Duchess of Winter

The Comte's Son

Jean shivered and wished that Agatha would somehow show her face before the sun rise and along the people of Verger de la Wintersby. Thus he will be spotted and Lord Wintersby who had already made it clear that he could not give Agatha's hand would be surely crossed. Even if Comter Leon du Var was a good friend and their families had been thus for so long. Marriage to the young Agatha Winters was simply out of the question. Though Lord Wintersby could not supply him and his parents the reasons why. And had kept Agatha out of his commune ever since he offered. Lord Wintersby politely declined and asked Jean not to even see Agatha again. And had even gave him an absurd idea that in four years time Lady Louise Winters will be legal to be wed to him. His parents did not find that silly. It was as if they won second in a horse race after all. And the winnings was still somehow beneficial.

Jean shivered again. Good Lord the snow was falling heavier! Why had Agatha not opened her window?  She had done that every morning to take a peek at the vast plantation of grape vine under her window since she was able, to no avail. Was she still angry at him for not taking action in her desperate pleas to ran away? She was definitely upset when He had done what is expected of a gentle man and asked her parents for her hand.  She had said to him that for what he has done. It was better for him if he had stabbed her with a lance through the heart. And fled sobbing to her chambers never to be seen by him again. But maybe just maybe, she would forgive him and today as he was bold enough to plan it after much thinking. Do the wrong thing and ask her to elope with him. Maybe just maybe after all it was Christmas. And the season had held many joyous surprises for so many people. Why not for him?

" She is not here" a young lady's voice broke Jean's wishful contemplation. There stood young Lady Louise in her red snow cape all dressed up for service holding a storm lantern up to her face. Her golden curls dressed with red ribbons and cheeks red from the cold air. She had been taking her dog to walk on the garden before breakfast. Had it been not for the miserable weather. The sun should have been on top of the distant hills by now. Stretching his glorious rays out like it had woken up from it's own warm bed. 

"She is not here Monsieur she had not been since autumn." Louise added as a sad expression crossed her face.

"Where is she? Is she fine? Is she still angered with me?" Jean asked almost in the same breath.

Louise stared down on the snow beneath her trying to find the words to start her story about her sister's absence. 

"Perhaps it is better if you come inside and warm up by the fire. I am not sure I am the one who should tell you" She weakly smiled and opened the big French doors to the ballroom as she signalled Jean to follow, her the dog on her heels.

She led him to the big round dinning room where her parents were seated in silence. Both with an obvious gloom on their faces while the servants, similarly distraught serve them like mindless counting machines. 

Surely there was a mistake. Is this not the happy abode of Lord and Lady Wintersby? What had change from that summer? Jean wanted to ask out loud but was afraid to be taken  wrongly.

"Mama! Papa! Look who I found wishing us a happy Christmas!" Louise announced trying to lighten up the mood of sadness.

Lord Wintersby smiled and patted him on the shoulders as though the incident of summer gone had not happened at all. He was even genuinely  happy to see him.

If only he knew of his plan to take his daughter away under his very nose?" Jean thought but forced a smile back.

"Oh Jean!" Lady Wintersby hugged him and led him to the breakfast chair." You do not know how happy we are to see you...of all days today!" She exclaimed in all honesty. "Joyeux Noel!" she said to his cheeks.

"Joyeux Noel" He answered back with an uncertain smile.

Louise found her seat next to her mother after she had politely handed her cape and lantern to the doorman.

"And I too am so happy to see you and be welcomed" He said to the elders. It was an honest reply even if his presence there was a dishonest plot to make the girl he love happy at last and make amends with her wish.

" I know I should not be here Lord Wintersby. But please do forgive me. I really only wanted to wish Agie a Happy Christmas.

Lord and Lady Witnersby looked at each other. And Louise suddenly took her eyes from the happy reunion and stared down her plate.

"I am sorry Jean." Lord Wintersby said after he cleared his throat." Agatha no longer lives here. She was summoned back to Wintersby Manor to take her place as Duchess as what the late Duke had bequeathed her."

He paused and looked to his wife again for reassurance for his next words. Lady Wintersby nodded  sadly but reassuringly as she took her husbands hand on the table.

"But of course she could not be given the title until...."

Jean's world felt like it was going to collapse around him. His eyes shot opened upon the realization of why Agatha had asked him to ran away with her and to elope in the first place. And  was the reason why she was not home when it was a day where she should must be of all days in a year.

"...be married to a peer" Jean heard himself echo Lord Wintersby's words.

How could he have been so stupid?Of course she had been angered with him. She had tried to tell him but his belief of doing the right and proper thing had cause him to loose the woman he had ever loved. 

Jean wanted to ride his steed all the way to Sussex if he can. But as Lord Wintersby had told him. Agie had wedded Ernest, Baron of Rothcer who was third in line by blood to inherit the duchy and title of Wintersby. They had been married by the time of the first snow of the season came. And the Wintersby had just settled back home to Provance before Christmas to give the newly weds privacy at Wintersby Manor. It was to late to claim his bride for she now was wife to another.

If there was somewhere worst than death this was the place Jean told himself as unsolicited tears fall from his hardened jaws.