CHAPTER ONE - OPENING SEASON
The sounds of his raging horse ran wild as the Earl seemed very uneasy at the sudden revelation of his soon to be bride and lover. His horse came to a halt upon his arrival at the residence of the Daltons. Being an honored guest of the family no proper questioning was needed before he was granted and audience with the Lady Emery who was busy in the drawing room playing the piano graciously and aggressively whilst the Earl came in hurried and hastily to his soon to be wife who looked rather confused.
"Your grace, is there a problem?"
She asked very confused
"I need the truth Lady Emery and please I need your full honesty, are you Harrietta?"
He suddenly asked kicking the damsel off balance
"I do not know what you mean"
She tried to cover up after her hesistation with a gasp
"Please Emery, tell me the truth!...I am caught up in a conflict as to who I should and should not marry, I do not even know whom it is I love"
He said in uttermost sincerity and pain
"I....I...I"
She kept saying as she began stroking in between her fingers with her left hand again, her usual habit he noticed, his hands went for her hair stroking them behind her ears softly as sharp shivers moved between her nerves as his gaze fell upon the same scar of the certain gal he knew
"You have her scar.....I did hope you have not been playing me for a fool Emery...but here you are Harrietta indeed"
He said in a rather perplexed look, a sight of disappointment written down all up on his face.
"Your grace, I can explain"
She tried to say as he let her go and alas took his leave.
ONE MONTH EARLIER...
The songs of birds chirping from every corner of their windows as getting ready that morning was rather hasteful and disturbing. July 3rd 1815 the rise of a new season as this season was going to be rather thrilling and exciting as good luck has smiled on a very popular
household. Not long ago was the house of the black family The Dalton's bestowed the honor of Baronhood by the monarch regent Prince George IV. A rather very poor family who suddenly gained wealth and a title. Word around town has it that there must have been some kind
of shady business behind their surprising fortune as they were one of the poorest farmers in all of England with mischievous children whose names when assembled from oldest to youngest formed the greek god of mischief, Hermes, probably so because of their mother with greek
background and childhood but this season was to be their formal entry into society. People did wonder what these family may be onto whilst other people sought marriage they were indeed after something far more than a union of knots.
The home was with six females who were indeed beyond proper. The Dalton couple Baron James Dalton and his wife Barones Athena Dalton had been blessed with females who are not quite like any other female in Mayfair. The eldest daughter Lady Hayven a hopeless spinster of 25 who having entered wealth late and has
completely lost all hopes of even being a wife to anyone was the most outspoken, opinionated and smart one, she wanted more to do with her papa's properties and his business as there was indeed no male in the house. The second daughter The Lady Emery was the cunning one,
whose imagination is beyond reasoning also very outspoken like her sister. The third daughter Lady Rosabel the most proper and indeed level headed one among all her sisters, a diamond who men already anticipated her own season. The fourth daughter Lady
Matilda a lady of wonders indeed she was so religious that her mama even began to wonder if she had bore her by mistake. Lady Elise and Lady Sophia the
twin daughters of the home who both indeed had slightly
different dreams, Elise of becoming a seasons most sought after diamond, while Sophia the younger of becoming a swordswoman which she knew would indeed be a scandal her parents will never let happen.
All dressed as beautiful as they were eluding their dark skin which was complimented by the golden apparels they were dressed in with gillded feathers displayed all over.
"You all look extremely marvelous I admit"
Said their papa with a smile as he held out his hand leading his wife into a chaise whilst the daughters rode in a coach.
"Sister do you have plans of marrying?"
14 year old Elise asked
"Marriage? oh God no, I am beyond that age already, I am only merely going to help you all find proper suitors"
Lady Hayven said
"A debut seasons opening ball indeed it is"
Emery stated
"Why were we not shown to the Prince regent George?"
Sophia asked
"Well, Emery and I are way past the age of debut, Rosabel's season is still two years away, as is Matilda's"
Explained Hayven
"I do know one thing for sure, our parents are indeed on to something"
Lady Emery said
"Quite so"
Rose replied. Upon their arrival at the very opening seasons ball were they indeed the peak of attention, their finest attires and delicate thread marks were the height of fashion amongst the ton whose lingering eyes followed them as the mama said bringing her daughters up close
"Now we are here to find an indeed proper solution to our current concuring problem"
Lady Dalton stated
"And what would that be?"
Hayven asked
"Marriage"
"Marriage?"
Immediately asked Hayven who did not whish to hear any thoughts of it
"For your sister Emery, you have passed the age thus bringing us to Emery, securing a good husband for you would be perfect, one of higher status and class most especially"
Her mama advised
"But I do not want to merely be pushed into what I do not even have any thoughts of"
Emery complained
"You shall play along with while I try my best to secure you a fine husband"
Her mama stated
"I do not want to marry someone I do not love"
She revolted in whispers
"Mama at least consider her option"
Rose added
"She should be left to make decisions for herself, she is all and 21, she is indeed old enough"
Hayven added
"Really Hayven? we do not have time for you to fall in love"
Put in her mama
"Maybe I widely suggest that we all take deep breaths and think this properly, we should indeed pray and seek if the union would be a blessed one"
Matilda said out of the blue as everyone turned to her in total silence
"You really are something child"
Her mama said
"We all gree"
The twins concured
"I shall find you a husband and you shall not refuse any man's hand in offer of a dance, now pick a card and prepare yourself"
She ordered as she made her way onto her bossom friend a woman of the ton indeed, The dowager Lady Amelia Oakley blessed with two sons who are both married with children. Her for one has her own fair share of opinions about the rather fierce ton, she always tends to see what others could not as she saw a friend in none else than the desperate Lady Dalton.
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