Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Please be kind, father,” Clara said as the wagon pulled into Clemont Hall. Alfred arched an eyebrow.
“I have been nothing but kind to him. It is the right of a father to make his daughter’s betrothed squirm a little. I think it’s only fair after everything he did,” Alfred replied.
“If you think about it from a certain point of view, he didn’t actually lie to you because he did propose to me,” Clara said.
She fell silent when Alfred gave her a certain look. Mary offered a reassuring smile.
“I’m sure that everything will be fine. We just need to smooth everything over, that’s all.”
“I just think it’s fascinating that you lied, Clara. I’m sure I would never be able to get away with such a thing,” Beatrice said.
Alfred cleared his throat and laughed. “I think you get away with too much already, Beatrice.”
Beatrice’s face went red. Clara stifled a laugh.
Although Alfred appeared to be stubborn in this regard, she was almost certain that he would soften.
He didn’t have it in him to hold a grudge for too long.
He and her mother were far too forgiving, but of course there was a period of awkwardness that would have to be endured.
The carriage pulled up outside Clemont Hall.
Alfred and Mary alighted first, followed by Clara and Beatrice.
Clara was dressed in a cream-colored gown, while Beatrice wore an eye-catching yellow outfit.
She looked older than her years, and Clara knew she was going to make an immediate impact on the debut season.
Clara wouldn’t have been surprised if she ended up being the diamond, just like Agatha.
“So, this is to be your new home. It’s rather impressive,” Beatrice said with a hint of admiration.
“It is, and I have plans for part of the garden,” Clara replied.
“I suppose I shall have to marry a prince. Only a palace will outdo Clemont Hall,” Beatrice said. Clara wasn’t sure if she was teasing or not.
They entered the house and were announced by the servant.
Eleanor came to greet them first. She gave Clara a warm hug.
She was demure to the others. Gerald emerged from a sitting room.
He wore a sweeping jacket and sported a fresh haircut.
He bowed as he greeted them, kissing Mary and Beatrice’s hands, before shaking Alfred’s hand firmly.
“It’s my pleasure to welcome you to Clemont Hall. I hope you’ll enjoy dinner. Please, come this way to enjoy a refreshment as we await the arrival of the others,” he said, leading them to the sitting room. He flashed a smile to Clara. Clara’s heart fluttered at the mere sight of him.
This was the man she loved, and she did not have to be plagued by any doubt about it!
Gerald was making a concerted effort to endear himself to Alfred.
He engaged the man in conversation immediately, hoping to soothe the wound that had been caused by deceit.
Clara intended to do the same thing with Eleanor.
She quickly fell into step with Eleanor, who was wearing a pretty blue dress.
“I like your gown,” Clara said.
“Thank you.”
“I hope that you can forgive me for what happened. I never meant to deceive you. It was a difficult situation.”
“I’m sure it was. Will you tell me something, and will be honest with me?” Eleanor asked, her voice lined with worry.
“Of course.”
“Did you pretend to like me?” Eleanor’s voice grew soft and her eyes dropped. Clara’s heart ached.
“Never. I felt so guilty about misleading you. I wish there had been another way. I wanted to ask you if you would forgive me. You are dear to me, Eleanor, and I do want to consider you as a sister, if you will have me.”
“Gladly,” Eleanor said, linking arms with Clara. She smiled widely. Clara felt grateful that Eleanor had such a forgiving nature, as things could have been so different. “I have had a brother all my life and in truth I must confess that I tire of it. It shall be wonderful to have a sister.”
Clara and Eleanor giggled as they walked to the sitting room. A servant poured them all some drinks.
“Well, isn’t this wonderful,” Mary said with a warm smile.
“It is. Before the others arrive, I want to humbly apologize for the deception. It was never my intent to wound or dishonor anyone and I am ashamed by how it has affected the people in this room. However, I hope that we can move forward and put the past behind us. To the future,” Gerald said, holding up his glass.
Eleanor, Beatrice, and Mary held up their glasses.
All eyes turned to Alfred. His was the last to rise, but rise it did, and the mood in the air turned calmer.
Conversation turned to more general matters, like the recently completed repairs to the orphanage.
The building was looking better than ever, but Clara still had plenty of ideas for where improvements could be made.
However, when she thought of the future, she thought of the children.
Glancing at Gerald, she intended to speak to him later on in the evening.
It wasn’t long before Agatha, Theodore, and the children arrived, along with Duke, of course.
The sound of their laughter and Duke’s barking greeted the party inside the house before the servants announced the visitors.
There were warm greetings all around, and Clara was pleased that the mood was convivial.
They moved into the dining room where they took their seats. The children clambered into the high-backed chairs and adopted proud expressions. Their eyes widened when the food was brought out. None of them had ever eaten pheasant before.
“I must say, Gerald, you know how to put on a good spread,” Alfred said.
“Only the best for esteemed company,” Gerald replied, inclining his head.
Duke ran around the table, getting a little bit of food from everyone, except Beatrice, who reacted to the dog with some mistrust.
“He won’t bite,” Clara reassured Beatrice.
“I’m not sure I trust anything that can’t speak,” Beatrice said.
“Why, what about babies?” Clara asked, stifling a laugh as she did so.
“I don’t trust babies either,” Beatrice replied.
Mary chuckled. “That will all change in the future.” Beatrice shuddered, unwilling to accept her mother’s judgment.
Clara looked down at her plate. She and Gerald hadn’t spoken about the subject of children.
Presumably he would want her to provide him with at least one heir, but then again many misunderstandings had arisen from mistaken presumptions.
“Have you plans for the wedding?” Agatha asked.
“There is a church in a small village just outside of London that is dear to my family. My parents, grandparents, and so on all got married there, and I feel it is my duty,” Gerald corrected himself here, “my pleasure to continue that tradition. Unfortunately, because it is small, we will have to wait some months before the church is free. However, I believe it will be worth the wait.”
“And I am quite happy to be patient,” Clara added.
“That sounds wonderful! It’s so nice to keep traditions.
That’s the problem with the world today; too many people are forgetting traditions.
Do you know that some children are being raised without being taught how to curtsey or bow?
” Agatha sounded shocked and shook her head.
Clara glanced across the table towards Beatrice, who rolled her eyes.
Theodore gently placed his arm on Agatha’s shoulder.
“I’m sure things aren’t as bad as all that. Cynthia was just complaining. You know how she gets,” he said.
Agatha huffed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some truth to it all. We have to be diligent, otherwise everything we’re proud of will slip away.”
“Yes, Grandmother,” a chorus of words echoed around the room, and everyone chuckled afterwards. Agatha arched her eyebrows and leaned back in her chair.
“There’s no need to make fun of me like that. It’s quite unbecoming,” she said, but there was a hint of a smile on her face, showing that she did not take this to heart.
“We can bow!” Teddy said.
“And curtsey,” Emily added.
“Why don’t you show everyone, children?” Clara suggested.
Emily, Teddy, and Oliver jumped down from their chairs.
Duke became excited and came to stand with them.
Emily gave a perfect curtsey, pinching the hem of her dress and lowering herself down, bending her knees elegantly.
Her back remained straight, but her head dipped. Everyone applauded.
Teddy did a quick, straight bow. His right arm spread tightly across his torso and his body folded over it.
He held the position for a few moments, and then rose again, a solemn look on his face.
Oliver tried to mimic this, but he didn’t quite possess the same balance and stumbled forward.
He also did not put his arm across his body.
Instead, his arms remained by his side, stretching out as he tried to maintain his balance.
However, he still received applause.
Duke lowered himself to a sitting position and looked up at everyone, tongue lolling out, waiting for praise, which he received in abundance.
“And what about you, Sophia, can you curtsey?” Mary asked. Sophia’s wide eyes flashed down.
“I’ve seen you curtsey before, Sophia. It’s a beautiful thing. I’m sure everyone would like to see it,” Clara said. She wouldn’t push Sophia too hard, but she believed that Sophia should try to overcome her shyness, and this was a safe occasion. The only people around were family, after all.
Sophia put her hand on Clara’s leg and leaned into her.
“Will you help me?” she whispered.
“Of course.”
Clara took Sophia’s hand and helped her down from the chair.
They moved away from the table, giving themselves room to curtsey.
Still holding hands, Clara and Sophia lowered themselves slowly, the younger girl perfectly mimicking Clara.
Upon receiving a round of applause, Sophia blushed and rushed back to her chair.
“You have always been such an elegant young woman, Clara,” Agatha said, raising her glass.
Clara looked across the table and noticed that Gerald was looking at her.
His eyes were shining, and he seemed happy.
When she looked at him now, she did not see uncertainty.
Rather, she saw the future, and it was a wonderful thing.
Dinner continued with fine conversation and amusing anecdotes.
Everyone was in a good mood. Clara was glad to see that Gerald and Alfred were getting on well.
It seemed as though everything was going to be resolved and she would have nothing to fear with regard to her family.
Basking in the warm glow of the evening, Clara relaxed and smiled.
When dessert arrived, the children whooped in delight.
Clara gently reminded them that they should not react like that when at a dinner party, although nobody was offended.
Afterwards, they retired to a sitting room.
The women and the children adjourned all together, while Gerald and Alfred walked off in another direction, presumably to clear the air once and for all.
Clara only hoped that her father and her beloved would not come to blows.