A Stroll In The Gardens

"Of course, my dear son graduated first from the academy," the older lady continued. Florence could not remember her name, she was one of the fifteen ladies her mother invited for tea this afternoon. They were all older, so she reckoned they all had eligible sons that the dowager countess could choose from.

Florence and Magnolia were the only ones younger than forty. They could only exchange looks as the other women boasted about their perfect sons. The situation was starting to give Florence a migraine. She suddenly pushed to her feet, getting everyone's attention.

"Apologies, ladies," she started. "Mother, I have promised the duchess to show her around the gardens and I am afraid if we wait any later, we will lose daylight." She gestured to Magnolia who also stood from her chair.

The dowager countess looked unhappy, she pressed her lips into a thin line in disapproval, but she did not say anything.

"Thank you for inviting me, my lady." Magnolia smiled. "The tea and the company were both delightful." She bowed slightly before Florence pulled her away from the table and toward the trees.

As they walked along the gravel path, Magnolia and Florence remained quiet. The duchess could sense her friend's inner turmoil. While normally energetic and cheerful, Florence had been quiet and reflective since Magnolia's arrival.

"My dear," Magnolia started. "If there is anything preoccupying you, I would love to lend you an ear and listen to your worries."

Florence gave her a weak smile. They walked for a few more minutes before she decided to speak.

"Mother says that I am just being a spoiled brat," Florence uttered with a desolate expression. "My dear friend, I have always dreamed of a marriage of love, like what you have with His Grace." Magnolia could speculate where the conversation was going. "But my mother does not understand those dreams. She wants me to get married for status." She pulled her friend toward a big trunk laying on the ground and sat, Magnolia joined her.

"Since I cannot use magic," Florence continued. "She is afraid that no one will be interested in me, so she decided to organize this joke of a celebration to parade my brother's fortune, in hopes that someone would want to marry me." She sighed. "Of course, she wants someone with a title, someone who can use magic, and who is also rich." She was silent for a while, her eyes gazing at the trees but not really seeing anything.

"Do you have someone you fancy, Florence?" Magnolia broke the silence.

"I do not, but I would have liked to have that option." She was on the verge of tears and Magnolia saw that. She wrapped her arms around her friend and hugged her tightly.

"You know, we were not in love when we first married," Magnolia whispered. "As long as you can marry a decent gentleman, who would treat you well, who would never hurt you, and who would respect you, love can always come later in marriage. That's what happened between me and Daniel." She pulled away and wiped Florence's tears.

"I doubt my mother is looking for those qualities in my future husband." She shook her head. "All she cares about is status and money." Florence's voice trembled. She threw her arms around her friend and sobbed. "I am doomed, Magnolia, doomed."

***

FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, the guests indulged in the numerous activities that Lina had prepared for them. Florence was dragged to more afternoon teas and picnics, she did her best to stay away, but her mother ambushed her every time. She did not even have a chance to see her friend after that afternoon walk they took in the gardens.

Florence also did her best to avoid Marquis Galley, but everywhere she went, she found him. It was frustrating. She even decided to give the other men she had dismissed before a chance, seeing that she had no other choice. But Galley made it quite difficult for her to converse with anyone else.

"Lady Florence, would you care for a walk in the flower gardens?" Galley stood ceremonially in front of everyone and offered his hand to Florence. Without even asking for her permission, he had started calling her by her first name a few days before. She hated it.

"I–" She was about to refuse when her mother intervened.

"How nice of you, Marquis. She would love to. Right, Florence?"

Florence bit the inside of her cheek, all eyes were on her now, and the marquis was still bowing in front of her with his hand extended. She felt like crying. She was a marionette being played by her mother and the marquis. She felt desperate and helpless.

"Of course," Florence mumbled before taking his hand.

As usual, the marquis spoke of his fortune, his estate, his mother, his plans, but he did not bother asking her anything about herself. It was a little taste of what her life would be like if she ever married him. And she did not like one bit of it.

"I have fallen in love with you ever since I saw you IN that brothel in town."

Florence halted, her eyes were wide. "Pardon?"

"I do not usually go to such places, but I was there on that day."

"I think you might be mistaken–"

"I am quite sure, I was close enough when you had that exchange with that brute. You were very brave."

Florence was panicking. If word got to her mother, she would be in great trouble. "Lord Galley, I was looking for someone," she said with a small voice.

"Please, call me Ano." The marquis placed his hands on her shoulders and grinned at her. "I think it was destiny, Florence." His fingers caressed her collarbone, making her stomach turn.

She looked around–they were alone, far away from everyone else. The man's eyes were dark, and his left hand was squeezing her shoulder painfully. Florence knew he was planning something, something dangerous. Her insides shuddered at the thought.

'I would rather die–or kill him.'

"Lord Ano," she started, her shaky voice betraying her. "I think we ought to go back, Mother told me earlier that my brother had asked to meet you."

"He has?"

"Both my mother and I have been singing your praises to him." She tried to smile. "He already likes you."

The marquis' hand lingered for a few seconds before he slid it down and took her arm. "Then, let us hurry back."

Florence let out the breath she was holding. She could barely walk from the whole situation. She promised herself to never be alone with the marquis again.