Excelsior

Chapter 38: The perfect match

Despite having a great fortune, Evelyn's holydays were not as satisfactory as expected. Her wishes to attend the family's Christmas dinner with a fiancé were not fulfilled and she spend New Year's Eve listening her father talking to her relatives about her upcoming marriage, assuring that the rumors regarding her sexuality would disappear.

She expressed her feelings regarding the matter while arranging the merchandise of her retail, La Contessa, which she devoted herself more for pleasure than for business. It was not unusual for Lexington's dames to own a boutique, an art gallery or other small business to contribute to society and also have something to do, yet, most of their incomes came from her husbands. While it sold dresses and women's shoes, the store's main attraction were its accessories, particularly its hats designer by Evelyn herself, an accessory that were never absent in her looks and became part of her personal brand.

The manager rolled her eyes as she listened to Evelyn's cries, comparing her own worries to the ones of her boss.

"It must be hard being you!" the woman said as she was checking the headbands, "you must feel bad."

"Indeed, Gabriella. I don't know what to do. Would you like to go shopping?"

"Are you aware we're open?"

"And? I own this and we could close earlier. Why don't you put someone else in charge?"

Gabriella shook her head. They heard the door open and saw Katlyn walk through the threshold.

"Thanks God, Kate! Come with me as I need retail therapy and Gabriella has no will to help me."

Without letting her friend talk, Evelyn grabbed her hand and they spent the rest of the afternoon forgetting their problems deciding between accessories to finally ending up not buying anything.

She kept wailing on her way home and in the living room, until finally Kat decided to stop listening and advise her:

"Not taking a fiancé to Christmas does not ruin anything, Evelyn. You still have time; you have time until your dad dies. There are multiple occasions to announce a fiancé, such as the Spring Ball. Such news would even overshadow all the debutantes, can you imagine? It would be funny."

"That's not what frustrates me, Kat," he whispered. "But the fact that I have to get married to please my family and live well. At Christmas dinner they asked me when I would have a child, how far do I have to please them to maintain the image of the family? Who assures me that once married they will stop blackmailing me? I do not want to have children, at least not now. What if they threaten me saying that I will not receive anything from them if I do not bear any child as soon as possible?"

"That would be impossible because your inheritance will be given to your future husband, and he will provide for you. They will be required to do so.

"What if my in-laws want grandchildren and condition his inheritance? I am sick of this. Two weeks ago, I woke up without any plans and felt like going to Paris for a coffee, and in a matter of an hour I was flying Europe and in less than two days I was back. Will I be able to enjoy those freedoms once I am married? I will have to let my husband know where I am going, and he may not like it or my lifestyle may cause problems. And with children? My freedom is more restricted. I will have more responsibilities and during the first years I will not be able to be absent, I would not feel good."

She saw her little dogs sitting at her feet.

"Poochie and Francesca are all I need," she continued.

"I don't know what I could tell you, dear."

"Besides, this house is too small for a family. It was designed for a widow to live her last days here, and it is great for a person, yet for a family? Small; sometimes even I feel that and I'm alone. I will have to sell Villa Contessa and I adore it. At least my new residence will have to have its own gallery."

"Since we know you will be doomed once you get married, we should take advantage of your bachelorette days, do you want to go to London?" Or, if you are not in the mood, we should have tea with Erica." She stood up. "Let's go."

—Sorry my dear friend, I'm not in the mood. A trip to London or tea with Erica would be ruined by my frustrations. Why don't you go alone? I do not want to infect you with my negativity. I need to be alone, besides," she turned to see a maid standing in a corner in silence, "I need my relaxer. Could you bring it to me?

The young woman nodded and left immediately, while Kat said goodbye. Evelyn spent the rest of her day alone forgetting her problems in smoke screens.

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Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed. English is not my native language, so any feedback, suggestion or advice to change the grammar would be really appreciated.