8 Birthday

Debutante practice continued—I had to present myself before the king and queen, after all, and the countess would stand for no shame to her house from me—until my sixteenth birthday arrived. We were set to begin our journey to the capital three days later.

I didn't have any real friends here outside my siblings so I requested a simple birthday tea that was family only. The countess was disappointed since she loved social occasions but eventually agreed to my request since I'd been so compliant in my training. Little did she know, I had plans in the capital that did not include getting married.

I had saved up every cent of the household allowance I'd been given since arriving and planned to strike out on my own. I liked my siblings, I really did, but staying in contact with them was not worth potentially destroying my life.

I'd come to that conclusion in the days following my conversation with Percy that day in the stables. He might think things would be okay but I certainly didn't, especially after giving time for my thoughts to run wild!

My only choice was to run. I could cut my hair and find some menial job in the capital. Maybe in a bookstore or clothing shop. My embroidery wasn't half bad, if I do say so myself.

I wanted this birthday tea to be one last positive memory before I left. Edmund even requested leave from school to be there. We played card games that were quite different from the ones I knew after the earl and countess lost interest in us under the guise of "having duties to attend to."

I was fine with this; things were better off without them there to spoil the mood. I had cake and I had friends. That was more than I'd had for the past several years of birthdays.

Being sick so often you don't exactly leave the house enough to meet people, let alone form lasting friendships. Abby would video chat me and we'd watch a movie together but it wasn't the same as having someone physically be there to celebrate with you.

I always bought myself a giant cupcake at the grocery store and stuck a candle on it. I was that pathetic. Now I had three people celebrating with me and I felt the full cheer an occasion like a birthday was supposed to bring.

Adele was staying behind with Marie since the countess had too many social obligations to want to be bothered with her youngest child while in the capital and Edmund was heading back to school.

This very well might be the last time I ever see the two of them. It brought on an unexpected amount of grief.

"Addie?" I asked softly as she dozed off in my lap.

The boys were still engrossed in a game of cards I didn't fully understand so I was happy to sit here and stroke her silky dark blonde hair.

"Mm?" she asked sleepily.

"Your big sister loves you so much," I said thickly.

I was sure of it. Wherever that Catherine was, she loved her too.

"I love you too, Katie," she said as she snuggled closer to me.

I let out a heavy sigh. This was the trade-off.

If I married well I'd probably be able to visit my family now and then since political marriages were meant to join the houses together. But I might marry someone who wouldn't let me see my siblings. Why would I gamble the rest of my life on such a small chance?

I was healthy! My body could do anything I wanted it to do now. Why would I let myself get cooped up in some rich and powerful man's house unable to utilize it properly?

I wanted to explore! Get a job! Fall in love! Find a way to make it work in the context of this crazy novel!

Speaking of this crazy novel…wasn't Marcy a poor girl with no references? The bakery still accepted her working there. Once she leaves to go to the palace they'll need a replacement. What if I managed to take that spot?

I drummed my fingers on Adele's back, thinking. When exactly did Marcy go to the palace? The prince originally fell in love with her while visiting her bakery…they met again once she had switched jobs.

Oh…how long was it between those two things? It wasn't exactly clear in the novel! It was sometime when the full court was in session, which happens in the fall.

Many ladies whose birthdays are earlier in the year postpone their debuts until the fall to heighten their chances of ending up with one of the noblemen or noblemen's sons that flock to the capital that time of year, according to the countess.

I had a plan. Well, at least a straw to grasp at. I'd dance and smile and play along with the countess' plans for me until Marcy went to the palace.

Then I'd run. Dye my hair. Go by my real name. No one would connect Katie Pullman to Lady Catherine du Pont.

I kissed Adele's sweet sleeping face when Marie came to take her away to bed and played more rounds of cards with my brothers.

I wanted to teach them some of the games I knew but then they'd ask where I learned that. I couldn't raise their suspicions. Unless I pretended I made it up myself?

"Eddie, can I teach you a game I made up?" I asked with a sparkle in my eye.

He seemed interested. "How do you play?"

I launched into the simple explanation of how to play my favorite game and they caught on fairly quickly. They seemed impressed but not too suspicious of my supposedly making it up since the rules really weren't that complicated.

I brushed it off by saying I had a lot of free time and that's when I invented the game. How easy.

I could teach people in the capital too once I built a life there—all sorts of card games because there would be no one to question where I learned them. Ha!