Chapter 9 #2
She stepped closer to Euphemia, a sharp, curious gleam entering her eyes. “You are the one who just got back from a honeymoon. How was it? What did you actually do? Did the two of you do things that married people are... well, supposed to do?”
Leonora stepped closer, her curiosity completely piqued now.
“Right! You just had a honeymoon, Effie. You know, all the books I read are terribly vague about that period. They don’t really give enough information as to what actually happens.
The novels just say it is the honeymoon period where the couple makes love.
But what does it even mean to make love? ”
Euphemia blinked and tilted her head to the side.
“Well,” she began, trying to sound as knowledgeable as possible, given that she was the only one with any experience in these matters.
“What happens during the honeymoon is that you get to know each other really well. You meet the family, and if your husband happens to have children, you meet their children.”
Seraphina looked utterly confused, her brows knitting together. “That is bizarre, Effie. I thought that was what the courting stage was for. Why do you still need to use an entire phase called the honeymoon just to get to know each other?”
Euphemia hesitated, a little confused herself, because that truly was all she had done.
Desperate to sound convincing, she pressed on.
“Well, it is more than that! It is also when you learn about the estate. You learn about the staff, you learn about the household management, and you memorize all their names. You review the kitchen accounts, inspect the properties, and understand the inner workings of the house.”
Leonora now looked just as confused as Seraphina. She tilted her head, staring at Euphemia. “Is that what a honeymoon is?”
“Yes, of course that is it,” Euphemia said quickly, lifting her chin. In her mind, that was exactly what it was, because that was precisely how her own honeymoon had played out.
Seraphina still didn’t look satisfied. “Well, then what did the Duke do during this honeymoon period if you were busy with the household?”
“We do it together, naturally,” Euphemia replied smoothly, making it up as she went along. “That is why they call it ‘making love.’ By making sure the household is completely in love with the new state of things, and ensuring the estate runs in perfect, loving harmony.”
Seraphina’s jaw dropped slightly. She leaned in closer and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Effie, I truly thought the honeymoon period was the time where married people made babies. What on earth are you talking about?”
“Making babies?” Euphemia scoffed, waving her hand dismissively. “Don’t be ridiculous, Seraphina. How can one possibly make a baby simply by sitting in a room together? It is about the estate.”
“I am telling you, that cannot be right,” Seraphina argued back, crossing her arms. “A honeymoon must involve something else!”
Leonora just shook her head, letting out a loud, dramatic sigh.
“Honestly, I blame Lady Byron for all of this. I blame her for never teaching us these things. We wouldn’t have all these ridiculous questions if she had just sat us down and explained how marriage actually works.
” She turned to look at Euphemia. “No offense, Effie, but I don’t think you have any idea what you are saying right now. It sounds utterly ridiculous.”
Euphemia’s face flushed bright red as her sisters began to giggle. Realizing she had completely lost control of the conversation, she threw her hands up.
“Quiet, both of you! Just shut up and stop talking about this,” Euphemia hissed, fiercely embarrassed as she gathered her reticule. “Let us just pay for the trimmings and go. As much as I missed talking to both of you, I am completely done with this conversation.”
Turning away from her giggling sisters, Euphemia walked over to the polished wooden counter where the head modiste stood waiting. She took a deep breath to cool her burning cheeks, determined to look composed.
“We are ready to settle the bill, madame,” Euphemia said, placing her coin purse on the counter.
She glanced back at the pile of items they had selected.
Together, they had chosen three day dresses of fine muslin and light cotton for the warm afternoons, along with the elegant, pale green silk gown she intended to wear to the ball.
“Please total everything up. I will be paying for my gown as well as my sisters’ selections and trimmings. ”
The modiste quickly held up a hand, offering a deep, deeply deferential bow.
“Oh, there is absolutely no need for that, Your Grace. His Grace sent explicit instructions to our shop early this morning. All expenses incurred today are to be directed entirely to the Greymoor estate. Your sisters do not have to pay a single penny for their purchases either.”
Euphemia felt a sudden wave of surprise wash over her. She looked at the modiste, then back at her sisters. Seraphina blinked in utter shock, her mouth opening slightly, while Leonora raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. A strange warmth bloomed in Euphemia’s chest.
“Thank you,” she said to the modiste as they begun packing up her dresses to load in the carriage.
The three sisters moved through the shop doors and climbed into the waiting vehicle, escaping the afternoon heat. Euphemia settled onto the seat, watching through the window as the door snapped shut. With a familiar lurch and the clatter of hooves, the carriage began driving off down the street.
As the city scenery rolled past, her thoughts drifted back to the incredible gesture at the modiste’s counter.
Nathaniel had paid for everything. He possessed an immense, staggering fortune, a wealth so vast that a pile of expensive silks and trimmings wouldn’t even make a microscopic dent in his accounts.
Yet, the gesture felt far greater than a mere transaction of it.
It made her wonder if there were more hidden sides to him...
perhaps even a gentle nature beneath his stiff, unyielding exterior.
She was drawn out of her reflections by Leonora, who leaned in closer.
“Effie, I don’t mean to worry you, but you must be careful when you step into that ballroom.
I went to the promenade yesterday, and I must tell you, the scandal hasn’t completely settled down yet.
There are still quite a few people in the drawing rooms who are talking about that night, just waiting to see how you fare. ”
“The rumors have begun to die down somewhat, though,” Leonora added softly, trying to soften the blow. “At least, from what I gather. It isn’t the absolute storm it was a few weeks ago.”
Seraphina chimed in, nodding her head in agreement.
“Yes, that is true. A lot of the initial shock has faded. From what we hear from the maids and the minor gossip circles, the worst of the wildfire has run its course. “However, it has not died down completely. We only tell you this because we don’t want you to be blindsided. There are still people talking about it, refusing to let it go. People like Lady Pembrooke, who seem to thrive entirely on the misfortune of others.”
Euphemia sighed softly and closed her eyes, leaning her head against the cushioned interior as the carriage continued down the pavement.
She let the voices of her sisters fade into the background.
She was so incredibly tired of the rumors taking over her life, making her feel as though she were constantly walking on the edge of a cliff, leaving her agitated and breathless at every turn.
Society’s judgment was a heavy shadow, but she made a silent vow to herself right then. She would deal with the vultures in the moment she actually had to face them. The only time she would permit herself to be troubled by the gossip was when she finally stepped foot inside that upcoming ball.
For now, she just wanted to forget about the whispers. She wanted to push away the dread and dwell entirely on happy thoughts.
She found herself imagining Nathaniel waking up that morning, sitting at his grand desk, and ordering that a note be sent to the Modiste to make sure she was attended to seamlessly.
It was a happy thought.