Guest

"Five days?" Florence exclaimed. It was almost a third of the time her mother had given her.

'This is a disaster.'

"I thought you said they were efficient, Rilla."

"I am sorry, my lady. The woman who works there said that gathering the likeness of the noblemen is what will take time."

Florence sighed. There was nothing she could do. Seeing the portraits of the candidates was important, not only to determine whether they were easy on the eye or not, but she thought that it would help her reckon their character.

"Well, it cannot be helped. In the meantime, I got an idea." Florence smiled.

It was early afternoon, and she knew exactly where to find her brother. She took fast steps to his study where, sure enough, he was buried in business documents.

"Are you busy, Rick?" she asked while peeking from the ajar door.

"I am. What is it?" Richard's eyes never moved from the papers.

"Well, you know how mother wants me to get married." Florence walked into the study and toward the chair facing her brother. "I was hoping that you could help me."

"Florence, I told you that mother wants the best for you. Even if you think you are still too young–"

"That is not what I mean, Brother." Florence was a bit angry, but there was no point in divulging that. "I was hoping you could point me in the right direction."

Richard finally looked up. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you have many friends. Maybe you think one of them would make a good brother-in-law." She smiled.

"I believe the point of this is for the man to make a good 'husband', I am not the one marrying him." Richard shook his head. "Plus, I am afraid that half of my friends are already married, and the other half are rake–I mean… not interested in marriage, or at least not yet."

"Are you telling me that out of all of your friends, you cannot think of one man who would make a good candidate?"

"That is correct." Richard shrugged.

She stared at him for a moment. "I see," she said as she pushed to her feet. "I will let you go back to your work then."

Florence left a bit dejected. 'How is that even possible?'

Her brother had many friends and acquaintances. She had hoped that someone recommended by him would make a good accomplice for her plan. Who knows, maybe even find someone who she would want to share her life with.

Marriage was not on her mind, but since her mother decided to expedite that for her, she might as well. But that plan went into ruins. Richard did not have anyone in mind.

'Half of my friends are already married, and the other half are not interested in marriage, or at least not yet'

She could think of a handful of his friends who were single and looking to marry, or at least their mothers were looking for brides for them.

'Maybe Rick does not know about that.' She sighed.

Florence walked back to her room and found Rilla there. The maid jumped when she saw her.

"You scared me, my lady." Then she smiled. "I have the guests' list."

"Oh my." Florence rushed to her. "How?"

"I volunteered to clean the dowager countess' room." Rilla smirked. "The letters were still on her desk."

"You are a genius, Rilla," Florence rejoiced.

She took the papers from her hand and brought them to her desk. The handwriting was not perfect, but it was readable.

Florence remembered how much Rilla struggled when she was teaching her how to read and write. She had begged her mother to let the maid learn and she helped her practice every day. She smiled to herself, proud of her friend, as she read through the list. It was long.

'Mother is going all out.'

Florence spent the rest of the afternoon splitting the list into two categories; families that had eligible bachelors, and families that did not.

It would make it easier for her to track who her mother had an eye on, like she had mentioned the night before. She really hoped that Lina's choice would at least be tolerable to her standards.

There were at least fourteen potential candidates. Unfortunately, Florence did not remember meeting any of them.

'That is what I get for not attending those silly balls and tea parties.'

She sighed.

"My lady–" Rilla barged into her room suddenly, making Florence jump from her chair.

"What is it? What happened?"

"My lady, a guest has just arrived."

"A guest?" Florence raised a brow.

'It could not be one of the guests. The invitations were sent today.'

"A friend of the earl's." Rilla grinned, still out of breath. "Quite handsome, I must say."

Florence stared at her for a moment. 'A handsome friend of my brother's in our house? Could it be that the Gods are smiling down upon me?'

"Rilla, prepare my green silk dress, the one that was made in spring."

"Right away, my lady."

FLORENCE ENTERED THE SITTING ROOM, where her mother and brother were waiting. "I heard we have a guest?" she asked.

"Yes," Richard answered while looking out of the window. "A business partner…" His eyes lay on his sister who had clearly put way too much effort into getting ready. He frowned. "But Florence, he is not–"

"Lord Zahl, my lord," the butler announced.

"Good evening, Lord Kalwen. Ladies." The young man bowed in greeting.

'Oh my. Handsome does not even begin to describe how beautiful this man is.' Florence smiled.

"Lord Zahl, allow me to introduce my sister, Lady Florence Kalwen." Richard was quite annoyed with his sister's attitude.

"How do you do, Lord Zahl?" she greeted him.

"Please," Zahl said as he brought her hand to his lips. "Call me Elias," he added as his blue pools met hers.

"Shall we move to the dining room? Mother?" Richard grabbed his guest's shoulder, pulling him away from Florence. He was fuming.

"Yes, I believe dinner is ready to be served." The dowager countess motioned to the door.

Florence followed with a grin.

Richard tightened his fingers around his friend's shoulder. 'I will have to speak to this bastard about those flirty eyes of his. Or maybe just gouge them out.'