Chapter 12
“Mama, I am getting married.”
Her mother continued to read her rather exciting novel, clearly absorbed. “I’m sorry, my dear. What did you just say to me?”
“Mama, put your book down,” Muriel said, adoring the woman who loved so much that she had allowed her youngest to spend so much time studying.
“Just this last paragraph,” her mother said, riveted by whatever madcap adventure was occurring. When she finished, she closed the book with a pleased sigh, turned to her daughter, and said, “Now, I shall listen most carefully.”
“I’m getting married, Mama!” Muriel’s entire body trembled with nerves. She had no idea how her mother was going to react. Surely, she would be thrilled.
Her mother blinked as she put the book down upon the settee. “Say it again. I fear I have lost my hearing, my dear. We have been going out a great deal as of late. Perhaps I am overtired and I am hearing things. You said what?”
Muriel grinned at her mother. “I’m going to get married, Mama,” she said again, shaking with excitement.
“To whom?” her mother gasped.
“To Perseus Briarwood,” she replied.
“Of course!” her mother crowed. “I knew it. I knew it the moment I saw you two in the box at the theater!”
Her mother shot up from the settee, started applauding, and let out a cry of joy. “Oh, my dear. I knew he was going to ask. Somehow I just knew it. And your brother seemed most certain too.”
“Have you and my brother been speaking about Perseus and myself?”
“Of course, my dear,” her mother said indulgently as she almost skipped with glee, her starched, lace-edged mobcap dancing atop her head.
“We all talk about you. Every single one of us have said how happy you have become, so full of purpose. Your entire life has transformed. I wouldn’t be surprised if you received a dozen more proposals. ”
“I don’t want any more proposals, Mama. I just want the one.”
Her mother beamed at her, crossed to her, and took her hands in hers. “You love him then, do you?”
“I do, Mama,” she replied as tears of joy filled her eyes.
“Are you certain? You’ve known each other such a short time.” Her mother pursed her lips. “Your father and I exchanged letters for months and then finally met when we were in London. We did fall in love right away, it’s true, but we had known each other for some time before.”
“I am certain,” she assured her mother. “He understands me in a way that I don’t think anybody else could.”
Her mother nodded, squeezing her hands. “I agree with you, my dear. I’ve never seen you like this, and I can’t imagine you without him. And so your father and I will most certainly give our blessing.”
“Thank you, Mama,” she said as her mother wrapped her arms about her.
“Now, where do you think you’d like to be married?” her mama asked as she hugged her tightly. “There are several possibilities.”
“We’d like to be married right away.”
Her mother tensed and pulled back, giving her a wary look. “Why? Are you—”
“No, Mama,” Muriel assured quickly, blushing. “Do not worry. I am in no risk of such a scandal.”
“I’m glad to hear it, my dear,” her mother said, then she smiled a little knowing smile. “Though a little early courting is not so very unusual amidst the Briarwoods or certain families of the ton. A few of my family have been known to engage in a bit of jolliness.”
“Mama,” she exclaimed. “Is it true?”
“Yes, my dear. But it is nice to know that this marriage is for joy alone and not necessity. And you are certain that you don’t want a big wedding?”
“Not at all, Mama. I think big weddings are really rather silly. The expense is ridiculous. I think that any money that we were going to spend on my wedding should be given to Perseus’s cousins, Celia and Emilia, for their work in the East End with the pupils there.”
“Well, my dear, if you wish to take the money put aside for your wedding and use it for a good cause, I am very proud of you. The Briarwoods have been very inspiring for you, haven’t they?”
She nodded. “They’re wonderful. You like them too, don’t you?”
Her mother nodded. “Yes! And I think your sisters shall receive proposals quite soon.”
“I’m so glad to hear it!” she exclaimed.
“I think that the Earl of Richford, Viscount Shelthem, and the Marquess of Isleton will make offers.”
“Isleton?” Muriel said, wrinkling her nose. “He’s not quite right, is he?”
“He’ll do. Lots of land, lots of power.” Her mother drew in a breath. “He likes an educated woman.”
“But he’s so cold.”
Her mother nodded warily, but then said, “Your sister likes him, and that is enough, isn’t it?”
“I suppose, but I’ll have to ask the dowager duchess what she really thinks of him.”
Her mother’s wary look vanished as she considered this before she gushed, “My daughter and the dowager duchess in cahoots, discussing who my other daughters should marry! I am quite pleased.”
“Are you, Mama?”
“Oh my dear, how can I not be?” Her mother stilled and looked into her eyes and said which such love and pride, “But most of all, I am pleased that you are happy.”
“I am the luckiest girl in the world, Mama, to have you.”
“There are many lucky girls in the world, and I am the luckiest mother to have a child like you.”
“You’ve always allowed me to follow my dreams, Mama,” she said softly.
“Yes, I have as best I could. I’m glad you see that.”
She hesitated. “And I’ve never wanted to hurt you.”
“Good,” her mama said, patting her hand. “I’ve never wanted to hurt you either, my darling. You’re making me quite nervous now.”
She licked her lips. “Well, you know that the Briarwoods do live differently than everyone else?”
“Yes, I think it’s wonderful.”
“Will you always think it’s wonderful?” she asked, half trembling, longing to tell her mother the truth of all of it.
“I don’t know. What are you planning?” her mother asked.
Muriel cleared her throat. “I do love the theater.”
Her mother beamed. “Oh, are you and Perseus going to buy a theater, my dear? I think that would be an excellent idea. You might not put it about too loudly, of course, but if it makes you happy, you should.”
She smiled a shaky smile. How could she say she had no intention of owning a theater, but rather that she intended to act in one.
She wasn’t about to say anything more at present. She’d given her mother enough information, and she would allow her to slowly adapt as time went by.
“Is it true then?” her brother called from the doorway. “You’re getting married?”
“Yes,” she said. “Were you listening to the whole thing?”
“Not the whole thing, but you two were surprisingly loud, and I had a funny feeling from mother’s squeal of delight that it was true.”
“Come in here then, Cassius,” Muriel urged.
Cassius strode in, pulled her into his arms, and smiled. “I knew he’d come up to snuff.”
“Did you?” Muriel asked, hugging her brother back, so glad she had such a loving family.
He nodded. “Yes. We had a good conversation about him not letting us all down.”
She sucked in a sharp gasp. “Did you push him into marrying me?”
Cassius snorted. “No, I just told him that he couldn’t ruin you.”
“Oh,” she said, half laughing. “Well, he hasn’t done that.”
At least, they hadn’t been caught yet. And as far as she could say, in the ton, the only thing that mattered was if one was caught or not.
Her brother beamed down at her. “So there’s to be a host of weddings this year,” he said. “I shall get very tired of all that cake.”
“You love cake,” she reminded.
“But not wedding cake,” he said with an exaggerated groan. “Too many fruits in it. Too much brandy.”
She batted his shoulder. “Well, perhaps we can have another one made just for you.”
“That’s all right,” he said. “As long as it isn’t my wedding cake that I have to eat this year, all shall be well.”
Their mother rolled her eyes. “You should get married, my dear, and take inspiration from all your sisters, and then I will be the happiest mother in the world.”
“Oh, Mama,” he said kindly, “I have a few years yet before I need to do that. Besides, since Papa prefers not to be overly involved, I must assist you in assuring that my sisters all have good husbands who aren’t nefarious louts.”
“The dowager duchess is helping to do that,” said his mother.
“Yes, of course she is. But I’m the muscle if you two are the brains, if you know what I mean, Mama,” he returned.
Their mother looked quite worried for a moment. “I don’t want you getting called out, my dear.”
“I can handle myself,” he said.
Her brother was such a good sort with such a strong sense of honor and justice in him.
“You’re happy for me?” Muriel interjected.
“Of course, I’m happy for you. The Briarwoods are decent, though some might try to say they’re scandalous.
Many who claim to be decent are actually monsters.
The Briarwoods are actually good people, and that’s not something that’s easily said in the ton.
Most people in the ton are in a great deal of pain and just managing to get through their lives, and they usually end up hurting other people while doing it.
They don’t do that. They help people, so I’m glad that you’ve got him. ”
Her brother was wise. She wished he had a more important place in government. But who knew! Perhaps her marriage might help that happen.
“Who would have imagined just a little letter and a trip to a library could cause all of this?” she teased.
“Libraries are the doorway to the future,” Cassius said. “I firmly believe it, and I agree with the Duke of Westleigh. Education is what this country needs. I’m going to have to see what I can do to help him on that score.”
“I’m sure he would love to have your help,” Muriel said, her pride only growing.
He nodded. “I can’t spend my whole life frittering away, you know?”
“I don’t think anyone would accuse you of frittering away,” their mama defended swiftly.
He nodded. “Well, I’m not going to go to a war. I don’t have to fight Napoleon. So, I need to pick a few battles that are important,” he said. “And perhaps education is the one that I shall choose.”
Alice, Mary, and Jane rushed into the room. A bottle of champagne followed, accompanied by glasses and a tray of pink cakes carried by the footman, who quickly put them down on the table by the window before he departed.
“What is this?” Muriel asked, basking in her family’s joy.
Mary’s eyes shone with glee. “We heard mother’s exclamation, and we guessed you’re getting married.”
“Does everyone know?” Muriel teased happily. “Do we even need to tell the city of London? Surely, it seems that the news will be trumpeted about just because Mama has let out an exclamation of joy.”
Alice thrust a pink cake at her. “Have one.”
Mary thrust the bottle of champagne at her brother. “Open it.”
And Jane brought forth the cut crystal flutes.
“What a year this has been,” Jane said. “When we came to London and this little house, I never thought that we would all become the center of things. It is such a joy being at the center.”
It was true, Muriel realized. It was like they had climbed a mountain and were now standing at the top of it, looking out over the landscape.
She didn’t understand why people made such a fuss about being at the top.
The top was a wonderful place to be. One could look out and see the wonders of the world and enjoy it, and that’s what she was going to do.
She was going to enjoy all of it. She had to make sure her sisters got to the summit as well.
They were all so close. And perhaps her brother too.
Maybe one of the Briarwood girls would suit him.
Though she wasn’t entirely certain if Celia or Emilia would ever wed, her brother might be just the treat.
She took a glass of bubbling champagne, lifted it, and clinked glasses with her siblings and her mother.
Her mother’s eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, Mama,” Muriel protested, “don’t cry.”
“How can I not, my dear?” her mother said through her happy tears. “This is the greatest triumph a mama can ever know. You’re marrying into the family of a duke, and my other daughters shall make grand matches too.”
“Right?” Alice said, lifting her glass of champagne. “And we all thought we were going to come here and be lucky if one of us caught a baron.”
They were lucky, the luckiest family in all of London. There was no arguing with that.
They drank champagne, they ate their cake, and then they all went up to change their clothes, because now they were part of a whirlwind of balls and card parties and routs.
Her brother was also being brought into the most important circles of gentlemen, all because he had become acquainted with the Duke of Westleigh.
She’d done this.
She, not anyone else.
She had made the connection with the Briarwood family.
She had allowed herself to be true to her own wishes and dreams. She had pursued them, and because of her passions and because of her desires, this had happened.
She beamed to herself as she slipped up the stairs, headed to her room, and got ready to put on her gown and have her hair arranged.
Following one’s dreams was worth it.
Doing something different was worth it. Perseus was right. It was time to take a chance, and the very idea burned brightly through her with unmitigated happiness.