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Prologue
Somewhere in northern England, 1749 (or a variation thereof)
The carriage rattled through a particularly deep hole in the frozen road, swaying so violently from side to side, that Lady Edith Weston, daughter to the Earl of Swansborough, was surprised to see Lord and Lady Ashbrook continue to slumber like babes rocked gently in their mothers’ arms. While Lady Ashbrook’s breaths came evenly, her husband uttered a slight snore every once in a while that echoed through the carriage and almost drowned out the rattling sound of the carriage’s wheels.
Edith chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand as she glanced at her oldest friend, seated beside her. “Addie, would you say this is their secret?” she asked with another sideways glance at Lord and Lady Ashbrook. “Sleeping in the carriage?”
With a wide grin upon her face, Lady Adele Berkley, daughter to the Duke and Duchess of Ashbrook, rolled her eyes. “Quite frankly, I cannot remember a journey of any length when they did not fall asleep.” Still, an almost adoring look came to her hazel eyes as she looked at her parents. “Somehow, they cannot seem to stay awake.”
“Fortunately for us, wouldn’t you agree?” Edith pointed out with an arched brow. “After all, conversation is so much easier when one is not constantly overheard by one’s parents, even parents as adorable as yours.”
Adele nodded. “Indeed, there are some things I would rather not have my parents know about me.” Her smile dimmed and then vanished as a thoughtful gaze came to her eyes.
Edith placed a hand upon her friend’s. “Is it your betrothal?” Although betrothed since she had been a babe, Adele barely knew the man she was to marry. He was the son of Lord Ashbrook’s oldest friend, and the day after Adele had been born, the two fathers had thought it a marvelous idea to draw up a marriage contract, tying their two children to one another for life.
As much as Edith adored Adele’s parents, she could not help but shake her head at such a foolish notion. Of course, she knew well that, among theton, marriages were most often agreed upon for fairly rational reasons. However, in her heart, Edith believed that there was no better foundation for any marriage than affection.
True and honest affection.
Adele’s gaze swept over the snow-covered landscape outside the window, her shoulders rising and falling with each long, heavy breath. “Do you think I shall like him?” she asked unexpectedly and then turned to look at Edith.
Shrugging, Edith wished she could reassure her friend. “I have no way of knowing,” she said quite honestly. “I, myself, have seen the man no more than once or twice. Do you think he’s the adventurous type? Traveling the continent, going from place to place, seeing the world?”
A small smile teased Adele’s lips. “I hope he is,” she replied, a faraway look coming into her eyes. Indeed, Edith knew perfectly well that Adele possessed an adventurous spirit. She might seem shy at times or act hesitantly, but deep inside she longed for new experiences. Would this unknown husband be a good match for her?
“Will you truly do this?” Edith inquired carefully. “Marry a man you hardly know?”
Adele shrugged. “I don’t have much of choice, do I? My father gave his word, and I cannot dishonor him.”
“Even if it robs you of happiness?”
For a brief moment, Adele closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. Then she straightened and met Edith’s gaze. “Perhaps at the end of this house party, he will be a stranger no longer.” She glanced across the carriage. “Perhaps my parents were right to do as they did. Perhaps they did choose wisely for me. In any case, this house party is a good chance for me to get to know him, would you not agree?”
Edith nodded. “It is a chance; however, we cannot be certain of the result. What if you get to know him, only to realize that you do not care for him? What then? Will you still marry him?”
Adele’s shoulders slumped instantly. “Must you always point out the flaws in any endeavor?” She heaved a deep sigh. “Honestly, Edie, sometimes it is better to simply look on the bright side.”
“I suppose that approach has…some…merit,” Edith conceded, surprised by her friend’s words. Indeed, she had always thought of herself as someone seeing rather the good than the bad. “However, I do not believe it wise to simply accept what is because one believes oneself without options.”
“I am without options!” Adele exclaimed rather loudly, the sound of her agitated voice causing her parents to stir in their sleep. Fortunately, they did not wake.
“Of course, you have options,” Edith insisted, disliking the notion of simply giving up and accepting one’s fate.
Adele rolled her eyes at her. “That is easy for you to say. Your parents allow you to choose freely. You do not need to worry about disappointing them.”
Edith looked across at the slumbering Lord and Lady Ashbrook. “Do you truly think they would be disappointed? What if you simply told them the truth? Do you think they would not help you? Do you think they would not understand?”
Adele slumped back in her seat. “I don’t know. My father always speaks with such admiration and fondness for his old friend that I cannot help but think it would break his heart.” She heaved a deep sigh. “Oh, I wish we could switch places,” she whispered then, turned her head slightly toward Edith and cast her a mischievous smile. “However, I would not wish this situation on you, either.”
Edith laughed. “I have a feeling that this Christmas season shall bring a lot of new revelations. Just you wait. I assure you everything will be all right.”
Adele stared at her for a moment before she finally blinked. “You have a feeling? What does that mean?” Chuckling, she shook her head. “Honestly, Edie, sometimes you confuse me.”
Edith held her friend’s gaze. “Therealwaysis a bright side, Addie. Trust me.” She squeezed her friend’s hand. “I want to see you happy, and if Lord Halston’s son does not make you happy, then you should not marry him.” A deep smile came to her face. “Can you imagine marriage being based on affection alone? What would such a world be like?”
Both women sat back, exhaling a deep breath as their thoughts contemplated such an idea. Indeed, Adele’s parents had meant no harm when they had set up the contract between her and Lord Halston’s son. At the same time, Edith’s parents did not allow her to choose freely who she would marry out of the goodness of their hearts. With six elder siblings advantageously married, they simply did not worry about their youngest daughter’s choice, no doubt believing that everything would sort itself out.
“Do you think you will know right away?” Edith asked, turning her head from the window, and looking once more back toward her friend. “Do you think one glance can ever be enough to know?”
