Chapter 7
The next morning, the ladies were up early to dress and prepare for a visit to the village of Winstonshire. They were outside and awaiting the carriage even before Elias, who seemed surprised at their punctuality.
His eyes ran over them as he checked and double-checked his collar and coat cuffs—making sure everything was perfect. He would be under scrutiny and, for that reason, wanted to look his best. Elias loathed visits to the village. A fact that his uncle was keenly aware of. Why he had ever volunteered Elias’s time to take these women on such a frivolous visit, he had no idea. But he was annoyed over his predicament and had no plans to hide this fact from the women.
“Ah, you’re early,” he said flatly.
Charlotte beamed her most charming smile at him, determined to win the young man over. She hated the thought of Elias thinking poorly of herself and her daughter. While they were looking for financial assistance from Lord Reginald, they were not hoping to steal his fortune or manipulate him in any way. They were entirely dependent on his generosity, and they were deeply grateful for it.
What’s more, Victoria and this young man were going to be thrown together at Edenbridge Hall for the next six to seven years. The last thing Charlotte wanted was for her daughter to be in an uncomfortable position and the subject of Elias’s ire. At least Charlotte had the luxury of retreating to the capital to visit friends. Victoria was, in essence, a prisoner until their situation could change.
So, she made it her mission to do all she could to foster some sort of friendship between the two, and she pondered how she might accomplish that goal as they awaited the carriage.
“You’re looking fine today, Elias,” Victoria offered.
There was something about her tone that Elias felt was teasing. “We are going into the village,” he replied.
“Of course Elias wishes to look nice for our visit to the village,” Charlotte said, her mind elsewhere. “Gentlemen always wish to look nice.”
Victoria’s smile irked Elias. She was teasing him, he thought. Somehow, she knew that he was embarrassed to go into Winstonshire. “And you are wearing a fine dress today, Miss Victoria,” he pointed out, and then more quietly, “Did my uncle purchase it for you?”
Victoria’s eyes widened, but the amusement did not leave them. “No, it came from the wealth of another man.” She did not point out that this man was her father, and she was pleased to see Elias’s features harden. Let him get worked up, she thought.
“I’m sure you are quite pleased to be taking us to the village,” Victoria added. “It is just the place for women, don’t you think?”
“Women like you? I imagine so.”
“Far better than the woods. How kind of you to abandon your rougher attire to escort us to such a place of cultivated safety.”
“I don’t imagine that I know your preferences, but a place of safety is surely ideal for you.” And then, in a whisper, “I hear there is an asylum in the town of Ashford with padded walls.”
Victoria was unperturbed. As a matter of fact, she seemed invigorated by the jab. The carriage began to approach.
Elias helped Charlotte into the carriage and then turned to assist Victoria. She made a face and whispered conspiratorially. “Frankly, I think we would both be happier in the woods today.”
“You don’t belong in the woods.”
“And you do?”
More than she knew, but he didn’t say that.
“Oh, Elias, don’t you know that such sexism is antiquated?”
“I would think that a woman marrying a man in his 80s would be fond of all things antiquated.”
“Is everything alright?” Charlotte asked from inside the carriage.
“Fine, Mother, I am just fixing my shoe.” And she took care to step on Elias’s toe as she entered the carriage.
Inside, Victoria sat beside her mother and pinned those teasing eyes on Elias. He focused his attention out the window, his gaze landing on the trees. Victoria was right about one thing. He would be happier out there.
“Mother, did you know that Elias believes in the fairytales about the woods here?”
“Well,” she sighed. “There have been stories of the dangers within since before my youth, and Elias has lived here his whole life. I venture that he knows more about these woods than we do.”
“Wise words,” Elias said pointedly, his eyes on Victoria.
Charlotte raised a brow, assessing her daughter. “You know, Victoria, it might be best that you heed Elias on this subject.”
Now it was Elias’s turn to grin.
“I seem to be surrounded with old-fashioned notions this morning. I see no reason why I shouldn’t be able to enjoy the landscape that Edenbridge Hall provides. If this is to be my home, I plan to fall in love with it.”
“Why don’t you fall in love with gardens, darling? I’m sure they are much safer and harboring equal beauty to the wild.”
“Yes,” Elias said smugly. “You will be happy in the gardens.”
“I am happiest when I am free to do as I wish. I am sure you hold the same true for yourself.”
“Yes, but I can protect myself.”
Her eyes twinkled as they shot to his still-bandaged hand. “Can you?”
Charlotte sighed and looked pleadingly at Elias. “You must excuse Victoria; she has something of an adventurer’s spirit—which I blame entirely on her father. He was a sailor, and she was raised on the sea.”
This information came as a surprise to Elias. What had he thought about Victoria’s upbringing? Surely, he didn’t know. Surely, he hadn’t thought that deeply upon the subject. But perhaps he had assumed that Victoria was raised in the capital and had the typical experiences of any young lady raised in privilege—which led her to be a money-grubbing and vapid little fiend willing to marry a man close to 90 just to inherit his wealth.
Victoria shifted in her seat. She didn’t like the details of her life shared so openly. It made her feel as if she lost some slim advantage that she held. Now, Elias was looking at her with some curiosity.
“Yes, I was raised on the sea—by strong men who had no qualms about teaching a young woman to be strong. No sailor ever told me to stick to the gardens,” she added resentfully.
“I suspect that was because there were no gardens for you to stick to.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “The point is, I held my own on the sea, and I will be fine if I choose to explore the woods.”
“The sea is different from the Perished Woods.”
“They can be no deeper nor darker than the ocean.”
“Aye, they can. There is dark magic in those woods, and there is nothing darker than that.”
Victoria rolled her eyes, and Charlotte took the opportunity to interject. “Well, Elias, I trust that you will help my Victoria find some small adventures that will satisfy her spirit and still maintain her safety.”
Elias did not accept the appeal, so Charlotte took a different approach, hoping to find some overlap between the two.
“Victoria is also a voracious reader. Do you have any favorite works in the library at Edenbridge Hall?”
“There are many good books in the library. I am sure Victoria will find something to her liking.”
“And what do you do for fun?” Charlotte inquired. “The two of you are near to the same age, are you not?”
“I am thirty this year,” Elias answered.
“And my Victoria is 24. There is not much of an age difference at all. I am sure you two will find that you have much in common. Tell us, Elias, what are the popular ways to pass the time in Winstonshire?”
Victoria knew full well enough that Elias did not willingly pass his time in Winstonshire. Nor did Victoria have any interest in doing so herself.
“Are there many dances? Is this a musical community?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Perhaps we can inquire about it once we get to the village?” Charlotte suggested hopefully.
Elias and Victoria looked out the window in disinterest. They were away from the trees now and gazing upon fields of green crops. In the distance, they could see the thatched roofs of homes and businesses in Winstonshire, and an idea occurred to Elias.
“There is a women’s sewing circle with the church,” he offered. “It’s very popular.”
The suggestion hit Victoria like ice water down her back, but it was too late. Charlotte jumped on the idea.
“A sewing circle! Isn’t that lovely, dear? What a wonderful opportunity to meet other young ladies! Oh, the friends you will have in Winstonshire! Elias, you will have to take us to the church. I refuse to leave for the capital without Victoria knowing at least one other woman nearby.”
“Nothing would make me happier,” Elias replied, his smile wide as he appreciated the scorn on Victoria’s pretty face.
“I feel just the same. Victoria needs more women in her life. I’ve been saying it for years. It does a young lady no good to be raised by sailors.”
“Indeed, it doesn’t,” Elias agreed. And though Victoria sat politely in her seat, he imagined that she would prefer to be tumbling down a hillside with him or wrestling in the leaves. In Winstonshire, she would have to temper her wildness—and she would hate every minute of it.
Good,Elias thought. It will serve her right.