“To be honest, your father was able to come up with the funds without my family’s help. He petitioned the Crown’s treasury for a loan because of the scope of the damage and the construction required to repair it. So I think that you’re actually to blame for our future marriage.”
Fiona was so astounded to learn that the reason for these sudden talks of marriage partially lay with her that all she could say was, “N-no!”
“Sister? Norman? Um, are you finished with your conversation?” Cecilia gently interrupted as she approached.
“Oh, yes, Cecilia. It’s all right now.” Fiona, who was clutching her head at this shocking revelation, raised it at her sister’s timid voice.
“I’m sorry for interrupting. I came to get you because they said the pie has finished baking.”
“My, that sounds wonderful. Thanks for letting us know.” Norman grinned at news of his favorite food, causing a scarlet bloom in Cecilia’s cheeks.
“Oh, uh, you’re welcome.”
Cecilia was shy because she was prone to sickness and lived her whole life inside the confines of the estate. She was especially unsure of how to act around men. Despite growing up with Norman as much as Fiona, still she acted like this, so Fiona assumed that her sister was just shy with everyone. But surely…
Norman understood Cecilia’s personality. And it went without saying that their father couldn’t bear the thought of his youngest daughter growing up. Most importantly, Cecilia herself wasn’t aware of it. If he wants to marry Norman into our family so badly, then there’s a more suitable choice for his bride.
Fiona made Norman promise that he wouldn’t tell her father that she had overheard; she was all but certain he would make the announcement sooner if he knew. I need to buy myself as much time as possible to come up with a plan.
Time passed, however, and she had not had a chance to consult with Norman. Now here she was, in the capital. Norman was also here at the prince’s celebration, but they could neither discuss the matter in front of so many people nor come up with a good plan in the short course of a dance.
She was stuck.
The construction work for the river had begun. Their fathers were likely to announce their engagement at the party scheduled in half a month’s time at the Clayburn estate. Besides, even if she did manage to avoid marrying Norman, her father was sure to find her another match if he was dead set against the idea of her traveling. And then next year, there would be the marriage ceremony just before she became an adult.
I do love Father. I understand that he’s worried about me. But…
She wanted to see more of the vast world with her own eyes. She wanted to work and make her own living. And she absolutely hated the idea of being a caged bird who had to rely on someone else.
Fiona also understood that her way of thinking was not accepted by society. She also knew that her father secretly planned to marry her to Norman because he wished for her happiness. She was at a loss for what to do and the more she agonized over it, the more disturbing her ideas became.
“Perhaps I have no choice but to run away.”
As these dangerous words slipped out of her mouth, she came back to her senses. Huh? Where am I? She had walked for so long, staring at her feet, that she now found herself in a place devoid of people. She looked around in a panic and discovered an aged brick wall up ahead with a wooden door—the end of the garden.
Fiona was surprised to have come so far in shoes she was unaccustomed to wearing. Standing still for a moment, she realized how tired she was. She looked around some more and saw a lattice cloaked in white-flowered vines. Before it was a garden bench with delicate cabriole legs. Surely, it will be okay if I rest here for a bit…
There were sure to be guards on patrol, even if she didn’t see any other guests. The lanterns were also brightly lit; besides, she was in a castle. There couldn’t be any dangers lurking here. When Fiona sat down on the bench, the sweet fragrance of the small blooming flowers behind her flooded her senses. As she sighed in relief at the smell of the flowers, it happened…
“I told you already, I have no interest in getting married.”
“You know you’re not getting out of it, Gil.”
Fiona heard the voices of two men behind her. She couldn’t see them because of the dense greenery, but it seemed there was another bench just on the other side of the lattice. She could feel the vibration as they sat down on it.
“I would sooner become a volunteer soldier and go abroad.”
“The next time you do go, it’ll be as a diplomat. With your wife in tow, of course.”
“Give me a break. There’d be no point in even going then.”
She heard the sound of one man lightly patting the other’s shoulder as he laughed with absolute displeasure. He didn’t sound amiable at all.
“It’s not my concern, Rick.”
“Now, now, Gil. You’ve got the weight of the entire house of the Earl of Bancroft resting on your shoulders. It’ll be no surprise to me if your father and the others force you into it.”
Gil from the family of the Earl of Bancroft? And Rick… Wait, could they be Giles Bancroft and Richard Russel? Fiona was stunned by the names she overheard. On the other side of the lattice were two people who were very famous in high society.
The moodily grumbling “Gil” must be Lord Giles Lowell, the heir to the Earl of Bancroft, a senior statesman. Lord Lowell had lovely dark blond hair and smoky grayish-blue eyes. His cool, handsome features and prestigious pedigree on both sides made him the ideal suitor in the eyes of many young ladies.
And Rick, the friend who was trying to pacify him, was surely Lord Richard Russel. The two of them were best friends of the same age and Fiona had heard that they were often together. Lord Russel was the third son of the Marquess of Molins and Fiona’s impression was that he was the sort of person who always had a smile on his face. His hair was a bright honey blond, and he was handsome too, but in the opposite way from Giles—gentler, or so Fiona had heard.
These two were famous enough that even Fiona, who kept herself uninvolved with the goings-on in high society, had heard of them. And right now, the only thing separating her from them was this lattice.
Right, Olga was all excited because she passed them by in the corridor earlier. I can’t believe I’ve come across them too. I guess that’s a party at the royal palace for you.