Chapter Seventeen
Louise and Bessie strolled along the paths that wound beneath the majestic canopy of oak trees in Hyde Park. Sunlight peeked through the branches, creating patterns on the path. The sweet fragrance of blooming flowers filled the air. They passed by benches nestled amidst the greenery that provided inviting spots to pause and admire the scenery. Gentle breezes whispered through the leaves, rustling them softly overhead.
The night after Nathaniel’s disclosure last week, she paced back and forth in her room, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She imagined a future without Nathaniel. But amidst the turmoil, a fierce determination began to take root. She refused to accept defeat, to surrender to the notion that their love was doomed from the start. With each step she took, her resolve strengthened. Remembering the lessons learned from their challenges, she held onto the belief that true connection transcended social barriers.
“No,” she whispered to herself, her voice barely more than a breath. “I will not give up. I will tell him the truth, regardless of the consequences. If he asked me to trust him, then trust him, I shall.”
Louise’s thoughts faded as she and Bessie went on.
“I always find walking in Hyde Park invigorating,” Bessie said to Louise. “When you mentioned you wanted to sketch Westminster Palace from a distance, I knew the exact place to take you.”
The bustling path around the Serpentine River stretched out before them as they navigated through the afternoon crowds. Bessie wore her usual black mourning dress, while Louise wore a cotton summer day dress along with a veiled hat.
“News about the project and the wager has everyone buzzing.” Bessie’s voice was pitched low in a conspiratorial tone. “Several women have sent me notes trying to invite themselves to the ball.”
Louise said nothing as Bessie went on about how she planned to announce the winner of the wager. Unfortunately for her, the ball was the end of her adventure. She had her own answer to the challenge’s question. A seamstress and a marquess. With all her heart, she wanted to believe it was who you were, not what you were, that mattered.
She glanced at Bessie. She and the Colonel had gone against the rules, and look where that had left Bessie. No one can escape the rigidity of society’s expectations. Her chest ached, knowing what she had to do despite her trust in Nathaniel. She and Nathaniel lived in two different worlds with different rules and expectations, just as Mr. Hawthorne had said. It was a sentiment that clung to her like an invisible weight.
She strolled with Bessie along the path, then up a gentle rise. They were headed for the lake. Louise had every intention of giving her mentor a new sketch to add to her growing collection.
“This is the perfect view.” Bessie motioned toward the two chairs and easel that waited for someone to make good use of it. “You should be able to make a beautiful sketch of the lake from here. Westminster Palace is in the distance. And the sky is just right.
“We can sit in the shade under the nice English oak tree. Mr. Boyet will serve us some refreshments.” Bessie’s voice had a dreamy quality, a tone Louise had not heard before. “I used to come here with the Colonel.” When Bessie glanced at Louise, she realized Bessie’s eyes were damp. “He proposed to me under this tree.”
Bessie’s mind wandered to the past. Louise didn’t interfere. She kept herself busy taking out her art supplies to give her friend time to gather her thoughts.
The whispered words were Bessie married the Colonel for money and position, to be respectable. One glance at the woman, and you knew Bessie and the Colonel were a love match with a strong bond that death could not sever.
Leaving Bessie to her thoughts, Louise surveyed the landscape with an artist’s eye until she found the perfect angle for her sketch.
With swift strokes, she marked out the general outline of the picture: the edge of the lake, the path along the shore, the contour of the rolling hills, and the Serpentine wooden bridge. With feathery strokes, she added in the trees, and in the background, she blocked out Westminster Palace.
Her mind was solely on the picture as she filled in the details. From the skyline with a hazy view of Westminster Palace in the distance to the path along the Serpentine, she was pleased with the picture.
The people were the last to be added. It was late afternoon, and the crush of people had thinned out. But Louise caught sight of a familiar figure in the distance. She could pick him out in any crowd. Nathaniel, in a finely tailored coat and a surprisingly bright yellow vest. She had only seen him in subdued colors, never anything so Beau Brummell. Yet here he was in a lively conversation. Even from this distance, Louise knew he was with Elinor. The two looked at ease, laughing with one another. Her heart skipped a beat as a knot tightened in her stomach. Did Nathaniel really love her, or would he welcome renewing his relationship with Elinor?
It had been four days since he declared his love for her. Each day, she received a note and a bouquet of flowers from him apologizing for his absence. A business matter that needed his attention. Today’s note was no different. He did add that he looked forward to taking her to the ball on Thursday at the Prince Regent’s temporary pavilion.
Louise continued drawing, stealing occasional glances at the pair. Nathaniel’s attentiveness to Elinor was evident, though not excessively so. Was this merely a courtesy, or was Morgan correct? Was Elinor capable of resurrecting the deeper connection the couple once shared?
“Prinny has wonderful memories of The Cheesecake House before it was converted into a boat house. They had cheesecakes, of course, but also custards, tarts, and syllabubs on their menu, and he’s insisted his pavilion serve them. Would you like to join me?” Louise was startled at Bessie’s words. “Before they see you gawking at them?”
Louise whipped around.
“Don’t look at me like that.” Bessie nodded toward the couple on the path. “You’ve been staring at them for a good ten minutes. Now come along.”
Louise put her art supplies away and packed up the incomplete sketch. She would finish it later.
“A lemon tart and tea will do us both good,” Bessie insisted.
As they made their way to the pavilion, Bessie asked, “He told you about Elinor, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he did.” Louise stopped and gazed at Bessie. “And he told me her decision to break their engagement was a blessing. If she hadn’t, he would never have met me.”
“As he mentioned to me,” Bessie added as they continued on toward the pavilion.
“It also explains why this challenge was so important to him.” Louise knew she was right. “It was the rules of his elite society that were determining his life, not him, not Elinor, but unfeeling, rigid, unwritten rules that they both were expected to live by. I count my blessings that I wasn’t expected to live by those suffocating directives.”
“Although your mother insists you marry before your sister.” Bessie raised her eyebrows and gave her a knowing glance. “That is part of society’s rules.”
“Yes, but Mama can pick and choose which ones she follows. She chose to follow that rule in order to have Christina as her ally.” Louise chuckled. “It has not worked so far. I am still unattached.”
They entered the crowded pavilion and stood at the door as they surveyed the room.
“I see a table to the left, by the window,” Bessie said. “I’ll secure our table while you get the tea and tarts.”
“Very well. I shan’t be long.”
While Bessie made her way to the table, stopping to say hello along the way, Louise went to the refreshment table. The footman was removing the teapots.
“One moment, my lady. The water is tepid. It will only take a moment to refresh the pots.”
Louise and two other women nodded as he left.
“My mother received an invitation to the private ball the Prince Regent is arranging. Mrs. Dove-Lyon is hosting it. I can’t believe Mama is going.”
Louise, who was behind the woman, was taken by surprise. It was Lady Isabella Islington, one of Madame’s customers.
“It’s Prinny. What do you expect your mother to do? Never mind about that. I know you went to visit Elinor privately earlier today. Without me, I might add. You promised to tell me what she said.”
Isabella nodded and turned back to her friend.
“Nothing that you wouldn’t have guessed. She had a horrid time with Mountjoy. Her exact words were there was no joy in his… you know… mounting.”
Both women quietly laughed. Even Louise couldn’t help smiling. She was glad she was wearing the thick veil.
“She was much relieved when he passed away, but not about the arrangements he made for her: a simple monthly allotment. She could remain in the house at the generosity of the new Lord Mountjoy. I swear I will never be able to say that name again without seeing a dreadful picture in my head. Anyway, the new lord, her stepson, has said there is no room for her in his house. I’ve heard from other sources that his wife will not allow it.”
Isabella’s friend nodded in agreement. “I’ve heard the same. Elinor is still a beauty, and from what I’ve been told, well, the new Lady Mountjoy cannot hold a candle to her. I am not surprised. What is Elinor to do?”
“Her ambition is to make amends with St. John and have him as her second husband. He is not attached to anyone. And if he was, I am certain she could persuade him otherwise. And besides, she thinks he needs some taming. He’s been going about making ridiculous wagers, something about oysters, and taking daring chances horseracing.”
“Thank you for waiting, ladies.” The footman poured several cups of tea while a fresh tray of tarts was set on the table.
“Enough of Elinor. Have you seen the Queen?” The two women moved away toward their table.
Beneath the amusement, a sense of unease lingered. The affirmation of Elinor’s ambitious desire to secure Nathaniel as her second husband had not changed. A sharp pain gripped her chest, as though someone had torn out her heart.
Her veil gave her some comfort as it concealed the tears that welled up in her eyes. She closed her eyes, commanding the tears away and, at the same time, hearing his words. I love you, Louise. With all my heart, I love you.
His declaration was from his heart and rang true in hers. But theirs was a budding romance with tender roots. Could it withstand the onslaught, the memories, that Elinor would stir? This morning, she would have said yes, but now? Now, she didn’t know what to do.
“Thank you for your patience, my lady. My colleague will see you to your table.” Louise pulled out of distraction, glanced at the man holding a tray with tea and tarts for two.
“This way, please.” As Louise led the footman to the table, she noticed another woman sitting with Bessie. A sense of curiosity tugged at her, wondering who might have joined Bessie.
Approaching the table, Louise’s steps slowed, and her gaze shifted from Bessie to the unexpected guest. To her pleasant surprise, she found Madame Pembroke.
“Oh, Madame Pembroke! What a delightful surprise,” Louise exclaimed as she extended a warm greeting, “When did you return?”
Madame returned the smile, and Louise, with a mixture of gratitude and excitement, took her seat at the table.
“I returned yesterday evening. I had a wonderful time with the family. We had so much to talk about. Bessie was telling me all about your time together and the project with which you are assisting her.”
“It’s a very interesting challenge. To protect the parties in the challenge from being identified and therefore slipping back into society’s rules, we wore disguises and masks. It was quite liberating.”
“Coming back to work at the shop will seem awfully boring.”
“Not at all. It will be nice to come back to the shop.” Louise stopped herself from saying anything else. Bessie’s wardrobe had been updated and completed, and the challenge was almost over. All that was left was announcing the results of the project.
Bessie had been both kind and gracious, but… Her heartbeat stumbled. The next beat was faster, and the ones after that faster still. She might not see Nathaniel again. A hot knot settled in her throat.
Startled, Louise observed Madame and Bessie exchange glances. They may have been disappointed, but now that she said the words out loud, it was as though a weight was lifted from her shoulders.
Bessie smiled sadly. “I knew when Sybil came home, you would return to the shop. I have thoroughly enjoyed your company. We will simply have to arrange for time together.”
“That would be wonderful,” Louise said with a full heart. She would indeed miss her newfound friend.