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CHAPTER ONE
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ THE ART OF CHARACTER CREATION
"THEODOSIA!" Came the hoarse, harrowing cry of one Mrs Eden Fairfax. She was a lady of thirty-seven, with long honey hair piled atop her head, and only the slightest wrinkles around her mouth, because of the stretched smile she often wore on her face. Her dress was a sharp emerald, one that brought out her golden curls and almond eyes that always had a strange twinkle lingering in them, sizing up whoever she was gazing at. They were critical, serious, but warm to those who were in her good pages. She was pretty, for a woman of her age, and for a mother who stressed over her daughter far too much to be healthy.
One could suppose she had to be beautiful, for if Maximus Fairfax was holding a homely woman on his arm, he simply wouldn't be respected, and she would be treated as if she were a dead rat abandoned in an alleyway. And although Edith didn't necessarily like that way of thinking, she was perfectly fine with being an ornament, an accessory to her husband's lifestyle, and with that, society.
The aforementioned Theodosia came sauntering down the marble staircase, leading down to the parlour of the Fairfax estate, the lavish lilac fabric of her dress hitting the light of the diamond chandelier above them, marble-white gloves and hat adorned upon them that carried a matching lavender bag. She was the spitting image of her mother, the same blonde hair and light freckles, the same bright smile upon her face. Even their eyes were the same, a rich hazel colour that sparkled whenever she was excited.
"Yes, mother?" The sound of their voice was enough to make Eden smile even wider. It seemed as if she had blinked, and Theodosia had transformed from a babbling toddler to a mature and bright young person.
"You're going to be late for the train," Eden reminded them, and as soon as those words slipped out of her mouth, Theodosia raised a brow, her grin faltering slightly.
"Mother, I turned sixteen a while ago— do you have to come with me everywhere?" Theodosia asked with sincerity, her voice dripping with a sickly sweet begging tone, "I would love to go to London by myself."
Eden shook her head decidedly, walking towards her child and grasping their hands, "An unmarried lady must always be escorted by her father. I won't come if you so desire, but your father must. Besides, I have compromised enough with the train. If it hadn't been for your father, you'd be taking the carriage."
The blonde teenager couldn't help but frown at the term lady, but she just nodded as they tried to hide her disappointment, "Oh— right. Of course."
The older woman nodded along too, satisfied with her scoldings, and as soon as she did so, Maximus Fairfax came into the room, clad in ebony dress robes and a smart-looking hat. He had a handsome face, and an agreeable sense about him, a feature his wife and daughter had in common with him. His bright blue eyes and even brighter smile charmed everyone he came into contact with and lit up every single room he entered.
