The Cousin - ONC 2023

Prologue

August 1811

Akin to when Eros shot Apollo with a golden arrow of love, Emily aimed her imaginary arrow towards her target. But instead of falling in love with the first person he saw, he would fall for her. The one who aimed at his back in the crowded ballroom.

Her mama had refused to let her attend the ball because of her age of one and three, but that did not mean she couldn’t hide on the balcony and swoon over the man of her dreams.

She pulled back her arrow, as far as it could go, just as she had learnt in archery lessons—the ones her Papa had organised, much to her Mama’s dismay.

Young ladies should not be gallivanting out of doors in the sun, playing with a bow and arrow. No, they should play music, practise painting, embroidery—all the things Emily did not enjoy. But she secretly knew her mama did not mind.

As Emily was about to let her arrow fly, a beautiful young woman curtseyed before Oscar—her Oscar. She stowed her arrow of love and pulled out of her imaginary quiver an arrow of extreme disgust.

Oscar was much too good for Francesca Lovett. Her father was a mere Baron and Oscar, well he was the future Earl of Riverstoke. He could do far better than a silly ninny like Franny.

Emily notched her arrow and let fly, shooting silly Franny right between her beautiful, dim-witted eyes. At that exact moment, Oscar turned his head up towards the balcony.

Emily had never dropped to the ground so fast in her life. Her elbow was left smarting as she hit the hard surface.

She peeked through the leafy balustrade. The whole ballroom had been transformed into a magical forest fantasy. Emily was the beautiful fairy princess, with her golden curls, and Oscar was her handsome prince.

Fortunately, Oscar was once again facing silly Franny, making her giggle like some daft simpleton. He must not have seen Emily and thank goodness for that. If her Mama found out what she was doing, she could revoke her archery lessons as punishment, because young ladies should not be sneaking about ballrooms they were not invited to.

She had begged her Aunt Florence to let her attend, but to no avail. “I’m sorry, Emily, it simply isn’t done. You’re far too young. Maybe in another four or five years.” Her Aunt had told her. Five years! It may as well have been a lifetime.

The music played once again and Emily stood slowly, dusting off her dress, making sure to stay hidden behind the leafy vines.

Before a second attempt with her arrow of love, she looked about the ballroom. Her mama was laughing with her Aunt Florence and Uncle Matthew by a large, leafy candelabra. Emily’s cousin Henry was making his way to the dance floor with a pretty girl, and Oscar had now been joined by his horrible and strict mama.

She was uncle Matthew’s sister, which made Henry both Emily’s and Oscar’s cousin, but thankfully Emily was not related to Oscar—her future husband. Lady Trentham would not have been her prime choice for mother-in-law, but it could be worse.

She had heard some people married their first cousin, but the thought of her and Henry made her physically ill. She loved Henry dearly, but he was no match for Oscar—the most handsome man who ever lived, or so she thought. His beautiful blue eyes and that dimple on his right cheek gave her stomach the flutters every time.

Time was getting on, and she would have to sneak back soon. She had told her governess that she had forgotten her book in the kitchen—where she had eaten dinner that evening. If she didn’t want to be caught in a lie, she needed to be quick.

So she pulled the love arrow back out of her quiver and aimed straight at Oscar’s heart. She just needed his mother to move slightly to the right. Emily tapped her foot impatiently.

Finally she had a clear shot. She pulled her arm back again, almost breaking her bow string. As she let it go, he turned quickly and looked directly at her. She was too stunned to move, her arms still in the air as dread spread through her. But then something unexpected happened. He winked at her and smiled. Oh lord, that dimple.

Her heart stopped, she couldn’t breathe. A moment later—almost like it had never happened—he was back to chatting with another guest. But it had happened and she would cherish that wink for the rest of her days.

With her goal now accomplished, she drew in a deep breath and ran for her room. She did not get far before she came to a screeching halt in front of her Mama.

“Oh, hello mama. I was just—”

“Sneaking out to watch a ball I had told you many times you could not attend?” Her mama admonished.

“I was just going to fetch my book. I left it in the kitchen at dinner,” Emily said in her defence. Keeping the lie simple and consistent.

“I’m sure Miss Woods believed that nonsense, but I’m afraid you can not fool me, darling. And do not look at me with tears. That will not work either, Missy.”

At least she tried, but her Mama could never stay mad at her for long.

“Off to bed with you, my little rascal. We will discuss your punishment in the morning,” her mama said, pushing her towards the stairs that led to her room on the upper floor.

Whatever her punishment, it was worth it. To witness the music, the dancing and, of course, Oscar, cutting a fine figure in his beautiful blue velvet coat.

And he winked at her. That alone would sustain her until she was old enough to marry him—and marry him she would.

Emily slept well that night, dreaming of enchanted forests, fairy queens and cupids shooting arrows of love. But unbeknownst to her, everything was about to change and soon her fairytale dreams would turn into one long nightmare.