When We Meet Again

Chapter 9 - Gossip pt. 2

Today was a crisp, yet sunny day in the middle of December. Surprisingly, there had been no snow yet, and the weather was fair enough for walks in the city park.
Many of the well to do mothers took advantage of the decent weather, as well as the waterfall of gossip that has come since the season's opening ball. This was especially true for two mothers, Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Warner, who had been spending the morning strolling through the park and discussing any of the major news that had come forth since the ball.

"Have you seen that Lydia Berkram and John Stoltz have already made plans for an engagement?" Mrs. Harris spoke. She gave a shrewd look over to Mrs. Warner, who gave an astonished look in response.

"Why, I'd never." Mrs. Warner replied. "That is much too early, in my opinion. Perhaps something has happened where they needed the engagement..."

Mrs. Harris sucked in through her teeth and shook her head. "I hate to make assumptions such as that, but it does make you wonder when engagements happen so suddenly."

"That's just what happens with the youth these days." Mrs. Warner responded. "They grow without getting accustomed to the new feelings and emotions they acquire, and then they have no self-control. I was never that way at their age."

"I agree with you on that, Margaret." Mrs. Harris replied. "But not my daughter. She is as sensible as she is demure, and I have no doubt she will keep herself in check."

"How is Emily?" Mrs. Warner asked. "She looked lovely at the ball by the way."

"She has been having the time of her life." Mrs. Harris replied. "She has been thriving with all the attention she is getting from the many calls she's received. Such respectable, young gentlemen, yet, I do notice she does seem to have her eyes on your boy."

Mrs. Warner gleamed and set her hand on her heart. "As does he. Lucas seems to direct his attention to her when it comes courting. And I support him all the way, as well as put some good words about Emily into his ear."

"And I thank you for that." Mrs. Harris smiled. "As I'm sure Emily would as well."

The ladies smiled at each other, and walked towards a fountain in the middle of the park. They admired its grandeur, as well as bathe in the successes coming from their intricate match making.

"Have Emily's friends had any luck this season?" Mrs. Warner asked.

"Well her two closest friends seem to be doing well." Mrs. Harris replied. "Victoria Wilde was married last year, as you know, and Diana Lewis has had many callers, just like Emily."

"Ah, I remember Victoria'a wedding, what a lovely ceremony." Mrs, Warner smiled. "And Diana looked splendid at the ball as well. What a lovely dress she had. The Lewis's are such a lovely family, don't you think?"

"I agree, completely." Mrs. Harris replied. "Yet I am still surprised that the oldest is still unmarried. It's such a shame seeing someone as eligible and handsome as him remain single."

"Yes, but it can be quite common for such eligible bachelors to stay unmarried for quite some time, at least until they are practically forced by their families. Many hold such a responsibility on their heads that being married turns into another thing they have to worry about." Mrs. Warner explained. "And it was such a shame that his father died when he did. It never good to put pressure on a boy who has not yet reach twenty years. Though I'm sure he's grown into the job by now."

"I think that having a wife would be helpful with all of that stress. She could be a calming force among the responsibility." Mrs. Harris spoke. "But I bet the eldest Lewis is much more concerned about making sure his sister is married off and cared for."