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The next morning Hilaria sat in her room deep in reflection. She had managed to survive the remainder of Rosabel’s wedding festivities. Their mother, Lady Sherton, was sufficiently pleased with her eldest daughter’s success that she left her next two to their own devices for the rest of the day. They had declined all invitations for the evening, allowing everyone to rest. Hilaria had spent time in her father’s library, helping him review the estate accounts. Those times when her father allowed her to help him with estate business were the happiest of her life. Hilaria wondered if the earl had manufactured the task in an effort to help her cope with the Season’s stresses, especially those surrounding the weddings. But she hadn’t thought of that until she was already preparing for bed that night.
Hilaria shook her head at her reflection after her maid had already left. She should have realized what her father was about and excused him from the task. It had been such a relief to her to do the mundane job that she hadn’t thought that it was unusual for the father of the bride to take on such a task on his daughter’s wedding day.
Although, upon further reflection, was it so desperately odd? Hilaria couldn’t really say anymore. She was such an oddity; she had no way of judging what was normal at this point.
With a discontented sigh, Hilaria wished she were still at home in the schoolroom like her two youngest sisters. It was a well-known family fact that Grace and Felicity resented being left behind, but Hilaria wished she had the option of staying home. Not that she was being pressed into marriage. But what else was there for her to do with her life? If only she had been born the heir she should have been. The well worn thought crossed her mind without much heat. She had been thinking it regularly since she was ten years old, or possibly even younger. She couldn’t even say anymore when she had begun thinking it. It was just a part of her psyche.
She should have been born a boy.
Hilaria shook her head at her reflection once more. Sitting here being melancholy wasn’t going to accomplish anything. She really ought to leave her room and confront the fact that their household had been changed forever yesterday. Mixed feelings were her constant companion these days, and today was certainly no different.
Upon entering the sitting room, it was jarring to see only her next youngest sister, Lady Vigilia.
“Good day,” she said simply.
“You were a slug a bed,” Vicky commented with a cheerful smile.
Hilaria shrugged. “Just slow leaving my room, not my bed.”
Now, it was Vicky’s turn to shrug. “Not much difference, I don’t suppose.”
“What productive things have you accomplished, then?” Hilaria challenged.
Vicky, always the best natured of the five sisters, just smiled and shrugged. “Productive? Nothing, of course,” she said with a smile. “Productivity is for the country, I think. Here in Town, we only spend all day to look good for the evening.”
“Well, I needed to look good for the afternoon.”
“Are we at home today? I thought we were staying home until the evening.”
“Eastwood is taking me driving.”
Vicky stared at her briefly, but it made Hilaria squirm.
“Are you allowing him to court you?” Vicky seemed puzzled. “He’s a viscount.”
Hil sighed. “He didn’t actually ask. He told me he was coming for me. I couldn’t handle him properly yesterday, so I didn’t argue.”
Vicky nodded. “The countess wouldn’t have appreciated a scene yesterday.”
“Would she ever?”Hil asked with half a smile. Even though she felt like she was never in a good mood, it was hard to stay in a bad one with her sunny natured sister.
Vicky grinned. “Good point. But you still chose wisely not to argue with Eastwood. And the good news is, it appears to be a lovely day. Even if you don’t wish to be courted by the viscount, you won’t mind being out for a drive.”
Hilaria sighed and finally sat down in the settee across from her sister. She watched as Vicky set a few more stitches in the piece she was working on.
“I thought you hate needlework,” she observed.
“I do,” Vicky agreed with a grin. “But that doesn’t change the fact that I need to be able to do it well. What if I end up married to some gentleman who has allowed his estates to run to ruin? I would hate even more living in those conditions.”
Hilaria stared at her sister. “Would you agree to marry someone whose estates were in ruin?”
Vicky shrugged. “I doubt he would broadcast the fact. And it isn’t likely I would visit all his properties before we wed. I might not even visit any of them. Bel didn’t see any of Wexford’s before their wedding.”
“Well, getting married that quickly isn’t usual,” Hilaria returned in a dry tone.
“Georgia and Crossley were wed just as fast.”
“They, too, were the exception.”
