Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

T he late afternoon sun cast long shadows on the drawing room of Elderglen Manor as Evelina sat in her favorite armchair, a book of poetry resting in her lap.

Louisa reclined on the chaise nearby, engrossed in her own novel. The peaceful silence between them was a rare luxury in a house filled with five sisters.

Evelina glanced up from her book, her gaze settling on Louisa's furrowed brow. "I see Mr. Wordsworth has captured your attention once again, dear sister," she remarked with a gentle smile.

Louisa's eyes remained fixed on the page as she replied, "Indeed, Evelina. His words paint such vivid pictures in my mind. Listen to this passage. I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o'er vales and hills, when all at once I saw a crowd, a host, of golden daffodils …" She looked up, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. "Is it not beautiful?"

Evelina nodded, her smile widening. "It is lovely, Louisa. Mr. Wordsworth has a gift for capturing the beauty of nature in his verses."

As Louisa began to recite another poem, Evelina's mind wandered to their family's precarious financial situation. She was pulled from her thoughts by a gentle knock at the door.

Mrs. Higgins, their housekeeper, entered the room with a concerned expression on her weathered face. "Begging your pardon, Miss Balfour," she said, curtsying slightly. "May I have a word with you in private?"

Evelina's brow furrowed, but she nodded and rose from her seat. "Of course, Mrs. Higgins. Louisa, please excuse me for a moment."

She followed the housekeeper into the hallway, closing the drawing room door behind her.

"What is the matter, Mrs. Higgins?" she asked in a low voice.

Mrs. Higgins wrung her hands, her eyes darting around nervously. "I fear I have overheard some distressing gossip, Miss. I would not normally give credence to such talk, but given the circumstances…" she trailed off, looking pained.

Evelina's heart began to race. "Please, Mrs. Higgins, do not keep me in suspense. What have you heard?"

Mrs. Higgins leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "It is said that your father has… has gambled away one of your sisters' dowries."

The words hit Evelina like a physical blow. She stumbled back, her hand flying to her mouth to stifle a gasp. "Are you certain?" she choked out.

The housekeeper nodded gravely. "I fear it is true, Miss. The villagers say that he lost a great sum at the gaming tables in London last week. They say it was enough to cover one of the young ladies' dowries."

Evelina closed her eyes, fighting back the wave of despair that threatened to overwhelm her.

After a moment, she squared her shoulders and opened her eyes, her expression resolute. "Thank you for informing me, Mrs. Higgins. I shall address this matter immediately."

As the housekeeper curtsied and retreated, Evelina took a deep breath to steady herself. She had long feared this day would come, but the reality of it was still a bitter pill to swallow. With determination in her step, she made her way to her father's study.

She knocked firmly on the heavy oak door. "Father? May I speak with you?" she called out.

"Enter," came the gruff reply from within.

She pushed open the door to find him lounging in his leather chair, a glass of brandy in his hand despite the early hour. His cravat was askew, and his waistcoat bore several stains that spoke to his carelessness.

"Ah, Evelina," he slurred. "What brings you to my sanctuary, my dear?"

Evelina stood tall, her chin raised as she met her father's bleary gaze. "Father, I have heard the most alarming news. Is it true that you have gambled away one of my sisters' dowries?"

James's eyes narrowed, and he set down his glass with more force than necessary. "And where, pray tell, did you hear such nonsense?"

"It matters not where I heard it, Father," Evelina replied, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil. "I'm only asking if it is true."

The Viscount's face flushed with anger. "You shall drop this topic this instant!"

"I had hoped that you would stop this. It pains me, Father!" Evelina laughed in disbelief, her anger rising to match his. "How could you be so reckless? Do you not care for your daughters' welfare at all?"

James stood up abruptly, swaying slightly as he pointed an accusatory finger at her. "You forget your place, girl! I have provided for you and your sisters all these years. If I choose to seek my fortune at the gambling tables, that is my right as a gentleman!"

Evelina's hands clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. "And what of our rights, Father? What of Margaret's right to a proper dowry and a chance at securing a good match? Have you no shame?"

"Shame?" James scoffed, reaching for his brandy glass once more. "You speak to me of shame when you have no understanding of the pressures I face? The expectations of Society? The burden of maintaining our family's standing?"

Evelina took a step forward, her voice low and intense. "And how does gambling away your daughter's future maintain our standing, Father? How does it uphold the honor of the Balfour name?"

For a moment, something like regret flickered in James's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by defiance. "You are but a girl, Evelina. You cannot comprehend the complexities of a gentleman's affairs. What's done is done," he muttered, slumping back into his chair. "We shall simply have to make do with what remains."

"Make do?" Evelina repeated, incredulous. "And how do you propose we do that? Shall we send Margaret into Society with nothing but her charm and good looks to recommend her? Or perhaps you intend to gamble away Louisa's dowry next, and Alexandra's after that?"

James slammed his fist on the desk, making her jump. "Enough! I will not stand here and be lectured by my own daughter. You may fancy yourself the mistress of this house, Evelina, but do not forget that I am still your father and the head of this family."

Evelina stared at him in disbelief. She had long known of his weakness for gambling, but she had never imagined he would stoop so low as to jeopardize his own daughter's future. The weight of responsibility that had rested on her shoulders for years suddenly felt heavier than ever.

"Very well, Father," she said at last, her voice cold. "If you will not rectify this situation, then I shall do it myself. Good day."

With that, she turned on her heel and strode out of the study, leaving her father to his brandy and his shame.

Evelina's mind raced as she made her way through the manor, searching for Margaret. She found her in the music room, seated at the pianoforte but not playing, her fingers resting idly on the keys.

"Margaret," she called softly, closing the door behind her. "Might I speak with you?"

Margaret looked up, a distant look in her eyes. "Evelina? What is the matter? You look as though you have seen a ghost."

Evelina crossed the room and took a seat beside her sister on the piano bench. She took Margaret's hands in her own, squeezing them gently. "My dear sister, I fear I have some distressing news to share with you."

Margaret's face paled. "What is it, Evelina? Please, do not keep me in suspense."

Taking a deep breath, Evelina said, "I have just learned that Father has… has gambled away your dowry."

Margaret's eyes widened in shock, and she pulled her hands away from Evelina's grasp. "No," she whispered, shaking her head in disbelief. "No, it cannot be true. Tell me you are mistaken, Evelina!"

Evelina's heart ached at the pain in her sister's voice. "I wish I could, Margaret. I confronted Father, and though he did not admit it outright, his reaction confirmed it."

Margaret stood up abruptly, pacing the room as her tears spilled over. "How could he do this to me?" she cried. "Does he not care for my future at all? Without a dowry, what hope have I of making a good match?"

Evelina rose and went to her sister, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Hush, my dear," she soothed, stroking Margaret's hair. "All is not lost. I swear to you, I shall find a way to make this right. You have my word."

Margaret pulled back, a mix of hope and doubt on her tear-stained face. "But how, Evelina? We have no money of our own, no means to replace what Father has lost."

Evelina guided her sister to a nearby settee, and they both sat. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Margaret, there is something I must confess to you. I'm working as a tutor."

Margaret furrowed her brow in confusion. "A tutor? But when? And for whom?"

"For the past fortnight, I have been tutoring the Duke of Dunmore's daughter, Eliza," Evelina explained, her voice low. "I have kept it a secret, for I feared what Father might do if he learned of it. But now, I see it as our salvation."

Margaret's eyes widened in surprise. "The Duke of Dunmore? But Evelina, surely such a position cannot pay enough to replace an entire dowry!"

"Perhaps not on its own, no," Evelina agreed. "But it is a start, Margaret. The Duke pays me generously, and I have been saving every penny."

"But why did you not tell me of this before?" Margaret asked, a hint of hurt in her voice.

Evelina sighed, taking her sister's hands in her own once more. "I wished to protect you, to shield you from the worry. I had hoped that I might solve our financial troubles without burdening you or our younger sisters. But now…" she trailed off, shaking her head.

Margaret squeezed Evelina's hands. "Now we face this problem together, as we always have. But Evelina, I cannot allow you to shoulder this burden alone. There must be something I can do to help."

"Your support means more than you know, Margaret," Evelina said with a small smile. "But there is more I must tell you. I have decided to seek a husband for myself."

"Oh, Evelina!" Margaret gasped, her eyes widening. "You need not sacrifice yourself for my sake! I know you have long since resigned yourself to spinsterhood, dedicating your life to caring for us."

Evelina shook her head, her expression determined. "It is no sacrifice, dear sister. It is my duty and my privilege to care for you all. If by making an advantageous match I can secure not only your future but also that of Louisa, Alexandra, and Penelope, then I shall do it gladly."

"But what of love, Evelina?" Margaret protested. "You have always spoken of the importance of marrying for love, not merely convenience or financial security."

Evelina's smile turned wistful. "Love is a luxury we can ill afford at present, Margaret. Perhaps, in time, I may grow fond of my husband. But for now, the welfare of our family must take precedence."

Margaret's eyes filled with fresh tears, but this time they were of gratitude rather than despair. "You are too good, Evelina. I do not know how we would have managed without you. But are you certain that this is what you wish to do?"

"I am certain that I wish to see you and our sisters safe and provided for," Evelina replied firmly. "As for my wishes… they must wait. Now, dry your tears, dear sister. We must be strong, for Louisa, Alexandra, and Penelope's sakes."

Margaret nodded, wiping her eyes with a delicate handkerchief. "You are right, of course. But Evelina, promise me that you will not settle for just any man. Promise me that you will choose a gentleman who will at least treat you with kindness and respect."

Evelina's heart swelled at her sister's concern. "I promise, Margaret. I shall be discerning in my choice, insofar as our circumstances allow."

The sisters hugged once more, drawing strength from each other's presence. As they parted, Margaret asked, "What shall we tell the girls? They will surely notice that something is amiss."

Evelina sighed, considering the question. "For now, we shall tell them nothing. Let them enjoy their innocence a while longer. While I know that I can count on each of you, I do think that we need not burden them until we have a clear plan."

Margaret nodded in agreement. "Very well. But Evelina, what of your job? Surely you cannot continue to tutor the Duke's daughter while also seeking a husband. The ton would never approve of such an arrangement."

"I know," Evelina admitted, her brow furrowing. "But I cannot stop working, not when we so desperately need the money. I shall have to find a way to balance both responsibilities, at least until a more permanent solution presents itself."

"It will not be easy," Margaret warned. "You will be walking a dangerous line, Evelina. If your secret is discovered, it could ruin not only your prospects but also those of our sisters."

Evelina clenched her jaw in determination. "Then I shall simply have to ensure that it remains a secret. I have managed thus far, and I shall continue to do so. We have no other choice, Margaret." She rubbed her eyes tiredly, suddenly feeling as if she had aged several years. "No choice at all."