An Acceptable Marriage (BOOK 5)

Chapter 5

"Rumours voiced by women come to nothing."

― Aeschylus, Agamemnon

Arabella had no time to second guess or doubt her decision in the weeks that followed.

She was swept up in an almost dreamlike state of dances, tea parties, suppers, theatres and carriage rides. She spent at least an hour with Bertram every day and she enjoyed his company immensely.

It was two weeks after their courtship officially began and Arabella was dressing for a supper party Bertram was hosting at Laycroft House in her honour. She sat in front of her mirror as her maid brushed out her long hair.

"This is all happening so quickly," Alice sighed from her seat on the edge of Arabella's bed. "Everyone's all grown up now."

"Yes, it's amazing how quickly time has passed. I wish you and Ollie could stay longer." Arabella met her sister's gaze in the reflection.

Oliver, despite Richard and Isabella's reluctance, was returning to Italy in two days and Alice and Nathaniel and Emma were due to return to Wales the day after that.

"We'll be back up in time for the wedding anyway, we won't be apart for too long."

"But that's silly, you should just stay here and then leave after the wedding."

"The wedding won't be for at least five months, we can't stay away from home for that long. Besides, you'll be so busy with preparations and plans that you'll hardly notice we're gone."

"But..." Arabella sighed, looking down at her lap. She'd always imagined her marriage would involve her whole family. She'd imagined that her sisters would be there to help her dress and to gossip and plan. But in three days both her sisters and Oliver would be far away and she'd be left alone to enter a world she'd only ever dreamed about.

"You're done Miss," the maid said, pinning the last bit of Arabella's hair. "Would you like to wear your pearls or your emeralds?"

"Pearls please," Arabella found there were tears in her eyes and she blinked them away carefully before turning around to her sister.

"You look lovely," Alice smiled, reaching out to fix Arabella's collar. "Grey looks good on you."

"Compared to you I look like an old maid," Arabella laughed, only slightly envious.

Alice was, and always had been, beautiful without trying. Arabella had never begrudged her that, it was a fact both Lilly and she had come to terms with early on in life, but she couldn't help but feel a spike of jealously whenever she saw Alice dress up for an evening.

"Don't talk such rot, you could never look like an old maid. You're very beautiful," Alice laughed, taking the pearl necklace from the maid and securing it around Arabella's neck. "Now, are you ready to visit your future home?"

"Absolutely."

Nathaniel, Alice and Arabella got into the carriage as it took off towards Laycroft House, a good thirty minutes away in Walsingham, a small nearby village.

"It's strange," Nathaniel laughed, looking at Arabella and shaking his head. "To think how fast time has gone. When I first met you, you were this dreamy-eyed girl of thirteen. Now look at you; on your way to a supper party at the house of your intended." He laughed.

"It's not so strange." Arabella replied, "when I first met you, you were a shy Welshman who was terrified of my sister and now you're a father who's brave enough to stand up to Alice."