Lady Faith Afton surveyed the large pile of open bags and boxes. Containers of all sorts with their contents strewn about the comfortable sitting room of the suite she’d occupied at Haverford House for the past two weeks.
“I don’t know how I will get all of this back to Reabridge.”
“I’m certain we have a spare carriage or two you may borrow,” the duchess said.
“I also don’t know how I can ever thank you for inviting me to stay while I shopped for my trousseau. Your advice on styles and colors has been invaluable.”
“ Nonsense Faith, my dear. We’ve been friends since we were in the schoolroom. I would have been greatly offended had you come to London on this blessed errand and not sought me out. Besides, we always had great fun shopping together when you lived in London.”
Faith smiled. “Those are very precious memories. It is good to see you Eleanor. You’ve always had such a steadying influence on me.”
“You’ve a steady enough hand yourself with that young niece of yours, if I understand correctly what you have told me of her.”
Faith sipped the last of her tea and set the cup aside.
“Oh, Charité is the best of nieces and quite practical. She would have come with me, but she and her husband Thom, my Isaac’s son, are working tirelessly to set up the day school they are founding for the local children.”
“They won’t be taking in boarders?” Eleanor asked.
“Not for the first year or two. Thom wants to establish a local reputation before branching out to teach other students.”
“Very wise. How are they financing the school?”
“Thom, who reached the rank of Captain under Wellington is very organized and thorough. Before making any definite plans or commitments, he spoke with the leading families in Reabridge and gained their support. The Duke of San Sebastian purchased and donated the land and buildings where the school will be located. Other prominent men of the area are contributing time, labour and funds. All was so well in order that we expect the school to open within a year.”
Eleanor nodded, thoughtfully. “That is a massive undertaking.”
“You would know, Eleanor,” Faith said, “You’ve sponsored educational projects throughout the country.”
“Especially for young women.”
“My niece will be working with Thom at the school so there will be education and training for all. Not just the boys.”
“Quite foresighted of the Captain,” Eleanor said, approvingly.
Faith’s eyes gleamed. “I doubt very much Charité would allow him to have it any other way. She is a force of nature, my niece.”
“Excellent.” The Duchess of Haverford put down her tea. “May I refill your cup, Faith?”
“No, I might burst if I try to consume more.” She bowed her head and looked at her hands, twisting the ring her fiancé had given her as a symbol of their love and pending marriage.
“Very well.” Eleanor sat back and waited. Something had been troubling Faith from the moment she arrived. However, she’d taken none of the many opportunities to unburden herself that Eleanor had created. Sometimes one simply had to wait.
“I have a confession to make, my friend.”
Eleanor sat forward, placing a hand on Faith’s arm. “Tell me.”
“It’s silly, really.”
Eleanor smiled and shook her head. “I doubt that.”
“At my age, I should not be nervous about my wedding night,” Faith insisted.
“Some nerves before marriage are normal, Faith.”
“But I am far from a blushing innocent. Heavens, I’ve been married before. Although, Afton, God rest him, was not the most tender of lovers. He did his duty. I regret to this day I was unable to conceive.” Faith sighed.
“You must not blame yourself.”
“I don’t.” She shook her head. “Not really. I know that both man and woman are needed to produce a babe, and the fault could lie with either or neither. I accept that God did not mean for me to be a mother. Yet, I can still regret that I was not.”
“Very well,” Eleanor agreed, “but surely this is not why you are suffering nerves about your coming nuptials.”
“No. Neither Isaac nor I expect or wish for the blessings received by Abraham in his old age.”
“Then why the nerves.”
“It’s just that…well…I’m old. I’m not the lovely young thing I was when Afton courted and married me.”
Eleanor restrained a laugh. “Do you imagine that Dr. Owen wishes you were other than you are. That you were young and sylph-like.”
“No, no. Isaac is the kindest and most loving of men.”
“Is he not older than you?”
“By a year or two.”
“And is he an Adonis?” Eleanor persisted.
“Nooo. I wouldn’t say that,” Faith acknowledged. “Although he is a very distinguished figure of a man.”
“Do you like his kisses.”
Faith blushed. “I’d not wed him if I didn’t.”
“Worry not, my friend. Your nerves will cease the morning after your wedding night.”
Lady Afton covered her face with her hands. When she dropped them, she was smiling. You are right. I’m dithering over nothing.”
There was a twinkle in Eleanor’s eyes “Most likely. But it is an exciting time, nonetheless. I suggest you enjoy it.”
“I promise to do so.”
“Now let us ring for the maids and begin packing. You have much to do before departing tomorrow morning.”
This conversation between the Duchess of Haverford and Lady Faith Afton, mentions Captain Thom Owen and Mrs.Charité Owen nee du Pessac. Thom and charite are hero and heroine of my novella, A Harvest Blessing one of the stories in the Bluestocking Belles with Friends collection Under the Harvest Moon.
About A Harvest Blessing:ter Waterloo, Captain Thom Owen is uncertain what to do with himself. Then fate casts Charité du Pessac and her aunt in his path. No gentleman would abandon a damsel as brave and kind as Miss du Pessac, but how can he help her? With no clear solution in mind, Thom escorts the ladies home to his father.
Charité ‘s aunt believes her niece and the captain are engaged, and Charité fears the captain’s father will not welcome them. She is French after all, and while the captain might not object to her nationality, others—like his father—might disapprove of a marriage between former enemies.
About Under the Harvest Moon
A Bluestocking Belles with Friends Collection
By Caroline Warfield, Jude Knight, Sherry Ewing, Cerise DeLand, Elizabeth Ellen Carter, Collette Cameron, Mary Lancaster, Alina K. Field, and Rue Allyn
As the village of Reabridge in Cheshire prepares for the first Harvest Festival following Waterloo, families are overjoyed to welcome back their loved ones from the war.
But excitement quickly turns to mystery when mere weeks before the festival, an orphaned child turns up in the town—a toddler born near Toulouse to an English mother who left clues that tie her to Reabridge.
With two prominent families feuding for generations and the central event of the Harvest Moon festival looming, tensions rise, and secrets begin to surface.
Nine award winning and bestselling authors have combined their talents to create this engaging and enchanting collection of interrelated tales. Under the Harvest Moon promises an unforgettable read for fans of Regency romance.
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/UnderHarvestMoon
About Rue Allyn:
Author of historical and contemporary romances, Rue Allyn fell in love with happily ever after the day she heard her first story. (She claims she was a precocious little brat who read at the age of two but she could hear much earlier than that.) She studied literature for far too many years before discovering that writing stories was much more fun than writing about them. One of her greatest pleasures as an author is being able to share her stories with so many other readers. Rue is happily married to her sweetheart of many, many years.
Insatiably curious, and avid reader and traveler, she loves to hear from readers about their favorite books and real-life adventures. Crazy Cat stories are especially welcome. You may contact her at Rue@RueAllyn.com. She can’t wait to hear from you.
