The Rogue’s Forbidden Love Rules

Chapter4: Elizabeth's to do list 1

The dowager countess went on speaking her voice piercing louder and louder. “And you, Elizabeth! Sometimes it may be challenging to agree on what the girl shall wear and so we shall have to think intensely over the kind of gown you shall wear!”

Oh, no. The Dowager Countess of Aragon was many things but a helpful modiste especially for her elder daughter remained her weakness. If Elizabeth did not distract her mother soon, she would end up dressing her for the wedding with her sister wearing the frilly nightmare of a dress accompanied by the matching turban.

Indeed, I suppose that it is high time to discuss the most important things, don’t you, Mother? “Why do not we organize a small get together dinner tonight to celebrate?”

Carrying on through the menu, she waited to see if her mother would bite. “A wonderful idea!” Elizabeth released her breath, thus gratified with her instincts in thinking so fast.

“We should! It should be family only naturally as well because the formal engagement should be saved for the announcement at the betrothal ball But I do believe a dinner this evening is exactly what we need!

Oh! So much more to do! I need to post invitations and talk to Cook! The dowager countess quickly wheeled around, doing so with great excitement, and left. Before moving in to the room she halted near the entrance and looked back.

Overcome with joy she dabbed her sweaty face and said “Oh!” Mariana!” And, with that, she left.

Married, and with children of their own – Mariana was left alone sitting in a state of shock after what she had just witnessed. Forcing a smile, Elizabeth couldn’t help it. ‘You did not expect that it will be that easy did you Mari?’ Besides, it has taken Our mother thirty two years to see a wedding she is seeing it now that Benedick was born. And now, thanks to you, she’s got one.”

“I don’t think I can survive this,” Mariana said, smiling to herself and shaking her head a little. “Who did you see?” “A mother with a wedding in her future.” “My God,” said Mariana, almost stock still.

“Oh man, do you think she’s going to be like that for a long time?”

“Well I can’t say for sure but I think she’s going to be a little like that for the whole season.”

“Is there a way out of it?” “There is,” Elizabeth said for the enjoyment, perhaps having seen one too many films. Mariana pounced.

“What is it?!” “And do you suppose Rivington would like going to Gretna Green?” Mariana moaned bleakly as Elizabeth burst into laughter.

This was going to be an extraordinarily entertaining season. This was going to be the most painful season of her life. And so Elizabeth was standing in front of the sitting room, watching the entire family give their blessimgs to Mariana and her duke after dinner and the cigars for the men and the gossip for the women.

Several mantles full of candles lit up the room and its denizens, which gave the place an intimate look. As a rule, Elizabeth appreciated those parties which could be held in the sitting room, for such gatherings were usually homely, joyful meetings recalling warm feelings.

Not so, tonight, however. Tonight, Elizabeth was regretting slightly when she proposed that they have a small and intimate dinner. Even the pictures of the ancestors put on the sitting-room walls were laughing at her tonight.

She hid a sigh and assumed the smile when her aunt Beatrice wages at her smiling. Elizabeth understood what was awaiting her…understood that this was in-store for her and this knowledge did not make her feel any better.

“Isn’t it wonderful? Such a happy couple! What a well-matching pair…”Yes, indeed dear Aunt.”

Elizabeth mimic the grief-stricken aunt and turned her head to look at the couple with matching expressions of joy.

Through the endless night she had learned that it was bearable to think of what she was doing in this conversation – staring at the jubilant Mariana and Rivington with raised eyebrows – until she remembered. Very slightly easier.

“What a pleasure it is when Mariana is this happy.” Her elderly aunt placed a hand with veiny skin on Elizabeth’s arm. Ah! Here it comes, Elizabeth stood and bore her teeth.

”I am sure your mother is relieved to have something to fix, a wedding after such a long time,” the old woman laughed aloud. “After all, between you and Benedick, there was little assurance that she was ever to live to see the day.”

Elizabeth heard herself and her laugh sounded too shrill, as she looked anxiously at the people in the room searching for the one that would rescue her from a series of rude and impudent relatives.

Since the guests came in for dinner, Elizabeth had engaged in some sort of this conversation, at least, with twelve people.

Dinner had been especially challenging because she had to sit between Rivington’s paranoidmother and a rude cousin whom seemed to think that Elizabeth’s spinsterhood was fair game for conversation. She was coming to realize that there was no member of the Rivington or Aragon family who possessed even an ounce of diplomacy.

Did they really think that she would have no objection to having it brought to her notice from time to time that she was an old maid now definitely presented on the shelf? It was really too much. Not seeing any salvation in her future, she had to be content with calling a footman with a tray of sherry in.

Picking a glass for herself she then said to her aunt “Aunt Beatrice, may I offer you something to drink”? “Good gracious, no!” I cannot stomach the stuff,” The lady said in a huff, she looked to be in her seventies.

“You know, Cornella, drinking wine in company is bound to spoil your reputation.” “Yes, well, I should think that, in fact, there is not the slightest possibility of my having to worry about it tonight!”

“Well, no, I suppose there is no quality of yours that can be jeopardised in the present company, Cornella.”

The latter was said with what could be described as almost patronizing comfort from Aunt Beatrice in a non-con cords of meds biase was nowhere in evidence. It is a tragedy that is not it? You could not have expected it. As for your dowry nothing could have been expected from you that you wouldn’t get married.”

The idea implied that her dowry was all that that made her recommendable as a wife, shocked and angered Judith’s consciousness. He never managed to get a chance to hear her reply or she never got to respond before Aunt Beatrice continued.

“And now, at your age, we should simply give up hope It has a hopeful message, and it also got a number of laughs. Quite often it is difficult to even try to imagine a person offering for you. Unless, that is, it was an older man in search of company as he spends his last days on this earth. Perhaps that could happen.”

For a moment, this vision filled Elizabeth’s head, with regards to which she entertained the idea of a pleasing act of aggression ending with a drenching of sweet red wine on Aunt Beatrice.

Coming back to the present, she placed down her glass of wine and looked at her aunt, who continued to discuss why Elizabeth is still unmarried. Of course, it does not help that your figure is—well— rather less than desirable?

Still, we are far beyond Rubens, Cornella days.” Elizabeth was struck mute. Perhaps she could not have possibly heard the odious woman correctly.

“Have you thought about having only boiled eggs and cabbage all your life?” I hear it works wonders. Then you would be less…well, more! Aunt Beatrice raised her eyebrows and laughed till she clucked, to Caro’s complete confusion – the blatant lack of manners truly was impressive.

‘Then maybe we could marry you off to a man!’ That is why Elizabeth had to leave the house before she endangered the life of a member of the family or went mad herself.

Not daring look at Beatrice’s face—she could not promise herself that she won’t spit something really nasty at the horrible woman—Elizabeth slipped the words off,

“There is something I must do, Aunt, in the…kitchens I think.” She could not have cared whether the explanation was utterly ridiculous after dinner had ended she had to go! Despite her pride, the tears prickling her eyes forced Elizabeth to flee to the first room where four people would not be a bother— her brother’s study.

Carrying the glass and the bottle of sherry in her hands – the moonlight that flowed in through the tall windows that opened on the wall of the study – she walked to the sideboard, which stood near the large chair in the corner of the room that has been traditionally used by Aragon men as a kind of shelter.

It was going to have to do for an Aragon female tonight, she told herself wearily; and leaning her head back against the chair, she drew a deep breath and got to her feet She poured herself a glass of sherry, put the heavy crystal decanter on the floor beside her and, supporting herself with one hand on the arm of the chair, threw her legs up across the other.

What ever is makeing you sigh, sister mine? Elizabeth looked round, towards the large mahogany desk that stood under the opposite side of the room, and gave a little start. She could see a shadowy figure lurking behind it and grinned stagewide into the darkness.

“Do not speak to me.” “You startled me.” “Yes, well, forgive me if I don’t apologize. You entered my lair.” Benedick Hartwell got up and walked over to the chair on the other side of the room and sat down in it as Elizabeth.

What did she say next to him? “I hope you have a good reason or I shall have to send you back.” “Oh? Well in that case I would like to know how you will do this for you cannot tell my escape without drawing attention to your self.

“Too true.” Benedick grinned and showed his white teeth. “Well then they can stay.” “Thank you.” She clinked her sherry glass against his. “You are too kind.” Benedick was slowly stirring a glass of scotch while Elizabeth had taken a big gulp and leaned back into the chair, her eyes closed as they both took a break from talking.

After probably a good five minutes he began to address me. “And so, what made you run from this own family function?”

I hope you incredibly enjoyed reading this rather foolish classical and historical allusion tale of Queen Elizabeth. “Aunt Beatrice.”

“What did the old bird do now?”

“Benedick!”

“Are you about to tell me that you don’t think of her in a remarkably similar way?”

“Of that, indeed, thinking of her in such a way.” Still, saying it aloud is quite another.”

Benedick laughed. It continued, ‘You are too well mannered for your own good.”

What did our dear, revered valued aunt do to make you escape to a room where the lights are turned off? She sighed, poured herself some more wine.

“She did nothing that no other member of the two families represented in that room was not capable of doing. But she did it in a less polite manner.”

Marriage.” “She actually said—” She put her hands to her face and sighed deeply. “No. I will not give her the pleasure of repeating it.”

“I can imagine.” “No, Benny. You cannot.” She sipped her sherry. “I would have accepted him even if he wasn’t any better than this, the first man that proposed to me was an i***t vicar.”

“You shouldn’t speak ill of the clergy.” Benedick laughed a surly laugh and took a mouthful of scotch to back it up.

“Fine. I would have agreed to marry the second man that proposed to me. Geoffrey was rather nice to look at.”

“You might have, if you hadn’t, Elizabeth, Father would have.” This man was an inveterate gambler and a terrible alcoholic. He died in a gambling hell, for goodness sake.”

“Ah, but then I would be a widow. ‘Nobody abuses a widow.’ ‘Well, alright, maybe it isn’t, but let me try saying…’

Benedick paused. To the girl she responds,

“Do you really wish you were married to one of them?”

Elizabeth took her drink again nursing the sweet wine in her mouth as she processed the question. “I said no to anyone who ever asked me,” she clarified.

“I wouldn’t like to be wife to some ghastly man who married me only for my dower, or my lands or for alliance with the Aragon earldom… but I wouldn’t mind a love match.”

Benedick chuckled. Yes, well, a love match and all that is quite a different proposition altogether. “They don’t come along every day,”

“No,” she agreed, and the two sat quietly again. It took her several on those moments before she said, “No… what I would really like is to be a man.”

“I beg your pardon?” For example, if I said to you, that you must spend the next three months suffering unfeeling remarks related to Mari’s wedding what would you say? You would say ‘Hang that’, and get out of it.

Thus, using her sherry glass, Elizabeth pointed at him. “Exactly! “I was able to avoid those events, my dear Kate, because – well, because I’m a man,

“Benedick,” Elizabeth said frankly, raising her head, “the only reason you were able to avoid those events is because you are a male.” Here are the quotes: ‘The rules don’t apply to me, I’m afraid.’ ‘Whyever not?’ ‘Because I am a woman.’ I cannot just stay away from the balls and dinners and teas and dress fittings. Oh, God. Dress fittings. Well to be honest I am going to have to endure all those awful pathetic glances once more… while Mariana is in her wedding gown… in a modiste’s shop.

Oh, God.” She shut her eyes against the picture. And it still does not occur to me why you cannot simply avoid the awful things that happen You said:

I’m just stating that you expect a lot from yourself for…well… a woman who does not have to lose a bit of her reputation over a simple accident.

I promise you, not attending yet more repulsive wedding-related events will not affect the state of the earldom.”

“Let’s drink scotch and smoke a cheroot?”

“Why not?” “You don’t really mean that.”

“Elizabeth, I am quite certain the house is not going to collapse on us if you drink. Even though, probably, you would not like it, and, probably, you would not like it.”

He allowed the tape to remain blank for some few minutes before he proceeded with his speech.

“What else would you want to do?” I remember, she took her time pondering over such question. What if there was no penalty? What would she do?

“I don’t know. I’ve never even let myself consider things like that.”

“Then you do it now.” What would you do to help?”

“As much as I could to help.”

The answer emerged promptly, clearly, almost frightening them both; but they forgotten it in a moment, for once said, it was true, this witness.

That’s why such perople are popular among boys — I don’t want to be impeccably mannered. You’re right. ‘They have been virgin for 28 years – that’s too long,’ another said. She laughed when she found herself uttering the words.

He joined her. “And, so? What would you do?” “I would throw away my lace cap.” “A given, I would hope.” He scoffed at her.

“Come now, Cornella. We have had creativity more than that. None whatsoever and the option of three things one can handle in ones own house? She smiled cupping herself deeper into the chair, the game seeming to have enthused her. “Learn to defend.”

“Well, now you have gotten the idea” He said it in an encouraging fashion. “What else?”

“Attend a duel!”

“Why stop there?” As you found out earlier today, use the fenced skills to fight one,” he said astounding me with the fact that he could be so blunt.

She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think I actually want to hurt anyone.”

“Ah,” he said, getting very straight-faced, “then you have discovered one of the lines which are best not crossed.”

“One of them, it seems. I suppose I should like firing a pistol though. “Not at another person.”

“Many do enjoy that particular activity,” he conceded.

“What else?” Looking up at the ceiling, she did a lot of thinking.

“Learn to ride astride.”

“Really?” She nodded.

“Really. Sidesaddle seems so…missish.” He laughed at her disdain.

“I would—” A flash went through her head and she froze “I would have never thought you are so desperate to get married.” Kiss someone. Well. Of course, she wouldn’t say that to her brother, out loud. ‘I would do everything that is very fundamental to being a man;’

And more,” she said. Then, “I would gamble! In a men’s club!”

“Oh ho! And how would you manage that?” She thought for a moment. “I expect that I should have to disguise myself as a man.”

He looked at her and laughed,

“Finally, mother’s thing is useful; I get Shakespeare’s plays.” She laughed hard when he continued:

“Well, I think that might be where I would draw the line”.

This is something that the Earls of Aragon might have risked to lose at White’s if you merely attempted such a thing.

“Well, I am not going to try that here.” Or do any of those other things, either.”

Did I hear disappointment in her voice?

They were quiet for a time again, with both siblings each going over things in their mind until Benedick raised the glass to his mouth and gulped down the rest of the liquor. He did not drink from it before it was halfway to his lips; instead he put the glass out in front of him, arm outstretched toward his sister in this gesture.

For now such a thought as the crystal tumbler’s handle and Benedick’s invitation to fancy filled Elizabeth’s head as she knew it was not the finger of scotch left in the glass.

She shook her head finally, and the moment passed.

To this Benedick spluttered and said, Benedick threw back the liquid and spoke again. “I am sorry about that,” he said as he stood up from the chair.

“I should be happy to hear of you taking a risk or two, sister.” The comment, muttered thoughtlessly as he rose to go, was heard loud and clear by Elizabeth. She paid scant regard to the bland question that followed,