Finding Love

Chapter 10

"All right then, Margret just put her shoes on and you shall be ready to go. I will see down stairs in a minute." Mother said after putting hours of work on my dressing for the night. "Come Daisy I need to freshen up before we go." They both walked out the door.

"Please pray for me Margret, That I do not fall in these ridiculous shoes." I said as she put them on me. Once she was done I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was done up in a ridiculous amount of curls and twists. It was much taller then I preferred. My dress was a dark yellow that I found very unpleasant. Later I will make sure this dress can never be found again. I had a hideous amount of pearls on me around my neck, ears, hair, dress, gloves even these stupid shoes. "I look Horrible"

"Lady Coves insistent you dress in this manor. Heaven only knows why."

"Margret I look like a cake. A giant Puffed out cake filled with icing."

She laughed "Now that you mention it, you diffidently look like a cake. But does it matter I thought you were not interested in the Duke, or are you?"

"no of course not."

"Then what are you worried about no one else will be there from Society so this hideous dress will be a secret you have between the Duke and your family." And his brother I wanted to add.

"All right I must go down. Good night Margret."

"Will you need my assistance when you return?"

"No I would like to dispose this dress when I get back and its best to not have any witnesses." She smiled all knowing and walked out of the room. I fallowed after taking one last look at myself. This night was going to be miserable.

"Where is mother?" I asked when I walked down the stairs. My three brothers, cousin and father were all waiting downstairs in the library waiting to go. It took them all a minute of looking at me then looking at each other wondering who was going to be the first one.

"You look lovely Alice is that a new dress?" Father finally said.

"Mother decided that she was going to dress me today."

"The couch is ready sir." Matthew walked in and said.

"All right then go on, go start getting in the couch and I will go see to your mother." We did as we were told and went to the couch.

"Did you mean to look like a lemon or was that just a happy coincidence?" Joseph said.

"Laugh all you want but once mother is done with me she will go after you lot next. You have had it easy since your men but the day will come when mother will start working on you too."

"Lord Let the day never come." George said and we all laughed. Two minutes later father and mother both appeared and we were off to the grandest house we had ever entered. This mansion made ours look like a play house. It was as grand as you would expect. Giant doors with great detailing. Even the door knocks were bigger then my head. The butler was already expecting us and rushed us in to a library room where the Duke was seated and drinking.

"Hello your grace." My father was the first to enter and bow as did the rest of my brothers and then mother and I curtsied. He stood up with a grand smile on his face.

"Welcome please none of that! welcome to my home. You are a bit early my cook was not expecting it. Please come in and make yourselves at home." He gestured for us to take seats. Mother took the opportunity to push me to the sofa he was just sitting on. I sat down trying not to make a fool out of myself.

"I don't believe I know much about your family. Please tell me." He said to father as he took a chair to my relief.

"Well we own the Thornton Estate and it was given to my family over 8 Generations ago." My father answered