Dark Days Ahead

"Miss, how was Lord Radcliffe? Did you find him agreeable?"

Tears were already pouring down my cheeks and I shook my head. "He was rough and I wouldn't marry him if he was the last man on this planet."

Winona put down the laundry and came to sit by me. She pulled an arm around me and just held me as I cried my heart out. "Evelina wanted to get even with me for causing her unhappiness and look at us now," I hoarsely whispered. "She has brought everyone I care down with her deceit."

"I'm sorry she's the cause of all this pain for you, Miss," Winona said as she held me.

We sat like this for a few moments until my brother was knocking on the door to announce his entry. "Winona, could you please help Mrs. Crooks with the laundry?" He asked. "I need to speak with Aurelia."

Winona got up with a sympathetic look to her face and curtsied to my brother before leaving the room.

"Aurie, I am so sorry that Grandmama brought such a horrid man," Ben apologized. "I am completely on your side with whatever may happen."

I cried even harder and lunged into my brother's arms. He held on tight and soothingly drew circles on my back. I hadn't done this since our parents died and I couldn't sleep at night from crying so much.

He tried so hard after they passed to step up and be the man of the family, grandmama knew nothing of what it had been like being orphaned so young and had two younger siblings to take care of. Ben having my back meant the world to me.

"I never wished to be a Viscount so young," My brother muttered into my hair. "Grandmama acts as if I had any choice in the matter."

I drew back from Ben. "Don't let that old bat tell you what you are, Willa and I have turned out just fine."

The corners of his lips drew into a half-hearted smile. "You're right Aurie, this is all Evelina's fault is it not?"

I clenched my teeth at her name. I doubted that I would be in the same predicament without Evelina's meddlesome ways. In truth, Max and I were together unchaperoned and we were caught.

Regardless of that fact, she went out of her way to make sure I was not happy because she was not. I still wondered if Jacob forgave Evelina for her bitterness and conniving nature. I had a feeling that he couldn't and this was the result of her wrath.

"I did kiss Max," I said. "This is because Evelina burned all her bridges and now she wants to burn mine down too."

"I know you did but that doesn't give her an excuse to make up rumors and ruin lives because she chose to ruin her own through her actions." Ben looked at me with concern. "This is not your fault Aurelia, you and Max were just about to be engaged and anyone with two eyes could see how you feel about each other."

I sighed, "It doesn't matter now, I am done speaking of her and her wickedness, I need to find a way to convince Max's mother that I am not some harlot."

"You may need to apologize to grandmama and explain to her what is actually going on instead of rumors."

My eyes widened at his response. "Do you really think I should apologize?"

"Grandmama has influence in the gentry class especially with the ladies, she could be an ally if she's on your side," Ben said thoughtfully. "She doesn't know about Evelina's involvement."

I nodded and Ben gave me one last hug before leaving my room.

I groaned at the thought of getting my grandmama on my side and not getting any more on her bad side. She was always such a severe woman when Willa and I would spend a few weeks with her every year when younger.

~

After a very tense dinner, I asked grandmama to meet with me in my room. She was not thrilled but agreed to the meeting.

She took a seat on one of the couches in the middle of my room. "Well child, speak your mind," grandmama said sharply. "I don't have all night."

"I was framed," I started. "Do you remember Evelina?"

"Yes, a lower lord's daughter correct?"

I nodded. "Do you remember Jacob Browning?"

"Yes Aurelia, in spite of what your brother said earlier I was very aware of who your playmates were as a child," grandmama said exasperated. "What does this have to do with anything?"

"I was going to marry Jacob and Evelina got to him as he was returning from University and said that I had moved on when I had not," I spilled out quickly. "They married and Jacob found out about the deceit and she is taking it out on me and my happiness."

"You let the daughter of a lowly lord get the best of you?" Grandmama seethed, I blinked in surprise. "You need to show her your rank and have some gumption if you care for this new man at all."

"Grandmama, will you help me convince the Countess of Westmorland that I am a fit match for her son?"

The older woman took a moment and sighed. "I was perhaps too harsh with you but you need to play the part of the meek chaste girl every mother wants her son to marry."

"If I don't convince her, do I have to really marry Lord Radcliffe?" I asked nervously.

Grandmama looked pensive. "I would say no, however, you do need to marry soon and so do your siblings. You are all due for matrimony," She quipped. "You may have an interesting advantage to your problem."

"What do you mean?"

"You need to be smart about how you deal with the countess, she has a tight grip on her son and husband, she needs to see that you are the one for Maximilian," grandmama explained. "However Lord Radcliffe could be a good motivator for the boy to make a stand against his mother and show her how much you mean to him."

My cheeks reddened at her little plot that was forming and I swallowed hard. "So, you think I should make it seem like Lord Radcliffe is going to take me from Maximilian, so he will fight to want to marry me?"

Grandmama nodded. "The choice is yours, Aurelia."

With that, she left me on my own. I sat there for a while pondering my options, my head was racing with what she had told me. Should I trick my future mother-by-law and husband or tell the truth? Both options terrified me.

I rang the bell for Winona to come to help me get ready for bed and I couldn't help but fear that the worst was yet to come.