Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Esther woke up with an aching head from a sleepless night. Everything Astrid’s friends had said about her still swirled in her mind like a violent storm. Despair at ever finding a match or fitting into society settled upon her by the time the sun rose.
“Lady Esther, it is almost the time for breakfast, and you are not even out of bed. Shall I prepare a bath for you?” Ruth, her lady’s maid, questioned with concern.
“I have a megrim Ruth, I am going to forego breakfast. I’d like stay in bed a little longer,” Esther replied, unwilling to step out of the comfort of her sheets.
“Do forgive me, My Lady, but your mother sent me up to help you dress and get you down for breakfast as soon as possible. Your father wishes for everyone to be at the table today,” Ruth interjected, her tone slightly hesitant.
Esther plucked her head out from under the covers and scrunched her eyes at the brightly lit surroundings.
“Why? What does father need?” Asked Esther, still not coming out of the sheets. She was trying to find a way to stay in bed despite the order that had been issued.
“I don’t know, My Lady. So shall I?” Ruth asked once again, and Esther scrunched up her face in both confusion and agony.
“Shall you what?” Esther asked deliberately trying to prolong the matter.
“Draw you a bath, My Lady,” Ruth answered sounding a bit exasperated.
She was slightly older than Esther and ever so polite.
Ruth’s mother had worked at the Hathershire manor but had passed away last year.
Esther had known Ruth since childhood and had wished for her to become her lady’s maid.
Ruth’s calm and kind nature complimented Esther’s, and the two understood each other perfectly.
If there was anyone in the house that Esther felt comfortable with, it was Ruth.
“Yes, please do that, Ruth,” Esther finally agreed and stepped out of her warm, comfortable bed.
Her bare feet met with the cold floor, but she didn’t mind since the jolt helped her wake faster.
After the bath had been filled, Esther stepped behind the embellished Chinese screen that hid the tub from view.
Ruth helped her shed her simple white cotton nightgown, and Esther sighed as she submerged herself in the fragrant, steaming water.
Ruth had added her favorite bath salts and she luxuriated in the scent of roses and gardenia.
For a few precious moments, she just enjoyed her bath before she had to ready herself to meet with her pretentious family, who never really understood her at all.
Once she was finished, she was quickly dressed in a pastel pink frock that complimented her skin nicely.
Ruth used her deft fingers to style Esther’s hair into a neat chignon that accentuated her high cheekbones.
Esther smiled, feeling that she might look almost pretty, and stepped out of the room.
She swiftly descended the long staircase to reach the breakfast room downstairs.
“Good morning,” Esther murmured as her eyes fell on her father, Wilson Chapple, her mother, and Astrid, who were already seated at the table enjoying breakfast. She took note of how they hadn’t bothered to wait for her arrival before they began their meal.
“You are late,” Her mother barked, never missing a moment to criticize her.
“I am precisely on time, the rest of you were early,” Esther retorted, not in the mood of taking unreasonable comments at this hour. Her headache was already giving her a good amount of trouble and her mother’s snide remarks only worsened it.
“It’s fine. Just sit,” her father interjected, motioning towards the seat she usually occupied.
Esther helped herself to some tea and a scone before settling herself at the table.
They ate in considerable silence for a time, and Esther wondered why she had been summoned so urgently.
She was just about to question him regarding the matter when he finally decided to speak.
“You ladies must be excited for Madeline’s birthday ball.”
Esther controlled the urge to roll her eyes. All her family ever wished to discuss was parties, balls, and potential matches for Astrid.
“I am giddy with anticipation Father; I can’t wait to attend the grand affair,” Astrid gushed, looking ethereal as the early morning shone upon her pale-yellow morning dress.
“Good, good, I expect you to conduct yourselves well. Your sister now holds an enviable position in society as the Countess of Willmeade,” her father added, once again displaying his obsession with lofty titles.
He himself being a prominent earl, believed that his family must only associate themselves with other titled and wealthy people.
This was a fundamental reason he congratulated himself for Madeline’s match to an earl.
He wanted all of his daughters to make advantageous matches.
“We will be beside her throughout the event Wilson, you don’t have to worry. Besides that, I have prepared my daughter well, and I am certain she will be a perfect hostess,” Hildred replied placing an affectionate hand on her husband’s arm as he beamed at her.
“It has recently come to my knowledge that the Duke of Alewood will also be in attendance,” her father said, and Esther finally knew why she had been summoned to breakfast. Her father wanted everyone present to announce that little tidbit.
She looked up from her plate and noticed how her father’s gaze was directed at Astrid, who was smiling as if she had just been complimented by the queen. It was evident what her father was hinting at. He wished for Astrid to pay special attention to the duke.
“Thank you for letting me know that father,” Astrid answered with a charming smile.
No one even glanced at Esther. They did not believe that she had the potential to land a duke, and it was evident in the way her father had only looked at Astrid when making the announcement.
Despite being used to such behavior, it stung.
“I believe a new gown is in order, Astrid,” her mother said excitedly, holding Astrid’s hand from across the table. Astrid laughed happily. Nothing pleased her more than shopping unless it was flirting with a handsome aristocrat.
“Esther, you will come with us,” Hildred commanded unexpectedly and Esther looked up in surprise.
“I have a megrim, Mother. I would prefer to stay home,” Esther replied, not wishing to subject herself to an afternoon where the topic under discussion would be nothing but Madeline’s ball and the Duke of Alewood.
“It is your sister’s ball, and you must look your best. You will be representing our family, and I will not allow you to wear any of your tired old gowns. I won’t hear another word about this. Eat and have some more tea. I'm sure that will help your megrim,” Her mother ordered.
The matter was settled, and Esther had no choice but to go along.
Later that morning, the three ladies, along with Ruth, stepped out of the house adorned in fashionable pelisses and bonnets.
It was a beautiful sunny day as the four women walked on Bond Street, where their favorite dress designer had her shop.
They entered Madame Tousseou's brightly colored establishment and were greeted by an array of rich fabrics of every color and texture.
“Lady Hathershire, your presence is most welcome,” Madame Tousseou said dramatically as soon as her eyes fell on Hildred. Her French accent was heavy, and she embraced her heritage boldly.
“Selene, how do you always manage to pull off the most exotic colors with such ease?” Asked her mother, amazed at how mesmerizing the beautiful French dressmaker looked in the golden orange gown she wore.
“French blood, My Lady, our skin is made for exotic colors,” Selene replied with a jolly laugh.
“Lady Astrid, Lady Esther, I see you both are wearing one of my creations,” Selene remarked acknowledging both Esther and Astrid with a kind smile.
“Selene, no time for idle chat today. We are in dire need of your services,” Lady Hathershire interrupted sitting on the velvet pink Settee. Esther and Astrid sat too, while Ruth stood quietly behind Esther.
“I can sense the approach of an important affair,” Lady Tousseou said excitedly, clapping her hands together.
“Madeline, my eldest, is hosting a birthday ball, and you must know how exquisite the event will be. After all, Neil Hundley, Madeline’s husband, is a wealthy and powerful Earl, and I have taught my daughter to create grand affairs,” Hildred went on, clearly boasting.
She had always been incredibly proud of Madeline, and after her marriage to the Earl, she was even more so.
“Absolutely, I know of Lord Hundley, of course. He became an earl a few years ago I believe, after his father passed?” Selene questioned. Esther kneaded her temples lightly, not understanding why everyone around her enjoyed the art of excessive gossip.
“Yes, his poor father, who was Wilson’s particular friend, passed away due to an illness and Neil inherited the title,” Hildred elaborated for Selene’s benefit.
“So Lady Madeline is now a countess,” Selene said, her bright, glowing smile intact.
“Oh yes, my daughter is the Countess of Willmeade. Now we need you to design us the most mesmerizing gowns for the ball since we are family and must look our absolute best,” Hildred said in her usual cheerful manner.
“I will start working on them immediately and will prepare nothing short of magic for you ladies,” Selene assured, standing up. She turned around to look at the fabrics that were draped on every available surface behind her.
“Oh, and make sure Astrid’s gown is the loveliest of all. The Duke of Alewood will be attending,” her mother said to Selene’s. The modiste turned around as if stunned.
“My, my, are you hinting towards a match between our beautiful Astrid and the duke?” Selene asked, her eyes wide.
“It is a possibility. Make sure that her gown is beautiful enough to catch everyone’s attention,” Hildred answered, throwing a glance in Astrid’s direction.
Esther felt out of place once again, as if she had no more importance than her lady’s maid.
“Astrid’s looks are quite enough to gain anyone’s attention, really, but I will dress you in the most excellent colors, Lady Astrid, rest assured!
You are already aware that Selene has a gift bestowed upon her by the gods up above to create the most sumptuous fashions,” Selene boasted, selecting a few fabrics from behind her and placing them on the table between them.
“I trust you completely, Selene,” Astrid said before as they poured over the fabrics for their respective gowns.
Esther knew the ball would turn out to be another dull affair for her as she silently watched the revelry from the corner of the ballroom, and she couldn’t help but dread it already.
The rest of the day consisted of more shopping for the perfect gloves and fans to compliment Selene's gowns.
They had finally returned home and were sitting in the drawing room when her mother went so far as to discuss possible flirtation tactics with Astrid as if attracting the Duke of Alewood by any means was paramount.
“Oh, come, mother, don’t you think I already know how to attract male attention?
” Astrid questioned with a laugh. Esther wished to snort loudly at that since she knew how adept her sister was at the task.
Esther had witnessed the countless times Astrid had 'accidentally' brushed too close to a gentleman or dropped her handkerchief at precisely the right moment to entice a handsome young buck to politely return it to her with lovestruck smiles.
If only Esther too possessed such charming qualities and the ability to flirt so adeptly.
The ball at Madeline’s mansion was the perfect place for Esther to search for a husband in earnest. She knew that every eligible gentleman in London was going to be in attendance, and many of them would be looking for potential brides.
Surely, she could entice one to notice her.
He needn’t even be particularly handsome or have an enviable title.
She just wanted someone kind and pleasant with whom she could build a life.
Oh, how proud Mama and Papa would be if I can actually find a match.
“Esther? Have you been listening to a word I have said?” Her mother shrieked, and Esther’s head shot up as blush tinged her cheeks, her fantasy suddenly broken.
“No Mother, I apologize. I was thinking about something else,” Esther replied quietly.
“I have no idea where your head is. You were always a wistful, silly girl. People will start calling you mad if you don’t stop this awful habit of yours of drifting off while people are speaking to you,” Hildred scolded, and Esther nodded. She was accustomed to her mother's condemnation.
“What were you saying, Mother?” Esther asked, hoping to deflect her mother’s criticism.
“I was attempting to inform you that Fergus will be attending your sister’s ball too,” Her mother said with a wide smile, and Esther looked at her with confusion.
She could not understand why her mother thought she would care to know this as she had absolutely no interest in anything regarding Fergus.
Fergus was an older cousin of the Chapple’s and was almost twice Esther’s age.
She had never liked him and rarely exchanged more than a polite greeting with him when they were forced to meet.
“He has told your father that he is finally ready to seek a bride. I requested that Madeline place him beside you at the dinner before the ball,” Hildred went on, entirely unaware of the horror that was beginning to take root in Esther’s heart.
Surely her parents could not be entertaining a match between her and Fergus.
“I hope you will attempt to be charming. Impressing Fergus may very well be your last chance at snaring a husband,” Hildred Chapple said before turning around to face Astrid to continue instructing her on the art of flirtation.
Esther sat there stunned by what her mother had so bluntly stated.
She couldn't believe her family thought Fergus, a man nearing forty who had crude manners and a rat-like countenance, would make her a suitable husband.
The thought would be laughable if it wasn't so disgusting.
Of one thing, Esther was sure; she would rather lead the life of a lonely spinster than be the wife of a man like Fergus.