Finding Love

Chapter 14

After what seemed like hours we had told my mother everything about Mr. Taylor and his actions. With the Duke and Ezra sitting with us. Father also explained that Mr. Taylor and his son presented father with a marriage license to marry me in two months time or his son would be telling all that could hear that he has taken my virtue and demands my hand by law. They did not care if there name be involved in scandal as long as I was to wed his son.

"Your Grace is there anything you can do to negate the marriage license?" John asked.

"No not with out causing a scandal" Mother said

"I'm Afraid your mother is right. I could go to my cousin and ask for a favor but she will be asking why and If I tell her she would not be able to keep it a secret. Not in that palace the walls have ears."

"Then everyone will know and Alice will never marry" She continued

"I don't need to marry John, George and Joseph can take care of me. I would need no husband." I said

"Don't be ridiculous Alice. When they have wives and children of there own, who will care for you then? Do you think there Wives will be happy marring into a family with scandal? And if they were to all die what then? There children will not care. And You will live your life with out the love of a family of your own. The chance to have your own children?" Mother said I sat back down and stayed quiet. When she put it that way. "The only way to save ourselves is to marry you off before Mr. Taylor makes good on his threat."

"Marry her off to who?" John said

"If I may-" The Duke started talking but my mother cut him off.

"Oh your Grace you are a true saint to take Alice off our hands and saving us from ruin! We could never be able to repay your gracious gift but Alice will be a good wife to you!" she was almost in tears. I could not believe she had said that.

"No Lady Coves you miss understand. I do think you should marry Alice but with my brother Ezra" He said. The air got stuck in my throat I was not sure if I had heard that right but looking at all the stunned faces around the room I knew I had heard right.

"But your Grace! Are you promised to another?" Mother asked

"No"

"Then it is improper for the younger brother to marry before his eldest in cases such as yours. You being the Duke and have to produce heirs for your family." she said

Before he spoke again he looked Ezra deep in the eyes as if they were having a conversation in front of everyone without say a single word.

"Lord and Lady Coves it would have been my greatest Achievement to have been able to marry a young women such as your daughter but if I may be honest with your family I am unable to produce an heir. For my body has been falling apart for years. I have searched to the end of the world for Doctors to cure me of my illnesses. But I have had no such luck. Some say I have been lucky to have lived this long. My brother and I are in London to present my brother to the queen to appoint him as the new Duke of Evengston on the day of my death. She has granted this of course with a bit of a fight from my uncles eldest son. But seeing as I am one of the Queens favorite cousins she leaned on my favor. So you see Ezra will be the Duke sooner rather then later and If you allow it Alice the Duchess and The Taylor family will have no where to tell there story to." The room was quiet and I felt so sorry for the Duke and his condition. To me it seemed so unfair for a man such as himself good hearted and honest to have this burden placed upon him.

"I am severely sorry your Grace for the path that God has put you on." My father said "And if this being your wish and the best chance Alice has to a future then we will take it. That is if you are willing Mr Evengston."

"It would be my honor Lord Coves." He said

"Then it is settled. I shall ask the queen for a special permission Licence so that they may marry quickly. How soon should I ask for?" The Duke said.

"In two weeks. We will be hosting a ball and we have it all scheduled we can just surprise our guest with the news of the wedding. I think it best if we keep it between only our family till the day of in case the Taylor's make a mess of things. Do you agree?" My mother said

"Yes I do think that is best. Then we shall contact you when we have the License."

"Yes of course and maybe when it is best for you to come over to the house and have dinner." Father said.

"Now that you know of my condition it is best I no longer pretend It is hard for me after a night like this to do anything for the next few days so if you wouldn't mind to come over to our home for dinner"

"No of course not Your Grace. When it is best for you. We shall be awaiting you note"

"Yes good night." The brothers said there good Byes and Matthew walked them out. The rest of my family to tired to stay and talk all walked out of the room leaving me sitting wondering with my thoughts. Was this really happening? Would I be getting married in two weeks time? Could I really be part of a Scandal? What am I doing why did I not fight harder for my freedom? Will Ezra demand that I be a proper wife and not go out at the club anymore? Would he lock me in a room if I disobeyed? No I don't think he is cruel but I didn't know him well and now he has to marry me! I had trapped him in a marriage just because he saved me that night in the garden. Had I not been there and He not save me He would not feel the need to help and come here this night after seeing my father upset. I had trapped the poor man into a marriage he did not want. what if he wanted to marry for love or a better suited wive?

"Alice come let me help you out of your dress." It was Margret. I was still sitting on the sofa in the sitting room parallelized by my thoughts. she walked over to me and lifted my hand and walked me out of the room till we were in mine. She helped me out of my dress sitting me at my vanity and brushing my curls into submission as my thoughts went in circles in my head.

"You must not worry. Everything will work out for the best." Was the last thing she said as she walked me to my bed and laid me down and walked out of the room.