Midnight Affairs

Part 2 - A New Friend

I decided I needed to clear my mind, I knew what was expected of a young women like me in a world like this, but it was still hard to come to terms with sometimes. Women served their men. Women had to be presentable at all times, respecting their husbands and to be proper. 

My Mother seemed to enjoy this submissive life style. My Father, loved her very much but I could see how she was treated. She would only speak when spoken to by him, her manners were always on par and she was always dressed in her best, attending brandy nights and meetings. 

My Father had a mistress who was actually married to another Count at the time, months before his death. When my Mother found out she was crushed, heartbroken. She begged him to end their affair and just be happy with her, but he would not. She was not to speak of the situation to any body as it could potentially ruin his business. I only know because I heard them arguing through the door one morning, and later my Mother's shattered sobs that night. 

It was only 3 months or so after that night that my Father suffered his fatal heart attack, and passed on. His Mistress, Katherine, actually attended the funeral with her husband, Amish, and my Mother was beside herself. I know it had traumatised her deep down but she would not speak of it. She barely even spoke of him now. 

I did not want to get married or end up in a similar situation. I did not want to have a husband who is off for affairs at every business trip. I wanted love, pure passion and romance. 

Just then my thoughts were interrupted as I bumped into Ada, walking through the garden carrying a basket of vegetables from the garden patch. 

'Oh, Good morning Miss Elizabeth. I have sent for a letter to go to the seamstress to provide you a wedding gown, at your Mother's request. Miss Elizabeth, may I?' She smiled at me, holding a hand out to take mine, signalling to look at my new engagement ring. 

I held my hand out for her to see and half smiled. 

'It is beautiful, Miss Elizabeth. I must say Charles will make a fine husband for you. He is very wealthy, he will take care of you Miss' She said, almost as if to reassure me. I was not convinced. 

'But Ada, I do not love him' I said, looking at my ring. It was beautiful, and it must have been very expensive. But I was telling the truth.

'Miss Elizabeth, you may find that your love for Charles will grow' she sighed quietly. 'I must be getting on, Miss, please do not threat. This is a good thing for the family name' She gave a small smile and then she went passed towards the house.

Our gardens were huge, beautiful and neatly well kept every season. It was the end of Summer now, and the leaves on the trees were turning orange. I walked down the stone pathway down to a small concrete bench, hidden in bushes, kept out of the way next to a small concrete fountain. 

I sat on the bench, neatly tucking my dress over my legs. I tilted my head back, looking up into the sky. 

'Please...please give me a sign it will be okay' I whispered to the sky. I was actually talking to my Father. I did this sometimes when I were really desperate. 

I was startled by some noise from the bushes, my head looking in the direction and being faced with a young man. He was dressed in plain brown trousers, a white t-shirt - or what was once supposed to be white. His hair was mousey brown and shaggy. His eyes were hazel and dreamy. He looked only a year or 2 older than myself. 

Definatly was not from a wealthy family. Maybe second class at a push, but more working class from how he was dressed. He smiled at me, and his pearly white teeth under his soft pink lips were like heaven. I cleared my throat getting carried away with my thoughts.