Chapter One

Silverware clinks as Father sits back in his chair and holds out his cup to be refilled. A servant darts out from the corner of the room and quickly and silently fills the cup with rich red liquid. Father sits back in the throne-like chair, sips his wine and looks at us. His clean-shaven face somewhat unsettling after spending my entire life seeing him with a full beard and moustache. The latest trend is to be beardless, and Father loves nothing more than to be up to date with the latest trends.

"Elizabeth, now that you are twenty-two, I have arranged for your marriage to the Earl of Stacks," Father announces and takes a large sip of wine which only serves to increase the rosiness of his cheeks.

I hold very still, doing my best to calm my suddenly racing heart and to force an outwardly calm demeanour. "You have been busy Father," I say diplomatically. "I did not know you were looking for a suiter for me."

"Of course I was," Father chirps. "A woman such as yourself has had them leaping out of the stonework. The Earl, however, has offered to grant you and any children you bear to him his title and the eldest son shall inherit his land." He pauses and adds, "For a handsome dowry of course."

"How romantic," I say as I take a sip from my own wine. Hoping that it too would give me the confidence it seems to build in Father with every mouthful.

"Certainly," Father replies, completely missing my sarcasm. "He even threatened a duel with one fellow, a wealthy merchant's son by the name of Harold Rold, if he did not back down."

Mother nods as she takes a nibble of the tiny portion of food she has on her fork. "Mother," I ask gently. "Were you aware Father was working so hard to secure a suiter for me?"

"Of course not," Mother says in a flat tone. "It is not my place to interfere and even if it was, your father has granted you and your sons a strong and secure future. He has done a remarkable job." She turns to look at him, her eyes full of love. "As always dear."

He grins at her and toasts. "To Elizabeth, who shall be as satisfied in her marriage as I am in mine."

Mother is quick to join in and I dip my head in acknowledgement. I swallow and force myself to cut and spear another tiny slice of venison. The meat is suddenly dry in my mouth, and I have to work extra hard to chew it. With slow practiced movements I go through the proper etiquette of eating a meal. Dozens of hours of formal training and hundreds of hours of practice helps me get through the first course of dinner without falling apart at the table,

I don't know why I didn't see this coming. Apparently, I had been overly successful in my attempts to ignore the fact that I had suddenly reached the prime age to marry. I had also been negligent in my understanding of just how quickly Father would jump on that opportunity to increase our family standing and upgrade his grandchildren from the gentry class to the peerage class.

"Harold," Mother says affectionately, "Where shall the wedding take place? Has the Earl decided where they should reside once they are wed?"

"The wedding will take place eight months from now," Father replies, picking up a huge chunk of meat and biting into it with relish. "The Earl has requested Elizabeth move in as soon as possible and live in the west wing of his country home so he has time to present her to his family. I have arranged for a carriage to arrive tomorrow morning to collect her."

"He does not live in a terrace?" Mother enquires a touch of shock lacing her tone.

Father looks at her sharply. "It is not our place to question the choices of the Earl. As I understand it, the fellow prefers a life away from the city where he can hold his elegant parties."

I look between my parents and fight to keep my face natural. Mother has just found out I am to be wed this year and shipped off to live with a man I have never met as soon as tomorrow morning, and her problem is he isn't wealthy enough?

I clear my throat politely and my parents cease talking to look at me. "Given my sudden and imminent departure, may I take my leave Father? To ensure my trinkets are all correctly packed?"

Father looks at me fondly. "Of course, darling. Come see me in my office before you retire for the evening. I would like to discuss a matter with you before your departure."

"It would be my greatest delight Father," I say as I rise from my seat and give him a little curtsey.

He grins at me and says, "Go on now. Make sure your trinkets are all carefully packed."

I curtsey once more and leave the room. I dart through the dimly light corridor and make it to the comfort of my room where I close the door softly and drop unceremoniously in the armchair by the fire. I take a few deep breaths, trying to understand where this panic has come from. I have known all my life my purpose is to be wed and produce heirs for a husband. Why is this sudden knowledge something that terrifies me so?

I should be pleased that Father has arranged such an advantageous marriage for our family and that my part in it shall secure a title and land for my children. I take a deep breath and remind myself that this is a good thing. I am only shocked by the surprise of my engagement and my sudden departure. I close my eyes and breathe as I try to calm the thoughts racing around in my head. I consider going to collect a book from my hidden collection. Books are always a great way to escape, to be somewhere else. But given this evening's news, Mother may arrive at any moment, and nothing makes her angrier than a woman reading.

‘It just isn't proper,' she would insist and whisk away any book I had the audacity to read. I roll my eyes, as I think back on countless lectures from my mother about the proper place for a woman.

A knock on the door grabs my attention and I spring to my feet and move to stand by the array of glass ornaments Father brings me from each of his trips. While it is nice to know Father thinks of me on these journeys, I care very little for the ugly little ornaments.

"You may enter," I say as I pick up the nearest one.

A female servant, Jocelyne, enters the room quietly and places a large wooden trunk on the foot of the bed. Her long brown dress is dotted with stains accrued from her position in the family home. I look over the dress and try to figure out how she manages to keep it so clean with all of the dirty jobs she has to do around our house.

Jocelyn turns to me and smooths the front of her dress. "Miss, would you like help to pack for your trip?"

"I will see to my trinkets, you can pack my clothes, hats and silks." I say as I turn back to my shelf.

Jocelyne moves beside me and places a long length of string and a silk cloth beside me without a word before she moves to pack my clothes. I smile as I reach out and touch it.

"Thank you, Jocelyne," I say quietly.

I open the drawer and dig beneath my trinkets and retrieve the hidden books under the box of jewels my mother had passed down to me. I carefully wrap the books in the silk and knot the string to keep them together. Moving over to the trunk I place them in the corner and place an assortment of hurriedly packed trinkets wrapped in woollen cloth around it.

Time passes quickly and Jocelyne asks into the silence of the room, "Would you like me to prepare the bed Miss?"

I nod as I turn to face the young woman. "Yes, please Jocelyn." I head towards the door and pause. "I will miss you," I say quietly with my back to her.

"I will too Miss," floats Jocelyns voice from behind me.

I smile slightly as I step through the door. If only our classes had been closer, I could have been great friends with Jocelyne and I cannot help feel for the missed opportunity. I make my way through the cold halls and pause in front of Father's office. I knock politely on the heavy wooden door.

"Come," the commanding voice of Father seeps through the door.

I grasp the cold metal handle and step through to find Father sitting at his desk, but my eyes are instantly drawn to a young woman, around my age standing at the fire nearby. The sight of the woman shocks me, and I stop dead in the doorway. I glance over ash blonde hair and bright blue eyes, her dress shows wealth and the light blue colour of the material sets her eyes ablaze. My eyes flick from Father to the new woman.

"This is Miss Amelie Westward," Father says indicating to the woman standing by the fire. She looks me over with a single long slide of her eyes before returning her gaze to the fire.

I remain silent, my eyes darting between the strange woman and Father before I finally venture, "It is such a late time to receive guests." I say slowly. "But I greet you well Amelie Westward," I say as I smile towards the woman, liking the way her name rolls off my tongue.

"Miss Westward will stay with you from now on as your lady's maid." Father says and Amelie strides over swiftly to close the door behind me as Father continues. "There are those who do not want to see you marry the Earl and," he pauses for a moment before saying, "threats have been made."

I look to my father. "Threats?" I frown. "But how could word have spread so quickly about my engagement?" I ask.

Father waves his hand. "It has been sorted for some weeks. I just forgot to mention it." He nods as he drinks from a cup on his desk as if forgetting to tell me I had been married off to the highest bidder for some time now is perfectly normal. "Miss Westward is specially trained for protection, and she shall accompany you everywhere from now on."

"Protection?" I ask glancing at the slight woman standing again by the fire. She is so petite she doesn't seem likely to be able to fend off a fly.

"I know that it is traditionally a man's job to provide protection," Father says holding his hands up. "But the circumstances are unique and having you accompanied by a man would be, unseemly."

I glance back at Father as the fire crackles in the silence. "Father, perhaps this marriage is too dangerous?" I venture quietly.

Amelie's eyes dart to me with sudden curiosity as Father waves his hands about. "Nonsense. Miss Westward will protect you and the wedding will go ahead without a problem."

I nod, seeing the veiled demand to comply for what it is. "Of course, Father. Thank you for thinking of my safety."

He grins. "Anything for my little lady." He returns to his paperwork, an obvious dismissal and Amelie comes to stand by my side. "One more thing Elizabeth," Father's voice drawls without looking up from his work. "No one is to know about this arrangement. Not your mother, your husband or anyone else."

"Yes Father," I agree as I step out of the office shadowed by the quiet woman. Silently, I make my way back to my rooms.

I set my jaw firmly and try not to glance back at the woman behind me. What has Father gotten me into?