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“Lady Mandeville,” Otilia greeted.
The dowager looked up and smiled. “My dear, this is too early for the ones who slept late.” The mention of the previous night’s ball shot adrenalin through Otilia’s veins.
With an answering smile, she replied. “I am a morning bird, my lady.” She had heard the Marchioness did not attend due to indisposition.
“Come sit with me for a while,” she invited.
“With pleasure.” They sat in silence for several minutes, observing the people passing by.
“How is your husband search going?” the older lady started.
“Not very fruitful for the time being,” Otilia admitted.
“Give it time.” Otilia liked the lady for this precise reason. She never put herself in a higher ground using someone else’s misfortune.
“I am not in a hurry, anyway.” If she got a say in the matter, she would avoid marriage altogether.
“You are such a sweet child.” The dowager gave a little sigh. “Perhaps, you are looking in the wrong place.”
“How so, my lady?”
With a shrug, she said, “Take my former lady’s companion, for instance. She met our solicitor, and now they are about to get married.”
“I wish them happiness.” Otilia gave the woman a grin.
“I do, too. But my point is that you might find someone outside your circle of acquaintances.”
“I shall look around more closely,” Otilia commented.
“And who knows, you may find a lawyer, a vicar, or even a shop owner to pair with you,” the Marchioness said enthusiastically.
It took effort for Otilia not to smirk. Society people followed this rank thing in their life. If Otilia possessed no breed, she must match with someone without breed, too. Not that she cared for bloodlines or titles. She disdained these aristocratic standards, to be honest. But she would not force herself to choose any man just for the sake of fitting in a box others thought proper. Unhappy marriages happened in every social class. No one ought to accept submitting to them for lack of choices. In fact, she had no intention of doing it.
“It might be the case.” The vague reply hung in the air for more minutes.
“With my former lady’s marriage, I find myself without a companion.” The Marchioness tilted her head. “Do you know of someone who might be a replacement?”
Such a golden chance could not go to waste, Otilia determined. “Why, my lady. Me, of course.”
Lady Charlotte turned surprised eyes to the young woman. “You?”
“Yes. Since my uncle passed, I have been looking for positions. So far, I received no positive letters, but I am persevering.”
“What of your intentions for a match?” Her grey brows pleated.
“I would rather make my way in the world for a start.” And for a ‘finish’ in her concept.
A quizzical expression came to her face. “I see.” She tapped her forefinger on her parasol, reflexively. “I will talk to my son.”
“Thank you, my lady,” Otilia replied with a pleasant smile.
They diverted their chat to ton matters and stayed in the park for an hour more before Otilia took her leave.
A
Otilia sat in the library after luncheon answering more advertisements for positions as she had been doing the last few days. Coal slept rolled on an armchair unperturbed by the noise.
“Did you enjoy your morning in the park?” The deep voice came from the door she did not even hear opening. Honey eyes snapped to the Earl accompanied with a tide of hot flush on her skin.
