Beth through time, p.6
Beth Through Time, page 6
Anne shook her head. “You think the best of people. It is his fault for not living up to it.”
“You can say it. You can call me naive. That day, the day of our elopement...I was a bit nervous, but overall, I was excited. I thought I was set to marry the man I loved, but as soon as we left his demeanor changed. The turn was so sudden and jarring it was as if he had slapped me across the face. Gone was his smile and warm voice, his eyes cold as he ordered me to sit down and stay quiet. That’s when I knew I had made a huge mistake.”
“He was just one awful man. That does not mean that you are naive or that you could not find someone honest and true.”
“How would I know? What if I listen to pretty lies and empty promises and believe another impostor like that?”
Anne shook her head. “Is that why you went along with Willa’s hair-brained scheme? Because as long as you are pretending, it is safe? You can dance and flirt with the knowledge that it could never turn into something more?”
My cheeks reddened. Her point had shot straight through my core. “There is nothing more to it. This was a one-time occurrence; I shall never meet the duke again. Besides, I made the deal with Willa while thinking of you. She agreed to invite us along to dances that host the ton and, if you still want to make a match that is, help find you eligible bachelors.”
Anne appeared taken aback. “She will?”
“Yes, so this harebrained scheme, as you put it, might be of some use after all.”
7
Invitation to Bambreich Manor
"Anne, Beth, are you coming down?" Rose's voice traveled up the stairs, pulling me from my slumber.
I covered my ears with the pillow and groaned. Last night, Anne and I had stayed up late, with our conversation ending long past our early departure from Mrs. Westham’s ball. The effects of which became evident this morning; my head throbbed with an annoying banging at my temples, and my eyelids were heavy and did not want to open. I opened my mouth which was also uncomfortably dry and yawned, stretching my arms above my head.
Rose shouted something more. "You should see what has arrived.”
I groaned again and kicked off the bedspread. Slowly, I sat up and wiggled my toes. Feeling worse for wear, I crossed the room and examined my face in the vanity mirror. Thankfully, a full pitcher of crisp water stood ready next to the washing basin. I filled the bowl and splashed the cool water on my splotchy face. I swiped my crusted eyes and forced myself to wake up.
Someone rapped against my door. "Ready, miss?" Estelle called from the hallway.
"You can come in." I patted my face dry with a hand towel.
Estelle barreled in and, efficient as always, pulled a few of dresses from the wardrobe. "Which would you like to wear today? Might I recommend the pale purple."
I glanced at the simple muslin dress she was holding up. "That will do."
A scullery maid entered to retrieve my bedpan while I took off my nightgown. I sat down at the edge of the bed and pulled on new white stockings. Estelle handed me a fresh chemise. I stood so she could help me adjust the knee-length chemise and fasten my stays. She fastened the hooks on the stays and pulled down the neckline of the chemise so they would not peek out from underneath the dress.
Once we finished putting on my undergarments, Estelle lowered the purple dress over my head, fastened the matching ribbon in the back, and straightened the gauze bow underlining my bust.
Estelle and I were used to each other which in turn meant we moved through every step of dressing with ease. I lowered myself to my vanity seat while my ladies' maid picked up a brush from the table. She tugged on my hair as she worked the brush through a few tangles. Before I knew it, she had finished combing and fastened my hair into an easy day style.
"Thank you," I told her before heading downstairs.
Something floral tinged the air when I reached the landing. I knew what had arrived before I even reached the bottom of the staircase. A maid was primping several bouquets, placing them into vases to be displayed along the hallway.
"Are those for us?" Anne said from behind me.
Rose nodded, an amused smile playing along her lips. "It seems you both made an impression last night." She walked to the first bouquet. "This one is for Anne from a Mr. Cosgrove."
"I wonder if Mr. Cosgrove is the man I danced with," Anne said.
I skipped down the last few treads and joined Rose. "Could be. What's this one?" I pulled out the card. "Mr. Fillmore...I suppose he must have been either the sandy-haired man in the blue brocade vest or the one with the broad shoulders in shiny top boots." I turned to Rose. "Does that mean they want to come call on us soon?"
"Most likely," John said from the doorway. He leaned against the frame and lifted his brow. "Preferable during a time which I can be present."
"Why would you need to be present? Anne and I are more than capable of—"
"I am aware of what you are capable of. This is still my household, so I am going to be present to vet any of the men." He picked at a flower from the nearest vase.
"Or chase them away," I grumbled.
"Regardless, I shall be the one to oversee any meetings," John continued. "Now, how about we make our way to the dining room. We can discuss matters further while we break our fast."
Rose grabbed something from the sideboard. "Before I forget, this also arrived for you, Beth." Rose pressed a letter into my hands.
I turned it over in my hands, noting the B stamped into the wax seal. Could this be from Willa? Her father was the marquis of Bambreich, after all. Rose followed John, leaving us alone in the foyer.
Anne came to the same conclusion because she nudged me and said, "Go on, let us see what she wants.”
Tearing open the paper, I flipped the letter and began reading Willa's message.
Dear Beth,
I am sending this letter to ask if you could meet me today at Bambreich Manor. Please come as soon as you are able and bring your friend. I will tell you the details in person.
Signed your friend,
Willa Balfour
"Huh, Willa wants us to visit her today as soon as we are able."
"She does? I wonder what for." Anne chewed the corner of her lip. "I mean...the ruse is over, is it not?"
"I was under that impression, yes." My heart lurched. Last night had been exhilarating. I’d never felt that kind of pull towards someone before, not even when I fashioned myself in love with Mr. Danby. But the scheme had ended, and that was for the best.
"We should go, should we not? Find out what Willa wants. Are you sure she did not mention anything in her letter? Not a single clue?"
I shook my head and handed her the letter. "No, you can see for yourself." Anne read the short letter and frowned. I turned on my heel. "I'll let John know."
John and Rose sat at the dining room table, taking sips of tea.
John glanced up from his plate. "Eat some berries."
"Berries this early?" What a treat. I popped one of the purplish clusters into my mouth, tartness flooding my mouth. "Why not sit down?" John said, smirking.
"I do not have time. The letter I received was from Willa Balfour, the daughter of the Marquis of Bambreich. We met at the modiste and again last night. She invited Anne and me to her home."
John swallowed a berry. "I can send word for the driver to be ready, but surely you and Anne can take the time to eat first."
I understood John's point, but I was also excited to go.
John lifted his brow. "Beth..."
"Alright, I shall break my fast before leaving." I raised my voice towards the hallway. "Anne, come try these berries."
John stood and pulled a cord hanging from the wall. A few minutes later, the butler entered.
"You rang, sir?"
"Thank you, Bartley. Could you alert the driver that Ms. Blakeley and my sister will need the carriage to visit a friend? Ask Tom to ready it for departure soon."
***
About an hour later, Anne and I faced Willa in the midst of a spacious sitting room.
"What was so urgent? Is it something to do with the duke?" I asked Willa.
"Shh." Willa's eyes flitted to the doorway. "Not yet."
I glanced behind me, but there was no one there. Even the butler who escorted us inside had left.
I turned back to Willa. "Wha—"
"Hello, Papa," Willa cut me off. She smiled wide as she sidestepped me and greeted an older man with graying sideburns. Aside from the sideburns, he still had a full head of dark hair; his physique was wiry not yet soft around the middle like many other middle-aged men.
"Let me introduce you to my friends, Ms. Blakeley and Ms. Easton."
"It is always wonderful to meet any of my daughter's friends," Lord Balfour said. "Where did you three meet?"
"The modiste," Anne said.
The Marquis of Bambreich let out a small snort. "The modiste, eh? Perhaps I need to beseech the two of you to change my daughter's mind about wearing new dresses."
"I have dresses aplenty, Papa."
"I hope you do not mean the orange monstrosity you wore last night." Willa's cheeks turned red. "That is what I thought." Willa's father sighed. "Sweetheart, please do your father one favor. You look so much like your late mother I would like nothing more than to see you dressed in one of her favorite colors."
"I shall consider it."
Willa's father nodded. "That is all I ask." He scraped his throat and smiled at Anne and me. "Well, I shall return to my study and leave you girls to your own devices. Perhaps I will meet you both later if you stay long enough for cream tea."
"I shall make sure they will," Willa said. She waited until her father had left and closed the double doors behind her, resting her back against the light wood.
"Your father is sweet," Anne said.
"My papa is." Willa shrugged, turning her ear towards the door. She paused briefly. "However, I feel like he is pushing me away. Perhaps I remind him too much of my mother."
"She must have been very special. I am sorry for your loss," Anne said.
"Thank you." Willa sighed. "It has been a few years, but Papa is still in mourning. He has hardly left the house since she died; I worry about him."
Anne nodded. "My father passed away two years ago. My mother has not even set foot in his study yet. It is still exactly as he left it, cluttered with his things."
Willa sighed as she stepped away from the doors and meandered through the room. “I think my father is trying to arrange a marriage for me to assure himself that I will not be left alone.” Her face sunk as she said it. “I do not know why he feels the need to arrange that. He is not going anywhere, and I like my life as it is.” A soft, sad chuckle crossed Willa’s lips. "Let us change the subject; we do not need to speak about my father. I invited you for a reason, after all."
"Yes, I was wondering about that," I said. "Does it have to do with last night?"
"It does, and I apologize for shushing you earlier. I did not want my papa to overhear."
"What is it?" Anne asked.
"It appears the duke enjoyed his evening with you, Beth." Willa quirked her brow.
"Uhm, he should not have?"
Willa stared deadpan at me. "Since he is under the impression that you are me, and I have no intention of getting married, no. It would have been better if he had disliked his interaction with you." She threw up her hands. "But what is done is done. However, I received a letter stating that he is coming to visit me and my father here tomorrow.” She snorted. “And my father cannot find out about our arrangement."
I frowned and took a seat in one of the chairs. "What do you propose we should do?"
“I have not thought that far ahead."
"Is your father aware that the duke is coming here?" Anne asked.
"No, I managed to sneak it out of the pile of letters."
I tapped my finger against my bottom lip. "What if you managed to get him out of the house, keep your father busy somewhere? I could take your place in this room?"
Anne frowned. “Willa, can you not send the duke a note and cancel?”
Willa hummed. “What if he still turns up or does not accept my cancellation? He could take it upon himself to visit my father and me regardless.”
Anne folded her arms, her expression every bit that of a chaperon. “It is a risky plan; anything could go wrong. What about the staff?"
"Let me fret about that." Willa continued pacing. "I might be able to send them along with Papa. Perhaps leave one scullery maid for serving tea."
"What if the scullery maid tells anyone? And how do you plan to lure your father out of the house?" Anne shook her head. "I do not think this plan is going to work."
"Is it not easier to stop our ruse now?" I crossed my legs. "We cannot keep this ruse going. What if the duke wants more visits?"
Willa clasped my hands. "Please, Beth. I cannot do this without you. Will you please help do this? I assure you I will keep my promise."
Anne rolled her eyes. “Is that the promise where you will find me a good match?"
Willa’s eyes widened, and she bobbed her head. “Yes, I will make sure."
Anne’s gaze flitted between me and Willa, a hand on her hip. “I thank you but I do not need assistance with finding a husband."
Willa sized Anne up. I could almost hear her brain whirring as she thought of what to say next. Anne stared back at Willa, her pointed chin raised, a proud slant to her lips. It had been a while since I had seen Anne's confidence.
Breaking first, Willa said, "Alright. Perhaps instead we can continue our friendship sans matchmaking. If that is amenable to you?"
Anne quirked her lips. "Perhaps."
"So, what happens if I accept?" I said, breaking up the tension between them.
Willa broke her eyes away from Anne. She started ticking off items on her fingers. "Step one; I will need to find a way to lure my papa away from the house. Step two; you need to be here ready to pretend to be me. Step three; you need to dissuade the duke from wanting any future visits. Preferably you get him to revoke his intentions of marriage."
I scratched the back of my neck. "Because that sounds easy enough…” Willa caught my sarcasm and stopped pacing.
"His letter stated that he will be here around eleven. Will you be able to arrive before then?"
John and Rose would not mind me leaving early to visit a friend. “I believe so."
The door to the sitting room opened, and the butler appeared.
"Ms. Balfour, another visitor arrived for you."
A small frown line appeared between Willa's brows. "Another visitor? I wasn't expecting anyone."
"Said the name was a Ms. Melinda."
Melinda...the name sounded familiar. Where had I heard it before? I racked my brain for a moment before I remembered and nearly gasped. Wasn't that the name of the time-traveling bookshop lady?
"Middle-aged, curly brown hair?" I asked Willa's butler.
He nodded while Willa asked, "You know the visitor?"
"I might." Though if she was who I thought she was, I wondered why she would show up at this place and time.
"You can show her in," Willa said.
The butler nodded and retreated. He returned a minute later, followed by a curvy woman, bouncy curls framing her face. She wore a maroon dress that suited her well.
Melinda smiled and strode toward me. "Beth, it has been a while." She turned and nodded to Anne and Willa. "And these must be your friends."
Willa lifted her brow, her gaze flitting between Melinda and myself. "It is a pleasure to meet one of Beth's acquaintances, but how did you know to find her here?”
Before Melinda could answer, I grabbed her sleeve and pulled her away.
"Please excuse us for a moment," I told Willa as I exited the room. I lowered my voice and focused on the bookshop lady. "Why are you here?"
"Are you not pleased to see me?"
I spluttered. "No. Is it William? Did something happen?" My mind raced. "Wait, it isn't Rose? She cannot leave; it would break my brother's heart."
Melinda chuckled. "Calm down, it is none of that. Last I checked, William and Austin were very happy. In fact, they were visiting Rose's parents."
"Oh." I breathed in and out. "Then why are you here?"
"I would like to ask you the same."
"Me? What do I have to do with anything?" Melinda shrugged. "My bookshop decided I needed to be here. I'm not sure why myself."
"I thought that you..."
Melinda shook her head and chuckled. "It doesn't work exactly like that. Well, I can choose to go places and times but the bookshop is... intuitive. Yes, that's the right word."
"Intuitive?"
"It senses what a person might need and will take them there."
"So, it took Rose to John and Austin to William."
"That is the gist of it."
"Then why are you here now?"
Melinda scrutinized my face. I took a step back and bumped into the wall. Her stare unnerved me.
"We should return to—"
"Has anything unusual happened to you?" Melinda asked, cutting off my nervous mumbling.
I shook my head before adding, "Well..."
"Well?" Melinda waited for me to continue.
"Willa—the redheaded woman—asked me to switch identities."
Melinda muttered something under her breath. I swore I heard the words “just like” and “movie”.
She grinned. "Why does Willa need you to switch identities?"
I hesitated. "Her father wants to marry her off to an Irish duke; however, she does not want to marry anyone. She has asked me to take her place and dissuade the duke."
Something I could not quite define glinted in Melinda's eyes. She nodded sagely. "I see."
Confused, I said, "See what?"
Willa's head popped out. "Everything alright?"
"Yes," Melinda said. "Beth here filled me in on everything."
"I did?" I said at the same time that Willa uttered, "She has?"
Willa shot me an accusing glare.
