Chapter One
A year later
“Is this not wonderful news?”
Tabitha tried to smile as her mother grasped her hands. “Yes, it is, truly.”
“I did not imagine that Prudence would be betrothed so soon after returning to London! We have been here only a fortnight and now she is betrothed!”
“It is wonderful,” Tabitha agreed, as her mother let out a squeal of excitement.
“Now, are we to remain indoors for the rest of the afternoon? There will be many coming to call, I am sure.” In asking this question, Tabitha hoped that her mother might permit her to escape from such an afternoon, thinking that it would be only she and Prudence welcoming the callers.
That way, she would be able to either make her way to the bookshop with her maid in tow or, perhaps, sneak into the library and find something new to read.
Her father had come to join them in London for the Season but was caught up in some business matters; the investments Thomas had encouraged him to consider the previous year.
That meant, he was not often at home at present and Tabitha wanted very much to use his absence to her own advantage.
“Indeed, yes, there will be many!” Lady Dunoon exclaimed, her eyes wide. “We cannot possibly think to step out, not when news of her betrothal to the Marquess will already be spreading through London.”
“And you will not need me present, I think?” Tabitha waited for her mother to answer but the Countess was already hurrying away from her, crossing the room so that she might ring the bell.
Muttering something about having the room prepared for the callers, the Countess did not even look back at Tabitha.
Hiding a smile, Tabitha made her way to the door and slipped out, only to come upon her sister in the hallway.
“Mother is in the drawing room,” Tabitha directed, as Prudence smiled, holding herself with a confidence that Tabitha had always lacked. “I think she is waiting for you. She expects many callers this afternoon.”
“Of course there will be!” Prudence laughed, making Tabitha’s smile fade. “It is not very often that a young lady becomes betrothed so soon to the beginning of the Season!”
The pride in Prudence’s voice gave Tabitha pause but, thinking better of it, she said nothing.
If her sister wished to relish this moment, then Tabitha had no hesitation in permitting her to do so.
She was right, it was certainly unusual for young ladies to be betrothed so soon and the Marquess of Devon was a gentleman known to many in society.
He was wealthy with a good standing in society and Tabitha had learned, thanks to her mother’s whispers, that he had been pursued by many a young lady for the last few years.
To now have him betrothed was something that would capture society’s interest and no doubt, there would be much talk of this for many a day.
“You shall have to be contented to wait for this excitement to pass before you consider your own standing, Tabitha. I hope you are aware of that.”
Tabitha said nothing, frowning at her sister who patted her shoulder in an almost motherly way.
“The focus shall be solely upon me and my betrothal for some time,” Prudence continued, her smile near proud now. “There will be much to arrange as well. Indeed, you may have to wait until next Season to find a suitable match!”
“We shall see.” Stepping away from her, Tabitha made her way directly back towards her bedchamber, her cheeks stinging with a mixture of anger and upset over Prudence’s remarks.
Yes, she knew that there was much to arrange and surely, the ton would be speaking of this betrothal for some time but that did not mean that she would be entirely ignored…
did it? Her eyes closed as she shut the door to her bedchamber, leaning back against it as a sigh escaped her.
It would be no surprise to her if she was forgotten, she supposed.
Prudence had always been at the fore and now, would be so all the more until she was married.
That could happen very soon, however, Tabitha considered.
The banns could be called next week and then, in less than a month, the wedding could take place.
“It will take longer than that,” she admitted to herself, aloud.
“There will need to be more than just the banns called.” Wincing, she shook her head and then moved away from the door, eager now to step out of the house and make her way to the bookshop.
One thing that brought her some happiness was the fact that, with Prudence so caught up with her betrothal and with all of her mother and father’s attention and time being placed upon her, it meant that Tabitha herself would not be noticed.
Her father might not notice when she stepped out or when she was absent.
He might not care as to what she was doing, which meant she might then be free to read just as she pleased. That was a blessing, at least.
“I am to take a hackney,” she told her maid. “You will join me as my chaperone, Sarah. Do be quick about it, now.”
Sarah, her lady’s maid, gave Tabitha a smile. “Are we to go to the bookshop, my lady?”
“Hush.” Tabitha glanced at the door and then back to her maid. “I do hope that my trust in you has not been broken, Sarah?”
The smile on the maid’s face shattered in an instant. “No, indeed not, my lady. I have not told a soul about your reading, I swear it. Not even to Bessie, and she is my closest friend!”
Tabitha paused, then let herself smile. It was best, she considered, to remind her maid that there was a good deal at stake here.
She had been forced to take Sarah into her confidence over the winter, for it had been too cold to read in the arbor or in the stables and thus, Sarah had been used as a guard.
Whenever Tabitha had been reading, Sarah had been stationed at the door, watching and listening in case her father, mother or sister came in search of her.
“That is good. Come then, I should like to go as quickly as can be.” The last thing she desired was that her mother should discern her absence, lest she insist that Tabitha attend upon Prudence.
“And yes, we are to go to the bookshop!”
This made her maid’s smile return and a smile spread across Tabitha’s face as she found her bonnet and gloves, eager now to step out and make her way to where she felt most at home.
***
“There, now.” Tabitha set the book back in its place and meandered along the shelf a little more, wondering if she would be able to find another book on plants and the health benefits, or poisons, that could be derived from them.
It was a fascinating subject and one that Tabitha was now eager to learn more about.
The book she had just returned, however, was one that she had already read previously.
“Tabitha?”
She turned, her heart leaping up into her throat in fright, fearing that it was Prudence or her mother calling her.
“Tabitha, it is you!”
Her eyes flared wide, her heart leaping up with delight as Tabitha threw her arms around Helena, overjoyed to see her friend again. “Helena! I did not know that you would be present here this Season! You are already wed so what need have you to come to the marriage mart?”
Helena chuckled, her hand still on Tabitha’s arm. “My husband is desperate to do all that he can to please me, so when I told him that I missed you and should very much like to come to London to see you, he was more than willing to do so!”
Tabitha put one hand to her heart. “That is so very kind of you, Helena.” A tightness came into her throat which she tried to push away just as quickly. “I am very glad to see you.”
Her friend’s smile faded. “You are sad.”
“No, not in the least.” A kick to Tabitha’s stomach made her wince. “Very well, I suppose I am somewhat sorrowful but it is not for the reasons you might think. I am not despondent over my lack of success with the gentlemen of London or the like.”
“Then what is it?”
Tabitha closed her eyes and let out a long breath. “My sister is betrothed.”
“How wonderful! That is very soon after your arrival in London, is it not?”
Opening her eyes, Tabitha nodded. “Yes, it is only a fortnight since our arrival. The Marquess of Devon was quite taken with her, it seems and...”
“The Marquess of Devon?” Helena interrupted, her fingers tightening on Tabitha’s arm. “She is to marry him?”
“Yes.”
“The unreachable Marquess, or so he has been named.” Helena’s lips curved in a smile. “You cannot be sad about that, I am sure.”
Tabitha shook her head. “No, not at all. However, the way that all attention will turn towards Prudence and the like, whilst understandable, means that my chances of a match are significantly lower. I will have to wait until next Season, or so Prudence says.”
Helena’s eyes softened. “I see.”
“I was hopeful of making a match this Season,” Tabitha continued, with a small sigh. “I want to step out of my father’s house and into my own, to be mistress of my own household. But I fear I may be denied that still.”
“I am sorry.” Helena put one arm around her shoulders as they began to walk together along the bookshop floor. “That must be difficult indeed, though it may not be as hopeless as you think.” She looked sidelong at Tabitha. “You are not hoping for a love match, are you?”
Tabitha snorted. “No, not at all. My father is already fearful that the ton might recognize that I am too much of a bluestocking for their liking.” Seeing Helena smile, Tabitha’s heart lifted just a little, relieved that her friend understood.
“He has demanded that I stop reading anything aside from poetry. Or the occasional novel but I find them to be rather dull, I confess.”
“Goodness, that is a strict measure to put in place!” Helena stopped walking, reaching to pick up a book that had caught her interest. “Why would he do such a thing?”