Chapter Seven #2
“Essentially, yes, but the opera makes some changes to the story. She has a wicked stepfather instead of a stepmother, for example. And there are some genuinely funny moments.”
“Is it in German?”
“Italian.”
“Then how can you recognize the humor?”
“I speak some Italian. I understand enough. But the actors also played their parts quite broadly, and—”
“I always thought the opera was more a place to see and be seen. Half the ton couldn’t tell you the plots of the operas performed each night.”
“That may be true, but I’ve always liked opera as an art. Fletcher—er, the Marquess of Greystone—used to accompany me just to indulge me, but then he grew to appreciate it, too, which is why we go so often together. I like to discuss the particulars of the production with him at intermission.”
“Yes. I’ve been trying to get to know Greystone, since he is a friend of yours. He mentioned the opera last time we spoke.”
“Oh?”
“We…it was awkward. We do not have much in common.”
“Well, tell me what interests you. Maybe I can find some bit of common ground between all of us that we can discuss should he, say, come to dinner.”
“Birds,” Daniel said. “As you know, I am an avid student of ornithology. For example, did you know that a flock of tawny owls has been spotted in Hyde Park. Well, not a flock. Officially, a group of owls is called a Parliament, which I think is quite astute.”
Oh, no. Bird talk was sure to bore Fletcher to tears. Louisa said, “Birds, yes, of course I know of your passion for birds. I don’t think Fletcher knows much about birds, though.”
“I like athletic pursuit. I did a bit of rowing at Cambridge, and I enjoy riding.”
Fletcher was strong and a decent horseback rider, but not so much athletically inclined, from what Louisa could tell. He’d gone to Oxford but had not pursued athletics there. If Louisa remembered correctly, he’d studied literature. “What else?” she asked.
“I’ve been reading about farming techniques of late. I’d like to implement some changes to my estate, try planting some different crops and moving the sheep to a better part of the property for grazing.”
Louisa was certain someone found farming techniques exciting, but she and Fletcher were not among them.
The concern Louisa had now, though, was not so much that Fletcher had little in common with Daniel, but that she didn’t. Had she been so blinded by his charm and good looks that she hadn’t looked far enough under the surface?
Well, yes.
She frowned. “Yours and Greystone’s interests may be incompatible.
I know that he enjoys opera and art galleries and garden parties and reading novels, and you do not really care for any of those things.
He knows a bit about horses, but perhaps more out of necessity than interest, although he’s mentioned he likes to watch races. ”
“I lost a good bit of money on a race last year,” said Daniel with a chuckle.
It wasn’t encouraging that the only common ground she’d found so far between them was gambling.
Perhaps none of this mattered. Perhaps she and Daniel could get along just fine talking about their families or society gossip, and Louisa would focus on raising their children while Daniel focused on whatever married men did.
Then she thought of something Fletcher had said about how intimate conversations were meant for one’s spouse.
Louisa was fairly certain that if she asked Daniel about sex, he’d demur.
But she could ask an easier question. “Tell me, Your Grace, once we are married, how do you intend to spend your days?”
“I imagine not much will change from my current routine. Oh, you and I will spend more time together, of course. But I am considering a few investments, so I have been spending time with my man of business and at the bank to see that my money goes toward pursuits that will have a good return.”
“Such as?”
“A lot of my work has gone to rescuing businesses that are struggling and then seeing if I can help them turn a profit. For example, I bought a textile mill in Shropshire last year that was mostly lagging behind because it was using outdated equipment. So we replaced all the machinery, and it worked well enough that fewer workers were needed, and now the mill is turning a profit.”
“I read about the business with the Luddites last year.”
“Yes. That was a difficulty. Luckily, the rebellion did not come to my mill and the equipment remained intact.”
Louisa had attended a dinner party at the Caernarfons a few months before at which the Earl had discussed the Luddite Rebellion at length.
His sympathies were more with the workers, who were losing their jobs as machinery improved and could run on things like steam instead of human power.
Angry workers had destroyed some of those machines, and the government had sent troops to put the rebellion down.
Caernarfon thought that the workers should be trained to do new jobs, instead of being left without employment now that they were no longer needed.
Louisa thought that a more humane approach to the problem.
“That is interesting,” Louisa said now. “Will you keep the mill?”
“Undecided. It is turning a healthy profit now, but I’ve considered selling it and investing the money in something else. That is the current dilemma facing my colleagues. But are you sure you want to discuss all this? Women care not for talk of finance, do they?”
Louisa sighed and tried not to feel offended. “I will admit, I care not for the particulars of your business ventures. I was just curious if you had invested in a business that might make for an interesting conversation topic.”
“Textiles are interesting, are they not? We’ve been importing a great deal of silk from the East, but it would be nice if we could also manufacture fine fabric here that could be used to make the gowns you like so much.
Silk is difficult to manufacture domestically, but muslin, linen, broadcloth can all be made here. ”
Was it possible that Louisa’s future husband was boring? Was she making a terrible mistake?
“You look troubled, my dear,” he said after a few minutes of silence.
“It’s just… I’ve been thinking a lot. About our wedding.”
“Oh, of course. The arrangements are coming along, I trust?”
“Yes, yes. There is little left to plan. But I suppose I meant not the wedding itself, but what comes after.”
“I figured we’d stay in London for the rest of the season and then perhaps adjourn to my country estate for the summer.”
Bother. Rotherfeld was never going to get there on his own. Louisa tried one more time. “Right, a sensible plan. But I meant more…you know. What will happen between us? Physically.”
Daniel shot her an alarmed look, close to the same panic she’d seen on Fletcher’s face when she’d brought up the topic the previous week. Were all men terrified of sex? “That seems a better discussion for your mother.”
“Not the…” She sighed. “I am not expressing myself well. I apologize. I understand the basic mechanics of relations between men and women, even if I have no firsthand experience. I just thought, since we are to be married, it might be nice to have a conversation about expectations.”
“Expectations?”
“I know little of your past, for example, but I know how men of the ton are.”
Daniel frowned at that. “Oh. Well, certainly I…that is…” He let out a breath. “This is embarrassing, but I’m afraid I have little experience with women.”
“Oh.” Louisa did not know if she should find that comforting or alarming.
“I was waiting for marriage, I suppose.”
That was a surprise. “Noble of you.”
“Thank you. Anyway, as you said, I understand the mechanics of the act, but I suspect you and I will be learning a great deal together.”
Louisa supposed she should have found that comforting.
That Daniel had no other lovers lurking in his past who could rear their jealous heads, that he’d be bringing no disease to their marriage bed.
But then she thought of Fletcher and his widows and actresses, or whichever women had enjoyed the pleasure of his (naked) company in the past, and the idea of spending her wedding night with someone with no experience at all felt a bit terrifying.
They’d just be flailing. That Fletcher knew his way around a woman’s body was… thrilling, in a way. Arousing.
“We shall learn together,” Louisa said, but suddenly she had doubts.
“Glad you agree.” He smiled. “It is my intent to make this a good marriage, Louisa. I’d like for us to be happy together, to have as many children as nature will give us, and to live out our days in comfort and style. You want the same, do you not?”
“Well, perhaps only one or two children, but otherwise, yes.”
Daniel laughed. “Then do not worry about any of it. We shall…take things as they come. Learn as we grow together. That is what I want, and I hope it is what you want, too.”
Louisa smiled at him and nodded but suddenly wanted none of this.
Oh, why had she asked Fletcher all those questions?
Why had she allowed him to put ideas in her head?
Why was she now picturing Fletcher’s big hands on her body and not Daniel’s?
Fletcher, who was passionate and thoughtful and easy to talk to.
Whom she never had to search for conversation topics with.
Whose big body was strong, even if he didn’t have the same wiry strength as Daniel.
Why was she suddenly thinking about licking Fletcher’s neck to see if the stubble there was rough like sand?
She covered her eyes with her hands.
“I apologize if all this is embarrassing for you,” Daniel said softly.
“It’s not that,” she said. “I’ve always been someone who likes to know what she is getting into, so I hoped to have a clearer idea for what to expect from marriage to you. But I suppose taking it as it comes will be a kind of adventure.”
“I apologize, but I do not know what to expect myself.”
Louisa had a thought to drum up some anticipation.
Based on things her friends had told her, it was normal for couples to…
experiment with each other before the big day.
If they touched or kissed and Mother walked in, what could she even do?
Force them to get married? The wedding was three weeks away.
“You and I have not so much as kissed,” Louisa said, standing.
She wanted to banish thoughts of Fletcher from her mind.
He had no business there, not while she was engaged Daniel.
“Perhaps a kiss would have been improper before our engagement, but our wedding is just a few weeks hence. Surely you can kiss me.”
Daniel stood, too. “I admire your passion, Louisa.”
“Then kiss me.”
Daniel took a step forward, closing the space between them. He put a hand on the side of her face. She leaned into his touch. Then he leaned forward and pressed his lips to her.
She’d read about kisses that were full of sparks or fire. This had…none of that. Daniel was cold. His lips were…wet. Slimy almost. It brought to mind kissing a fish. Louisa had never kissed anyone before, but surely that was not what it was supposed to be like.
When he pulled back again, he smiled at her. “There. Now we’ve accomplished that.”
She smiled back, but inside, she was struggling not to panic.