Many attended the burial of the late Lord Adelbert Heming. His family, his siblings and their children , had mourned for his death, so as his friends and neighbors. No wife nor his children present for he did not marry.
Many were curious as to why he chose to be unwedded. He had been quite good-looking in his younger years, and a good posture, a man many woman had adored.
His death was sudden. He was in a club playing cards when he suddenly grasp his chest then gasp loudly. It took only few seconds before he lost his breath, so fast that everyone was too late to react.
He died of heart-attack, which shocked his family. He had no signs of heart-illness. They investigated to know if there was a foul-play but there was none.
Some thought it was some kind of witchcraft, but the idea was not welcomed by the inspectors and his family.
Now, why would his death be of importance? Simply because he was one of the richest persons in the country. But he did not have an heir, so his wealth will be evenly distributed among his family members. All his wealth except for one, his estate in Burnham, in which in his will he had said that no one will claim the land for it will be of important use to someone in the future.
This had rose so many questions among the townsmen. Whoever it was will stay as mystery.
While most of those who attended the burial knew the man, a young girl watched in utmost curiosity at the surrounding as she was trying to recognize any familiar face in the crowd. In her little mind, she knew that they were strangers for she had seen none of them before. Mayhap when she was an infant?
She did not bother to voice out her curiosity, understanding the gloom of the place and the grief of some people.
Old people are strange. And maybe I will become someday.
---
"Who is he, mother?" the young Alice asked, she took one last glance at the decreasing crowd in the burial before following her retreating mother.
Her mother stopped on her tracks then turned to face her curious daughter.
"Your father saw him as a friend and so was your grandmother. He was very kind and would always extend help to those who are in need. May he rest in peace."
The daughter beamed. "May he rest in peace. I hope many men would be like him."
Her mother chuckled. "Those kinds of men are rare, dear. But I wish there would be really plenty of good men. They are vicious creatures, like vampires."
Her eyes widened. "But they do not exist, mother!" she horrored.
She watched her mother started walking while laughing. She was just jesting, was she not?
And the day went through with Alice constantly asking her mother about vampires and stories about the late lord and her father. At the end, she concluded that her mother was just making fun of her. She was fooled indeed.
"If only he had a family of his own, then maybe I will have a chance to marry a good man of his kinship, mayhap one of his grandsons." Alice said to her mother as climbed on her bed to sleep.
Lady Emerald only smiled at her innocent child. She was yet young to think of marriage. She's not yet ready of the cruelty of the real world. She must prepare her for the future, and she will make sure that she will remain a pure soul when the time comes.
"Hush,dear. We will talk about marriage when you are of age. Now, sleep sweetheart and dream sweet." Her mother responded. She kissed her forehead before leaving her bedroom.
---
An invitation had arrived when the Wilderlanes were having their breakfast.
" It is an invitation for the party held for the celebration of Lady Divina Atkinson's coming of age for marriage." Lady Emerald announced after reading the invitation.
Gavin, the youngest son, snorted which earned a slap on his left arm from the elder child, Yvette.
Lady Emerald turned to her eldest child, Peter. "You will come to the party to escort Yvette and Alice."
Alice choked on her bread. "Why do I need to go?"
"To find a husband, ofcourse!" Gavin interjected.
She grimaced and looked at her mother. "Please mama, I do not wish to attend."
Her mother frowned. "Why?"
"Because I cannot go there and throw myself to men to find for a husband! " she exclaimed.
"Your voice!" The mother warned. "Four years had past since you came to age of marriage, why do you wish to not marry? Many eligible bachelors will be there, it is a good time to hunt."
Alice was never fond of parties. Moreover, she did not like the thought of finding a husband. She promised herself to marry on her own choice.
"I do not wish to marry because it is what I ought to do. I will marry not because of duty but because I love the man."
Gavin grimaced hearing her words. "You will be a spinster, sister. Love is rare in our status." He then faced his mother. "Say mother, why is she so romantic?"
"Enough of this." Lady Emerald tone was serious. "I will choose who you wed if after the season you do not find a husband-to-be."
"But Yvette is still unmarried! She ought to marry first!" Alice protested.
From her serious face lady Emerald's lips curve into a smile. "Ah, yes. Yvette, tell your siblings."
The people in the table shared a confused look except for the Lady Emerald and Yvette.
The quiet Yvette wiped her lips with a hanky before uttering the words which were a bit unexpected.
" Lord Aaron Calloway had offered me marriage."
Gavin and Janus chocked. Alice mouth dropped open and Remsyl, their youngest waa the first to comment on the news.
"But he is not handsome!"
"And the bloke is too boring." Janus added.
"And he is a decade older than you!" Alice exclaimed.
Gavin was the only one who seemed to approve. "He is wealthy, my dear siblings, and quite besotted to out sister."
The protests were shrugged away. Yvette, in her age of six and twenty, had thought that she might not be able to get a better offer if she declined the offer.
While on the other hand, Alice was determined to find a man she will like for she do not wish to wed on someone like her sister's fiancè. She knew Lord Aaron, not only once had they met and she do not like their meetings.
She must talk to Yvette. It will be wrong to marry the man.
