Rachels heart turned in her chest. But, Mother, how can I accept him? I dont love him! I scarcely even know him! II love another man!
There is no reason for him to know that, Lady Ravenscar retorted. And it would be best if you got that thought out of your head instantly, as well. Your father would never let you waste yourself on Anthony Birkshaw. I can scarcely believe that you have been so foolish as to have given your heart to aa pauper!
He is not a pauper!
Bah! You know nothing about the matter! Her mother faced Rachel, her lovely face set in cold, adamant lines. Do you think any of us married for love? That any of us knew our husbands before we became engaged? I can assure you that I did not, and neither did your sister.
But Caroline and Richard love each other.
Your sister was wise enough not to give her heart until she had given her hand, Lady Ravenscar snapped. I cannot believe that you are acting like this. You were always the most biddable of my children, the one I could count on to be reasonable. Obedient. She paused and gathered her composure, then started again. What did you think we were coming here for? For you to have a summer of parties and fun? Your father had to swallow his pride and accept a loan from Cleybourne to enable you to have this Season. You knew the reason for it. You knew what you were expected to do.
Yes, but Tears glittered in Rachels eyes. The dreamworld she had been living in this summer was crashing down around her ears. She could see now how foolish she had been, believing that the man she had fallen in love with would be an acceptable spouse in her parents eyes. She had let herself believe that her love and the brilliant match she must make would somehow turn out to be embodied in the same person. I cannot! she cried out in a low voice. I cannot marry Lord Westhampton when I love someone else!
You can, and you will. Lady Ravenscars voice was implacable. I am sorry that you were so silly as to let your feelings be engaged. Obviously I was not careful enough. I did not see this foolish romance developing and nip it in the bud. For that, I apologize. But I will take care to correct that mistake now. I will tell Caroline to inform the butler that you are no longer home if Mr. Birkshaw calls.
No! Pain stabbed through Rachels chest like a knife. Mother, you cannot
Lady Ravenscar gave her a long, level look. If I have to, I will tell Ravenscar, and he will send the young man on his way.
No! The thought of her father railing at Anthony and barring him from their house filled her with even more fear. Her father was terrible in a temper; there was no telling what he might say to Anthonyor do to him. It would not surprise her if he took a cane to the young man.
You will get over this infatuation, her mother went on, her cool voice like a knife lacerating Rachels heart. I know it must seem to you that your world is ending, but this feeling will pass, and soon. Young girls fancies always do. In a few weeks, after you have gotten involved in planning the wedding and choosing dresses for your trousseau, why, you will look back on this calf love and realize how absurd it was.
No, Rachel said in a choked voice. I will not.
You must try. Because I can assure you that you will not marry Mr. Birkshaw. You can turn down the best offer you could hope to receive if you insist, but you still will not marry Mr. Birkshaw. If you think about it, I am sure you will see why Birkshaw has not offered for you. He knows that he cannot: I imagine he barely has the money to support himself, let alone a wife. It is my best guess that he must marry money himself. Perhaps he was foolish enough to think that you had some.
It was not about money! Rachel cried. We love each other.
Well, it is a love without hope, her mother said remorselessly. Your father and I will never allow you to marry him. And if you are so foolish as to turn down Lord Westhampton because of this piece of lunacy, I can guarantee that you will regret it the rest of your life.
Rachel could no longer hold back her tears. She began to sob, sinking into the nearest chair and covering her face with her hands. Her mother watched her with exasperation for a moment, then pulled a dainty handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to her daughter.
Cry it out, then, she said. And when you are done, lie down with a cool rag over your eyes to keep the swelling down. You cannot meet Lord Westhampton this afternoon with puffy eyes.
I cannot marry him, Rachel repeated through her tears. It would kill me.
No. I assure you that it will not. You are not the first young girl to fancy herself desperately in love, and you certainly will not be the last. It never kills them. Of course, if you choose to turn down the prospect of being Lady Westhampton, of having a husband who adores you and will answer your every whim, of owning two of the most admired homes in the country and a limitless number of dresses and jewels Lady Ravenscar broke off with a sigh. Well, we cannot make you accept him, though what your father will say about it, I dread to think. It will be a wonder if I can convince him not to pack us all up and go storming back to Darkwater in a rage, and, lord knows, that will be the end of all your hopes. But one may hope he will see reason. You are admired by other menthough none, of course, as fine a match as Lord Westhampton. There might be another chance for you to get a decent offer before the end of the Season, when we shall all have to return to the country to finish our lives in penury.
Rachel thought with horror of continuing to stay here this Season, going to parties and trying to attract a husband, when all the while her heart would be breaking. Mother, I cannot.
Then you plan to live the rest of your life a spinster? For you will have no more opportunities to meet marriageable men. We cannot afford a second Season for you, and I can assure you that your father will have no desire to do anything for you if you cross him in this.
Rachel shuddered, thinking of her fathers ire. She had never been on the receiving end of one of his truly terrible rages. Mother, please
Child, I cannot help you. You have only two choicesdo your duty to the family, accept Lord Westhampton and have a nice, satisfactory life, or refuse and remain with us until we die, and then I suppose you will have to live as a companion to your sister Caroline.
I want you to lie down now. Ill send the maid up with cucumber slices and a cool cloth for your eyes. And I want you think about what you are going to do. I want you to consider what will happen to us all if you do not marry Lord Westhampton. I want you to remember this Season and all we have done for you so that you could get a good offer and have a good life. Then decide whether you want to shame your family this way. Whether you are really willing to refuse to do what you are expected to do. What you have to do. I am sure you will come to the right decision about how to answer Lord Westhampton.
Even now, Rachel thought, closing her eyes, she could feel the pain she had felt all those years ago, the numbed, emotionally battered state in which she had stumbled to her room and lain down on her bed. Exhausted with grief and plunged into despair, she had cried until she could cry no more, while the maid fussed and dried her tears and did her best to repair the damage her outburst had done to her face.