He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter Fifteen - Meeting His Bride

Hooves cantered leisurely along the road, in a steady beat upon the cobblestones, the wheels of a coach tearing through the sound in their wake.  One horse whined as the coach neared it's destination before a voice rose above all calling them gently to a halt.  There was a scurry of feet about the coach as the horses were settled and the coach door was opened, a step placed upon the ground to allow the occupant to exit with grace.

It was not the only coach to have arrived at the large sandstone Manor House.  Even now, an additional transport was making it's way unhurriedly upon the Manor's road, toward the expansive building topped with slate and adorned by sweet scented roses.

Inside the House, it was calm, much unlike several hours prior when it had been filled with a hubbub of activity, with servants dusting down the furniture and sweeping the wood and tiled floors. Guests in embellished coats and flouncing dresses were greeted by the butler in his neat, but more humble attire, before being led to the gallery. Lord Thomas was holding a soirée to show off his latest acquisition.

Lord Thomas was a robust man of no great height, but much influence in the political world and an avid collector of art. He wore a vivid red tailcoat trimmed with gold embroidery and a golden undercoat. His wife of ten years wore an embellished red dress with a full cream underskirt. Her waist had been drawn tightly to become tiny and a hint of cleavage was peering from her neckline. Both husband and wife greeted their guests warmly, with the husband encouraging the men to admire his artwork and the wife calmly offering refreshments, which were brought out by their many servants.

In amongst the crowds, that were slowly increasing within the gallery and grounds, were many unwed sons and daughters as fathers and mothers sought good matches for their offspring. The young maidens, in particular, flocked together to admire, behind their fans, the men who might become their husbands. They were quite frank with both appraisal and critique and not as quiet as they thought they were being.

"Ugh, how uncouth, such plain entire. He might well be a servant. He would blend in well enough."

"Master William is looking quite dashing, would you not say. 'Tis a pity that his brother has no fashion sense."

"Is that Nellie's twin brother? So handsome, a pity they're not from the main house. I do not wish to be a merchants wife."

"Oh my God, the Lady's brother has arrived! Wouldn't our gracious mother and father be pleased if he looked our way!"

"Be still my heart, would I be so pleased would he look my way!"

There was a tittering of giggles, but the man in question, who had no doubt heard it all, simply raised a lone eyebrow and ignored them all. Lady Katrina's brother, Master Matthew, was the spoiled baby brother of the four siblings born to Lord Edward and his Lady Katherine. His older brothers and sister had all been married off to strengthen political ties and status. But the youngest boy, though now a man at the age of twenty one, refused to wed and due to their overindulgence of their surprise baby this whim was allowed.

But at the sight of the tall, elegant man, dressed in his usual whimsical midnight blue touched by a smattering of silver and hat adorned with a long lace bowed ribbon rather than feathers, the eyes of the girls softened as they looked on adoringly. With just as much love in her eyes, Lady Katrina approached the man some seven years her junior, her gloved fingers itching to ruffle his blue-black hair. His eye's sparkled in warning, before turning lazy as he watched her.

"Darling brother," Katrina greeted and air kissed his cheeks as both her hands took his. "I am so glad that you could join us."

"I am not so sure brother-in-law thinks so," his eyes were drawn to the green coloured stare that came his way, before the short man huffed and turned to ignore this person.

Katrina threaded her arm through her brother's. "Tish tosh, if I cannot see you during one of his impromptu gatherings, when shall I? He knows better that to deal with my complaints should we be apart too long. Besides," she added, tilting her head towards the girls and their sly mothers, "I am not the only person to feel graced by your presence!"

"Mother's wish coincides with theirs," he sighed with a slight sulk. "It has barely been a month since she allowed the Addington's to visit as they happened to be passing by with their third daughter, just turned sixteen. One would have thought that she might have given up on this route by now."

"She is just seeking your happiness, Matthew," she offered, "as aren't we all."

"With a child?" He retorted.

Katrina shrugged. "There aren't too many maidens close to your age that are not already engaged or wed and those spinsters that remain are likely poor in status and poorer in appearance. You are too picky. Now why try not to break those girls hearts are get to know one or two. You never know, your match might just be in this gallery." She kissed his cheek, before greeting late guests.

Matthew snorted beneath his breath and headed to the gardens. If his bride was in this place, he'd rather just avoid her. As he stepped outside, he took a deep breath, inhaling air heavy with the scent of roses and lavender. He reached inside his waistcoat and took out his pocket watch. It was a curious commodity, being enamelled white with an odd silver pattern upon its coat. Silver hands turned upon a face of black. It was not fashionable and was normally an unsellable piece, but Matthew had wanted it from the moment he'd set eye on it. He clicked open the covered to read the timepiece which seemed to glow for a brief moment in his touch. His elegant frame faltered as his foot stepped back to adjust his stance. His mind were assaulted by a serious of memories that seemed foreign to his own and he gasped as he assimilated them. Steadying his breathing, he remembered his past life and the mission he was sworn to.

"What a remarkable piece!" a soothing voice spoke before him as slender hands reached out to the pocket watch longingly. "I've never seen the like. How does it perform? Does it lose much time? Do you have any idea in regards to it's manufacturer?" Matthew, who once knew himself to be a man named Aidan, looked up into inquisitive pale eyes. "Hmm... are you alright?"