Authors: Joyce Wright
Clara sighed as she brushed down her skirts for the millionth time, glaring at the pristine, baby pink fabric. It was time for her to meet the Duke of Somerset, and her mother had insisted relentlessly that she dress up even more finely than usual. It had taken two hours for her to dress and perfect her hair - for once, she even had a maid assist her.
“Now remember Clara - this is for your benefit, as well as the benefit of the family lineage. Do not mess this up for us.”
For us.
Clara cringed at the words. “Yes mother,” she replied simply, biting at the corner of her lower lip.
Without another word she stood up, brushing her skirts one last time as she left the huge bedroom. She trudged along the expanse of hall, down the winding staircase and into the spacious reception room across from the kitchen.
The room was the size of most peoples’ houses, with a gigantic fireplace surrounded by plush chairs and a sofa long enough to fit a family. Everything was cream and shades of brown - neutral colours, like most of the manor. Boring, Clara thought, but elegant.
No sooner had she perched on the sofa when somebody arrived, rapping on the front door. A maid opened the door, and a man’s voice drifted into the reception through the hall.
“Miss Clara is waiting for you,” the maid replied, her voice becoming louder as she approached the room.
A tall man entered, wearing a magnificently expensive suit - even finer than the ones her father wore. His hair was almost pitch black, his eyes a lovely rich brown colour. She felt as if she could look at those eyes
forever.
Clara realised she had been staring and cleared her throat, standing to curtsy. “Hello, sir. I am Clara Ollerton.”
“Hello Clara. I am Duke Oscar Harding of Somerset.”
Oscar? Now that she thought about it, Edith had never mentioned his name, only his title. She simply could not imagine herself marrying someone named ‘Oscar’, no matter how pretty his eyes.
“Miss? Your mother asked I bring you tea later - is there anything you need now?”
Clara’s eyes drifted from the Duke to her maid. “No, thank you Lettie. You may leave us.”
The maid nodded with a promise she would be close by, and then closed the door.
The Duke sat on one of the overstuffed armchairs, reclining as if he had lived there all his life. “Miss Clara Ollerton? A beautiful name. May I say, you are equally lovely.”
Clara smiled slightly. If nothing else, he was certainly a gentleman. “Thank you. Most people believe my sister Jessie to be the pretty one.”
“I am assuming your mother has told you why we are meeting?”
Clara blew out a breath and nodded. Of course she did - her mother had hardly
stopped
talking about this since she had first been told. Edith certainly did have high hopes for her daughter - and why shouldn’t she, when all of her other children had married perfectly lovely, rich young men?
“She has,” she replied simply, “and I must say it came as quite a shock.” She couldn’t hide the edge to her voice.
“I can imagine. You must realise, I was not the one to arrange this. My family believe I am too old not to be married. Now I am Duke, it is expected of me.”
Clara narrowed her eyes slightly, nodding. “I see. You do not want to marry?”
The Duke cleared his throat and shook his head. “That... was not what I meant, I am sorry. I simply meant that I do not want this to be forced, and if we do not agree with each other I would not be angry for you to turn me down.”
Oh. This was an odd start to any kind of introduction, but especially to the man who was to be her husband. He was honest, though, and it was hard not to appreciate that. Still, though - it seemed odd that he had arranged all of this when he evidently was no more interested than she was.
“Duke Harding, I-”
“Please, you may call me Oscar.”
Clara paused for a second, mouth held open like a fish. Calling a Duke by his given name? She was almost certain that never happened. “Of course. Oscar, I must ask - why me? Of all the women in the country, why me?”
He laughed lightly, thin smile lines appearing along his cheeks. “Why not?”
She simply looked at him, brow raised.
“Ah, you wish for a serious answer? I suppose I can give you one.” He leaned forward in his seat, resting his hands on his knee. “It has a lot to do with your heritage. You come from a fine family - I am sure your parents have already given you the ‘families combined’ lecture.”
Edith had, and she did not wish to hear it again. “Yes, they have. Is that all?”
He said nothing for a long moment, considering his words carefully. Then, “no, not all. My uncle knows a relative of yours - a cousin, perhaps an aunt, I am not sure. They spoke highly of you, in any case. I think that is reason enough to wish to meet you, if nothing else.”
That explained why he knew about her, but still not why he
chose
her. Clara supposed it didn’t really matter, as she had no interest in marrying him regardless. Still, her heart fluttered at the thought of being picked out among a hundred other women - some of whom were surely a better fit than Clara herself.
“Miss Clara? Are you quite all right?”
With a jerk, Clara glanced up at the Duke - no,
Oscar.
That was going to be difficult to remember. “Yes, I am fine. Just... thinking. Please forgive my rudeness.”
They sat in silence for a moment - thick, awkward silence that settled heavily over Clara like a cloud about to rain. It had always been difficult for her to keep up a conversation - even more so with strangers. She shifted uncomfortably, raking her mind for something to say.
“Clara, have you seen - oh goodness, I am
so sorry
! It slipped my mind you had a visitor today.” Clara’s sister Jessie stood in the doorway, her face as red as a ripe tomato. “Please excuse me, Duke.” She moved back to slip out of the room, but then her eyes seemed to land on something by the mantelpiece.
“Is there something you want, Jessie?” Honestly, she was glad for the interruption - but she knew things would be ten times more awkward once Jessie left.
“Oh, just my book. It is just on that table - but I can retrieve it later, it is no trouble.” With an apologetic nod and swish of her hair, Jessie was gone.
“I must apologise for my sister, Oscar. She is a kind girl, but does not know her etiquette.”
Oscar’s gaze lingered on the closed door, and he smiled gently as he faced Clara again. “No trouble, I assure you. She seems like a lovely young woman - I can see the family resemblance.”
It was not entirely true. They shared the same fiery red hair - given to them by their mother - but that was where the similarities ended. It seemed such unusual hair was enough for people to assume relations.
“What were we discussing before our interruption?”
Nothing, technically - but Clara said nothing of that in fear of sounding rude. “Us, I suppose.”
“Of course.” He smiled again, showing perfectly straight teeth. Tiny dimples curved at the corner of his lips. “I was thinking, miss Clara, that we might meet for a picnic sometime this week? The weather has been so lovely lately.”
She nodded, though it lacked enthusiasm. “Yes, I think I would enjoy that. Where do you suggest?”
“The gardens of my manor, if that suits.”
“Yes, thank you.” Idly, Clara wondered what his manor looked like. Her own home was considered impressive by others - his must be a dream, even to her. A Duke of his standing must have the biggest manor in the city.
“It will give us the chance to get to know each other without any interruptions.” Once again his eyes drifted to the door, lingering for just a moment.
Something clicked inside Clara’s mind. A gear slipping into place. Oscar had taken an interest in her youngest sister. The way he looked at the door, as if wishing she would come back. For some reason, the knowledge settled heavily in her stomach, something akin to disappointment rather than relief.
“You seem to like my sister, though her disturbance was brief,” Clara said carefully. She did not want to offend.
“I do, though not how you think.” He smiled knowingly - he had seen straight through her.
Clara simply pursed her lips and nodded, shrugging slightly. “I apologize - I did not mean anything by it. We are the ones to marry, not Jessie.”
“Do you remember what I said? That I do not want you to be pressured into marrying me if it is not what you desire?”
“So you
do not
wish to do this, then?”
Oscar frowned slightly, thick eyebrows furrowed. “You misread my words, miss Clara. I simply do not wish you to feel uncomfortable, nor do I wish things to proceed too quickly.”
She nodded, feeling her cheeks warm. Oh, she was making a fool of herself here! If her mother was there, she would have been cringing at how her daughter spoke. Earlier that day she would not have cared, but now she wanted to make a good impression on the Duke. Why had her ideas changed in so short a time?
There was a light tap on the door, and then the maid arrived with a tray of tea and sandwiches. “Good afternoon miss, Duke.” She gently set the tray down on the table and turned to Clara. “Is there anything else you require?”
“No, that is all Lettie.”
As the maid left, a mass of red appeared by the door in her place. Jessie again. She eyed Clara and the Duke cautiously. “Terribly sorry, but I do rather need that book.”
With a sigh, Clara ushered her forward. “Grab it, then. Mother will be mad if she finds you interrupting like this.”
Jessie cringed, quickly darting forward to snatch her book from a little table in the corner. “I know, I know, but I require it for my studies.” She hurried back to the door, lowering herself into a wobbly curtsy at the Duke. “Again, I apologize profusely. This won’t happen again.”
As she left, Oscar laughed. “Your sister certainly is an odd one, is she not?”
Three days later, Clara stood in front of an impossibly huge manor, gazing up at the magnificent building. She had thought her own home was beautiful, but this one was beyond what words could describe. It loomed over her, intimidating yet hypnotizing.
She was still gazing up at it when a servant opened the door. She jumped as the door creaked open, smoothing her skirts anxiously. “Clara Ollerton to see the Duke. He is expecting me.”
The servant said nothing as he ushered her in, taking her coat and bonnet. A maid arrived a moment later to show her into the living room.
The room, while only the size of Clara’s reception, was breathtaking. The mantelpiece alone looked like it cost more than all of the furniture in her reception combined. Sofas and chairs took up the majority of the room, the cream fabric surface pristine enough they looked as if they had never been used.
Clara lowered herself into an armchair almost reluctant to crease the fabric. If there was even the tiniest particle of dust or dirt on her dress, it would stain the chair. She sat there for a moment, hands clasped, until Oscar arrived.
His hair was slicked back the same way as before, a few strands hanging in his dark eyes. He smiled as he saw Clara, settling himself across from her on the sofa. “Good afternoon, miss Clara.”
“Good afternoon,” she repeated, forcing her own smile.
He was an incredibly handsome man, and he seemed even more so now. Perhaps it was just because he was in his own home - he was more relaxed, more
himself.
Clara found herself wishing she could touch that beautiful hair of his. She felt herself lean forward before she realized what she was doing.
“Would you like me to escort you outside? The cooks have already prepared us our meal for the picnic.” He offered a hand to help her to her feet, then linked arms with her as he led her into the hall.
As soon as they were outside, Clara relaxed. She could almost imagine they were at a public park, or in her own grounds without the magnificence of the living room crowding her. A light breeze hit her face, though it wasn’t cold.
A pale blue blanket rested on the grass, close to a small fountain of stone birds with water gushing from their beaks. A large wicker basket sat beside it, filled with who knew what delicious foods.
Clara settled herself, shaking out her skirts so her legs remained hidden while she sat cross legged. Oscar sat beside her, busying himself with the basket.
“So, miss Clara, what do you think of my manor?”
“It is
wonderful,
” she replied honestly, glancing at the towering building from the corner of her eye, “much grander than I could have pictured myself.”
He chuckled lightly. “It is not so much more than yours. Your family has a wonderful house too, do they not?”
“Perhaps it is wonderful, but that does not mean yours is the same.”
The food was now laid across the blanket. Sandwiches, fresh fruit, wine, and just about everything else Clara had expected. It was hard to imagine so much had fit inside a single picnic basket.
She took an apple and bit into it carefully, aware that Oscar was so close. She had embarrassed herself with careless words before - she did not want to embarrass herself
more
by messy eating.
“How is your family doing?” Oscar questioned as he poured the wine.
“As good as expected. Father is at work now, and mother is visiting my sister Ruby and her husband.”
“And Jessie?”
She felt a pang as her sister’s name was mentioned. He was so invested in Jessie, and yet he had never seen her for more than a moment. Why she cared she didn’t know. “Jessie is fine. She has her studies. I believe mother is trying to find her a husband too.”
“Any man will be lucky to have her.”
Clara’s eyes narrowed. Her hands rested on her knees, still clutching the half-eaten apple. “Yes, they will,” she answered, a bite to her voice. There was no mistaking it now - Oscar was only interested in Jessie - and Clara was much more invested in him than she first knew. Funny, how she was so adamant not to marry, and now she was falling for the Duke.
Oscar looked at her then, lips pursed. “We should not be focusing so much on your sister. It is
you
I would like to know. Tell me something about yourself?”
“Such as?” Clara raised a brow, trying to bury all thoughts of Jessie into the back of her mind.
“What are your interests, your hobbies? A favourite book or food. Anything you feel will give me an insight into who you are.”
She bit her lip, thinking about it for a moment. She had several interests - many of which her mother considered unsuitable for a young woman of her standing. Engineering, for one - that was a
man’s
interest, not a woman’s.
“I enjoy painting,” she finally said, taking another small bite of the apple, “my matron taught me when I was young, though I fear I am not so good at it.”
“Painting? I have known many people who say the cannot paint, and yet they are excellent at it. I am sure you are the same.”
Clara laughed, feeling the corners of her mouth tug upward despite herself. “I assure you, while I find it fun it is certainly not a talent I own.”
“Nonsense! I must see your work some time, if you permit it.”
Biting her lip, Clara nodded. “If you wish.”
Nobody had ever taken an interest in her paintings before - or in any of her activities, really. She attended horse riding lessons with her sister, but that seemed to be the only thing she had in common with anyone. For someone to genuinely be interested in her art - it seemed too good to be true.
“I am sure they will be the best paintings I have seen.”
Her heart skipped, and she couldn’t stop the smile that graced her full lips. “Thank you. That is a very kind thing to say.”
“There is something else I would like to discuss with you. I know it is soon, and this is only the second time we have met - but we must discuss our marriage.”
Just like that, the cheerful mood was sucked from Clara. She set her apple core down and lowered her gaze, nose crinkling. It was too soon indeed - they barely knew each other!
“What about it do you wish to discuss?” she questioned, voice carefully blank. Moments ago she had been thinking about how handsome Oscar was - but that by no means meant she wanted t go through with this! “If I remember correctly, you said you did not want to rush things?”
He sighed, gently taking her hand in his. “That is true, which is why I wish to talk about it. I feel marriage so soon would be a mistake, regardless of the pressure on us to do so.” He paused as if to think. Dark eyes narrowed and he ran a hand through his hair. “I feel we must take our time, lest we rush into this and regret it.”
Clara could not agree more. She had not wanted this from the start, though she was beginning to warm to him. If they married now, while they were still strangers, it would not be a happy marriage. It had to happen eventually; but eventually did not mean
now.
“Yes, I think that too. What do you say we should do?”
“Keep going as we are, and see how it all plays out. I do like you, miss Clara - but I am not sure if this will work in our favour.”
Clara thought of Jessie. Her nineteen year old sister whom Oscar seemed so taken with. Perhaps those two were better suited to each other. “You are right. We do not know each other well enough to tell for sure, do we?” She forced a smile.
“No, we do not. We have plenty of time to get to know each other, however. As much time as we need.”
“Of course.”
“Perhaps we should get to know our future families? I only have my father and a brother, but your family is large. They seem like lovely people.”
He was right. For all of their faults, she still loved them. Her father Samuel, who lit up the house when he was home. Her mother Edith, who was far too strict but did it out of love. Her twin sisters Ruby and Pauline, who were cheeky and fun. And of course Jessie, who was just like her father.
“My family is very kind. I know my father would love to meet you formally - in fact, he will probably demand it very soon. My mother is no doubt going to plan some kind of dinner for us all.” She smiled at the thought. “Jessie will be there of course, and my twin sisters if they can make it. They may even bring their own husbands.”
Oscar smiled at this and took a sip of wine. “That sounds wonderful, I must admit. I am always so busy; a dinner like that would be appreciated greatly.”
Clara smiled back, a delighted grin that almost reached her ears. “Perfect! I am sure my mother will be glad you are so eager.”
The only problem with such a big event was that Oscar and Jessie would have the chance to converse. She did not want to deny either of them the chance to meet of course - but Oscar already liked her so much. Jealousy had never been a trait she had, but now it creeped up on her, threatening to spill over.
“Enough talk of future dinners and what is to come. We should be enjoying this moment - with the sun shining and the cool breeze tickling our hair.”
Clara nodded, dispelling any negative thoughts. Whatever the future held, she would deal with when it happened. For now, she just wanted to enjoy a nice picnic with an even nicer man.
It was strange, how quickly she had settled into his company. Not long ago she had screamed at her mother for trying to marry her off. Now, it did not seem like such a terrible outcome. Oscar was a good man.
“I look forward to meeting your family officially. Your mother seems like a lovely woman, and I am sure your father is an equally kind man. I should like to meet Ruby and Pauline, too.”
“What of Jessie?” she couldn’t help but ask.
“Jessie, too, perhaps the most of all.”
Though Clara knew asking was a bad idea, she still felt the heavy disgust swimming in her stomach. Of course he wanted to meet her the most.