“Confidence is key, and the first come, first served.”
“I doubt that rule is valid when searching for a husband.”
Mother didn’t pay her the slightest bit of attention. No fury like a match-making mama.
They rounded the corner and faced another endless expanse of white pavilions, guests, and footmen carrying trays loaded with delicacies.
“How big is this garden?” Mother was wheezing.
“Do you see him?” Not that she really cared about meeting this duke, but the excitement of the chase had intrigued her, which said something about how exciting her life was.
“Let’s split.” Mother pointed to the left. “I’ll go that way. You take the other path. If you see him, come and fetch me.”
“By the time I fetch you, I’ll lose him.”
Mother exhaled. “Grab the duke and fetch me. Tell him I’m looking for him, that I urgently need to talk to him. Improvise. Pretend to have broken your ankle and that you’re in need of his assistance. Pretend to faint. Whatever is needed. Remember that we shall never surrender.”
“You’re taking this affair too seriously.”
“And you, too carelessly.” Mother pointed a finger at her. “This is war. So go and grab The Great.”
She shot her gaze skywards.
Blond hair, green suit. He shouldn’t be difficult to spot.
Esther wove through the guests, searching for a gentleman matching that description. She went deeper into the garden until the music and the chatter became muffled, the pavilions disappeared behind tall hedgerows, and even her excitement died down.
What was she doing? Chasing a man she’d never met for what purpose? Why would The Great be interested in her?
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to find a husband; the idea of starting a family and having more responsibilities fascinated her. Becoming the lady of the house and finally deciding how to spend her time and what to drink had their appeal. And if her husband was a decent man, spending time with him wouldn’t be a torment.
But Mother’s constant disappointment at her lack of suitors stirred something ugly in her chest.
The fewer gentlemen were interested in her, the more Mother became strict, believing that some activities Esther enjoyed surely discouraged possible suitors from approaching her. Esther’s tastes were the reason behind the constant rejections.
So, no more book club because Esther read too many novels, and those books put odd ideas into young ladies’ minds. No more poetry readings for the same reason. No more playing cricket because it made her shoulders too wide and her ankles too thick.
What was left of her life? Needlework and rain to drink. And still no suitors.
In her opinion, the more Mother limited her activities, the less desirable she became. Without her books, she didn’t know what to talk about during dinner parties, and without cricket, she became restless.
Every social event turned into a marathon, chasing bachelors as if it were a competition while she only wanted to enjoy herself and meet new friends.
She paused to look around. Green hedgerows closed the path, casting their long shadows on the ground, and the music couldn’t be heard anymore. Turning around, another evergreen hedgerow loomed over her. She didn’t remember having entered the maze.
At first, a hint of panic surged, but she squashed it. It didn’t matter if she was lost. A respite from the crowd and Mother’s quest wasn’t terrible at all.
She went on nonchalantly and chose whatever path she fancied until she found a cosy bench surrounded by daisy bushes. She perched on it and listened to the birds singing. They flew from one hedgerow to the other, flapping their wings frantically.
She felt as if she were frantically flapping her wings, too, but without going anywhere. Maybe she never would. Maybe her fate was to remove all the things she enjoyed from her life and be left only with bitterness.
Two
If Alexander met another mama eager to introduce her daughter to him, he would become a hermit.
The very day after he’d inherited the title, not even a year ago, every mama in the kingdom had tried to get him married.
He’d barely recovered from the pain of losing his father and adjusted to a new life made of responsibilities and meetings in Parliament. A wife could wait.
