Chapter 1
Madame Charlotte was quite heartbroken; she couldn’t help but wonder what she had done to merit such a turn of events. First, she lost her husband, and now her eldest daughter has her engagement broken. Sitting in the living room, she was embroidering to lift her mood. It had been almost a year now, but the widowed woman preferred the calm and peace her mourning life gave her. Madame Charlotte wasn’t a socialite like her sister-in-law, Lucretia, maybe because she loved to remind the woman of her origin. Charlotte was a young miss from the middle class when she married Richard. A woman far below his standing, lacking the peerage to be a Baroness if she were to listen to Lucretia. She recently moved into her second mourning, switching her black tulle veil for a black crepe bonnet; her fully black dress was now accompanied by white trim and tulle. She sighed again as Rosemary walked into the room.
Rosemary, or Rose, like everyone called her, plopped down next to her, making her mother frown at her lack of manners. She was the youngest of her three daughters and maybe the one who took the most after her elder sister’s personality, Dorothea. Dorothea was close to her father; she was the apple of his eye. Much to her dismay, Richard was quite lenient with his eldest child. He allowed her to grow a little too willfully for her taste. She was a beautiful lady now, but tended to have quite a character. Charlotte feared her daughter would be called a blue stocking; just the thought made her shiver.
“_Where is Thea? Madame Hildenton will be there in the afternoon.
_I don’t know, I didn’t see her this morning.
_Again?”
Rose shrugged at her mother’s words. It had been like this ever since their father’s death. Dorothea would disappear every morning on her horse and return home in the mid-morning. She and her twin Angela pinned it on grief, after all, she used to go horse riding with him in the morning. Charlotte put down her embroidery as she looked at her daughter. She wondered how she was going to find them a match if they acted like this.
***
Dorothea was racing on her horse. It was the best feeling she could get; the wind in her long brown hair was freeing. It was her way to let out her distress; every negative thought and feeling flew away in the wind. She slowed down near a river before getting down. She was in the forest near their property, which used to be her secret place with her father. Dorothea still wore her nightdress; no one usually came here aside from her, so she thought it was alright to just go like that. She knew her mother would scold her later, but she needed it.
She sat down on a dead tree and slipped her feet into the water. She smiled as she was eating some wild raspberries that grew around the area. She hummed softly, enjoying what may be her last freedom. Soon, Madame Hildenton, their great-aunt, would come, and they would leave for the capital. It was going to be the social season soon, and her mother wanted to find her a good man. It felt like her mother was trying to get rid of her and her sister. Girls couldn’t inherit the family name after all. Dorothea couldn’t help but feel somber as she remembered their last argument. She felt worthless ever since her engagement was broken. Her mother didn’t help her, acting like she was in a precarious position. Like she had lost some value because of it.
She wondered if her father would have acted like that, too. She knew her mother loved her and only wanted her happiness, but she couldn’t help but have that bittersweet taste. True, she shouldn’t have reacted like she did, it was unbefitting of a Lady. And maybe slapping her ex-fiancé wasn’t the best thing to do. In public at that. Thankfully, it was the countryside, and word didn’t travel fast.
Daniel was visiting Bergholt on his way to his late wife’s family grave. He was on his horse, taking in the view. It was when he noticed the young woman by the river. He pulled gently on the bridle, stopping his horse to observe the beautiful nymph before him.
She was breathtaking, her long brown hair cascaded around her sensually, giving her a provocative look. Maybe she was a siren meant to seduce him and drown him. Daniel felt like it wouldn’t be a bad death if it were in the delicate arms of this unknown siren.
As she reached to pick some berries, the Marquess couldn’t help but wonder if she wasn’t a playful fairy instead. Her green eyes twinkled with an untamed curiosity. Daniel wanted to take a step toward her when the mysterious girl sprang up on her feet and faced him.
Dorothea looked surprised when she saw the unknown man before her. He looked dashing with his carefully combed black hair and grey eyes. A sharp and high-bridged nose, along with thin lips turned slightly upward in an arrogant smile. The young woman’s eyes reminded him of a doe. Daniel greeted her, lifting his hat elegantly. Even Jacob, her ex-fiance, wasn’t this charming when he greeted her.
“_Good day, fair lady, I couldn’t help but be entranced by your beauty. I’m Daniel, Daniel Pendleton. May I know your name?
_Dorothea Liberty.
_Ah, the daughter of Baron Liberty. I’m sorry about your father. Please accept my most heartfelt condolences.”
The man bowed a little as she gave him a small curtsy. They were alone here, her hair completely undone; it was an encounter a little too intimate. If she remembered clearly, Daniel Pendleton was a Marquess and a widower. She remembers her mother and a friend of hers talking about it. About two years ago, his wife died in childbirth. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity for him and the poor child. She recently lost her father, but she couldn’t imagine how sad it was to grow up without one of his parents.
“_Thank you, my Lord, I’m sure my father would be happy to hear your kind word from where he is now.”
She gave him a subtle smile while trying to hint to him that she needed to go. It wasn’t proper for them to converse here, isolated and alone. It was indecent, and she couldn’t help but blush at her appearance. She was sure he was a gentleman, but there was a sense of danger. Maybe it’s the thrill of breaking the rules. She was meeting a man, a stranger without a chaperone, and her hair was untied before him. She could see his eyes darting around, looking at her from head to toe. The air around them dared them to go further.
“_If you don’t mind, Miss, I would love to know you better.”
Daniel climbed down from his horse, shaking her out of her trance. She took a step behind, trying to hide her surprise. What was she thinking? Talking with a stranger? Alone? Her mother would kill her this time, for sure.
“_I’m sorry maybe next time… if we meet again… somewhere more proper.”
She took a few steps back and gave her curtsy in a hurry before turning to her horse. Daniel didn’t know why he did that, but he tried to grab her hand. He looked at the young woman's shadow as she ran away from him. The only proof of their meeting was a dainty golden bracelet with a green jewel at the center. It looked like a butterfly.
Daniel smiled as he kissed the stone. How fitting for a beautiful fairy like her. Sliding the bracelet in his pocket, he climbed on his horse and continued on his way. He was sure they would meet again, in the social season.
***
When Dorothea came back, she was greeted by her mother’s stern glare. She winced before taking the horse back to his box. Charlotte was furious, beyond outraged at her daughter’s wild appearances. She wanted to scream, maybe beat her with a broom at the moment. She has gone out in her nightgown!
“_WHAT ARE YOU WEARING? Why is your hair not tied? And you didn’t wear a hat either!
_They came undone while I was riding. “
She lied quickly as they walked back into the small manor. Charlotte only scoffed at her eldest daughter.
“_And how recklessly were you going for you to come back disheveled? Go change quickly, your great aunt will be there soon.”
Dorothea hurried to her room and got changed to receive guests. She sat down with her sisters and little brother. Angela, as usual, was reading while Oscar and Rosemary were playing chess until they heard the carriage outside.
Madame Hildenton was quite old; her greying hair tied in a tight bun made her stern look even harsher. Her eyes swept across the Liberty siblings like a hawk as she climbed down from her carriage. Her black dress with white trim gave her a somber look, making Angela and Rosemary recoil behind Dorothea. Even Oscar usually more daring and courageous, subtly came closer to his elder sister. It wasn’t the first time the elderly woman had come to visit them. Far from it, she came every year to convince their father to let her do The Liberty’s sister’s education. Richard, their father, was never fond of high society, so he used every excuse he could to avoid going there or sending them to the capital. But this time they would not escape from it. The twins seemed excited about the glamorous balls, the Lords and Ladies dancing, and the forbidden love blooming. Dorothea could see stars shining in their black eyes.
Everyone was in the parlor drinking tea as they tried to keep their manner in check before the older woman. Madame Hildenton has always been vocal about manners. To the point, none of the siblings loved her much. The old woman was quite happy when Dorothea broke her engagement. In her opinion, the three sisters had the potential to aim higher than this small village if she helped to whip them into perfect ladies.
“_You all must be nervous, it will be your first time in the capital. We will reach London a month before the start of the social season, so you will be prepared for what is to come. We will be staying for six months in total. The queen’s coronation in June will be the perfect occasion for you to find a match.
_The queen? Are we going to attend Her Majesty’s coronation?”
Madame Hildenton glanced at Rosemary, who talked excitedly. The young lady sat back on her chair, trying to make herself smaller.
“_Yes, Her Majesty’s coronation will be held in June. Hopefully, you girls will find a match there or before it.”
The old woman said, pointedly glancing at Charlotte.
