears running down her cheeks. What could have caused such a scene? The recent loss of her mother, may God rest her soul? For what reason would Miss Everly rush away from her mentors place of work? Why, the reason was one second-born Bridgerton. It seems as if the Mademoiselle and Mister Benedict Bridgerton were seen in a less than appropriate embrace by Miss Everly herself.
One would have thought that Mister Bridgerton was done leading Miss Everly on by now, but it seems we were all mistaken.
Letty was at the Featherington house, dressing Pen in secret in a dress for Daphne's ball the next day now that they had been invited.
"I wish you would come," Pen told her, seeming sad.
"I wish not to see him," Letty explained. "It is his sister's ball. He is sure to be there. I'd also rather avoid the stares from the rest of the ton. It seems everyone has taken to whispering about me whenever they see me."
"I am sorry, Letty," Pen said, grabbing Letty's hand.
"Do not be," Letty shook her head. "I understand. You were not the one who did wrong anyways. All you did was write about it. I cannot be upset over that."
Pen and Letty shared sad smiles and Letty got back to work, making Pen make a circle around the room before spinning a few times. She nodded her approval, a small smile on her face.
"It's beautiful, Letty," Pen smiled down at the light blue dress. "I fear mama may not let me wear it."
"I thought as much," Letty nodded. "I am to have Elsie wait for you at the ball. I sent word to Daphne as well. She will lead you to a private room where Elsie will dress you. I look forward to reading what Lady Whistledown has to say about your appearance day after next."
Pen and Letty exchanged excited smiles before Letty helped Pen out of the dress, packing it up and passing it to Elsie. She hugged Pen goodbye before sneaking out through the side door so she wouldn't be seen. Letty gave Elsie instructions, sending her away to Daphne with the gown to keep safe, Daphne having sent a carriage so that Elsie would not have to walk in the heat, something Letty was beyond grateful for.
Letty moved to her father's office next, sitting behind his desk and sighing. She grabbed his work papers, going through the accounts and business dealings, beginning to organize them. Over the last two weeks, Letty had been studying her family businesses, going to Anthony and asking him to teach her how to take care of the estates they owned and how to do business dealings in her father's steed. Anthony had been in shock before swallowing his pride and teaching a woman how to do a man's job, knowing Letty would not let it go.
Anthony came by every day for a few hours, Elsie chaperoning as Anthony went over everything with Letty. She had the basics understood now and had begun taking care of everything. Anthony had paid off her father's debt at the bar on the sketchy edge of London he frequented, telling the owner that anything her father did no longer reflected on her. She had sent her father to the country house where they had a rather large wine cellar that he could drink through. Letty would be staying with her aunt during the off season before returning to London, Anthony promising to visit Letty once a month to help her with business proceedings.
For all intents and purposes, Letty was now head of her family. That is until her father drank himself to death and her eldest brother took over. She had spoken to Anthony, hoping he could help her with that issue as well but knowing not to hold much hope on that end, knowing as a first born son, Anthony would be partial to another first born son taking care of her, no matter how much she did not like her brothers.
Felix, her eldest brother, had written to her a few times, expressing his apologies for his and the rest of her brother's actions. She'd read the letters and set them aside, still too angry to respond, too swallowed in grief over her mother and over the future she'd dreamt of with Benedict. Anthony had assured her that Benedict would never confused her thoughts again, he'd be sure of it. Anthony treated her more like a brother than Felix ever had and it burned Letty up thinking that she was not good enough for her own family, especially after having cared for her father so after her mother's death.
Letty shook her head, rattling the thoughts from her mind as she continued looking over the accounts. She would need to pay for her father's gambling debt next, having raked up quite a bit in the last week before Letty had seen him off. A knock sounded on her door and she looked up, finding Anthony in the doorway with Cordelia, one of the maids of Everly house.
"I heard Elsie was sent on a task and asked for Cordelia to escort you to the Bridgerton house," Anthony gave a gentle smile.
"Why would I be going to Bridgerton house?" Letty asked in confusion.
"Francesca is returning today. We are all gathering to greet her," Anthony explained, stepping into the office and looking at the paper Letty was currently holding. "Do you need help with that?"
"No," Letty sighed. "Actually, yes. I cannot very well walk into a gentlemen's bar to pay my father's debts. If I give you the money from our accounts, will you take it in for me?"
"Of course," Anthony nodded. "Now, come. Benedict will say nothing to you. I've spoken with him about the matter at length."
"I don't know if I can be in the same room as him," Letty admitted quietly.
"You are stronger than that," Anthony reminded her.
Letty took a slow, deep breath before nodding to Anthony. She stood, allowing Anthony to escort her two doors down to the Bridgerton home, Cordelia following along behind them. Letty took another deep breath before placing a smile on her face and allowing Anthony to lead her into the main sitting room of the house. Hyacinth and Gregory rushed to her, wrapping their arms around her waist and speaking excitedly about a new game they'd created, dragging her further into the room and distracting her completely.
Francesca entering the house, taking the attention to her before Daphne and Simon arrived, Hyacinth and Gregory asking him a hundred questions at once.
"Let the duke to find a seat before you trouble him," Letty heard someone say but her eyes were now locked on Benedict's, the rest of the conversation being drowned out.
Anthony cleared his throat and Benedict looked away, going to speak quietly to Eloise as Daphne went to Letty's side.
"I'm sorry," Letty whispered. "I can't… I have to go."
Letty fled the Bridgerton home, Anthony and Daphne both calling after her. Letty ran home though, running to her bedroom and locking the door behind herself. Letty changed into the trousers and loose fitting shirt that Genieve had provided for her, pulling her hair up into a hat and removing her makeup quickly. She pulled on boots and climbed out of her window, going around the side of the house before walking down the street away from Grosvenor Square, feeling as if she were suffocating with the constant presence of Bridgertons and escorts. She loved the Bridgertons, she truly did, but she couldn't be in close proximity to Benedict any longer. She walked for a while, night beginning to fall before she turned around and made her way home, ready to leave London for the remainder of the season and go to her aunt, hoping the woman would provide her with some sort of comfort.
Letty climbed back through her window, changing into a night dress and letting her hair down, brushing it out before leaving her room to go back to her father's office. With a bright lantern, Letty continued the organizing she'd been working on earlier that day. She had the window opened just a crack, letting the soft breeze cool the room as she worked through the night.
When she was too tired to stare at business dealings any longer, Letty laid on the couch in her father's office, pulling the throw blanket over herself and turning the lantern completely down, allowing the moon to be the only light in the room. She woke in the morning to someone gently shaking her shoulder. Letty groaned before rubbing her eyes and sitting up, finding Anthony, Daphne, and Elsie staring down at her.
"Good morning," she sighed, stretching and causing Anthony to blush and look away.
Letty pulled the blanket around herself before standing. Daphne followed her to her room as Anthony stayed in the office, looking everything over again. Elsie dressed Letty, Daphne giving Letty a sympathetic look as Letty was put in a black dress.
"Next season will be better," Daphne assured her.
"I know," Letty gave a soft smile. "Next season, I will have Eloise to keep me entertained at every function. I quite look forward to it."
"What about Penelope?" Daphne asked, seeming confused.
"Penelope actually wants for a husband one day. Eloise and I both do not," Letty explained. "Maybe I can convince Eloise to help me find someone suitable for Pen."
"I'm sure she'd be thrilled," Daphne smirked.
"Oh, surely," Letty laughed, knowing full well that Eloise would not understand why Pen would ever want a husband. "She'll be over the moon."
"From shock I'm sure," Daphne offered as they left Letty's room, heading back towards the office to find Anthony sitting behind the desk and writing a letter. "Are you taking over the Everly estates as well?"
"Might as well be," Letty smirked, walking to the desk to see what Anthony was doing. "What's this one for?"
Anthony went into detail over what he was doing, writing notes on a separate sheet so that Letty would have reference in the future. After breakfast, Daphne and Anthony left, Daphne needing to prepare for the ball and Anthony heading to settle her father's bill at the club. Letty went to her room, adding jewels to the dress she'd been working on for Eloise, Violet having asked Letty if she would mind making the gown that Eloise would be coming out in.
Letty sighed, staring at the creamy white fabric and knowing Eloise would hate it. Letty looked around her room, seeing the trousers half under her bed before she got an idea. She grabbed more of the material, beginning to cut and sew before sewing it into the gown. She stepped back, thinking of the top before smiling and adding a softer padding to the inside of it, removing the corset completely in favor of a camisole, something less restrictive than a corset that would be more comfortable for Eloise. Letty finished adding the jewels to the bust of the dress before stepping back, admiring her work.
After packaging up the dress that Eloise would need to try on the day before her coming out so that Letty could make adjustments, Letty fell onto her bed, letting out a breath of air. She sat up, grabbing her sketchbook and getting started on designs for dresses for herself, Eloise, and Pen for the following season. A better season it would be indeed.
Loud knocking on her door woke her that night and Letty groaned as she sat up, rubbing her eyes before pulling a robe on just as a footman opened the door. Letty exited her room, finding Colin making his way inside, yelling for her.
"Colin!" Letty yelled, moving to him quickly. "What is it? What has happened?"
"It's Lord Featherington…"
If there is to ever be a grander finish to a season than the one provided by the Duke and Duchess of Hastings this year, this author will need to feast upon her own words. For it was this couple's memorable affair that brought another scandalous London season to a close.
As many now leave the city behind for greener pastures, some endings seem more permanent than others. Of course, there are other endings that will offer new beginnings… however uncertain those new beginnings might be. And yet there is no ending in sight for this author, who recently became aware of a scheme to unmask her by one worthy opponent, indeed.
Perhaps I will come forward one day. Though, you must know, dear reader, the decision shall be left entirely up to me.
Yours truly, Lady Whistledown.