Westminster 1822

White Letters

Elton marched up to his brother’s room. He heard Amelia hurl insults and nearly walked back down the stairs, but she yanked the door open and stormed out.

‘Move!’ she shoved Elton aside.

Liam pulled himself a full glass of whiskey and drowned half of it. Elton closed the door behind him.

‘I’ve done it this time brother,’ he winced as the rest of the drink slid down his throat.

‘Who did she catch you with?’ Elton poured himself a healthy glass.

‘It isn’t that, might have been better if it were that.’ Liam ran a hand through his hair.

Elton lifted a shoulder, ‘What then?’

Liam groaned. ‘Ugh, she’s pregnant for goodness’ sake.’

Elton set his glass down and patted him on the back, forgetting he came to grill him and burst into joy.

‘Look at that you’re going to be a father! Have you told mother?’

‘What good is it when I have no title to offer my son? My wealth is dwindling, I have no mansion of my own, no business and no political power.’ He spat.

Elton’s brows burrowed, ‘A title doesn’t matter, Liam. I don’t have a mansion of my own nor a business and I’m fine.’

‘Says the man with a title and in line for a dukedom.’ Liam rolled his eyes.

Elton stopped his glass mid-air. ‘No, I’m not.’

‘The England gossip mill is convinced you are.’ Liam sulked.

‘Join the navy or the army or you can contact some of father’s friend they might give you a boost into politics.’

Liam shot him daggers with his eyes. While Elton sat with the King, inherited Westminster with his new bride and another title and a seat in the House of Lords a huge thank you to the Marquess of Westminster. He had tried all roots to the plush seats. Then his mind wandered to Ella, could she really convince her father to hand over his seat to him? He didn’t think his brother would give up the seat. Before their father died, he had given up his seat to his brother, knowing the arrangement he had with Oscar would aid Elton.

He left Liam out in the cold. Perhaps, giving Lucia her first grandchild would put him back in her good graces.

‘Anyway, why did you send Emily flowers?’ He cleared his throat.

Liam looked up and laughed, ‘Don’t worry brother I’m not interested in your woman I was only doing you a favour.’

‘Are you sure you didn’t take it upon yourself to speak to Ella? I don’t need to remind you she’s engaged to Harris.’

Liam groaned, ‘Oh no. Poor chap, he has it worse than me. The only son and his father goes and disgraces the whole family including their ancestors. Hm, he needs the marriage to Ella.’

Elton rubbed his forehead, ‘Stay away from the gossip mill Liam and from Ella.’

Elton walked out of the room leaving Liam to drown the rest of the whiskey.

***

The morning before the wedding a carriage dashed into Westminster before any of the residents were awake. The footman hurried to the door with a small white envelope and handed it to the butler.

The butler gave the letter to Furlong who read it in Agrona’s presence.

‘Goodness, what does it say?’ Agrona rubbed her hands.

Furlong scanned the letter from start to finish. Her hand went to her mouth. The blood drained from her face.

‘Madam, what it is?’

‘Lord Harris, it says he’s deathly ill.’

Agrona gasped and made the sign of the cross.

‘The wedding isn’t happening tomorrow, Agrona. We must wake Ella.’

The women rushed up the stairs, Agrona stopped by Emily’s room to drag her out of bed.

‘Hurry dear, it’s important news.’

By the time Agrona and a sleepy Emily caught up with Furlong, she had opened the curtains in Ella’s room and pulled off the blankets from Ella’s bed.

‘What’s going on Agrona?’ Emily whispered.

‘It better be good enough for you to be waking me up so early.’ Ella murmured. Her golden curls were perfectly intact, her lips though unpainted were a vibrant pink. She sat up in her baby pink satin gown, waiting answers.

‘We’ve received some serious news from the Kelly Family…’ Furlong turned to Agrona and Emily before returning to an irritated Ella.

‘Ella… Harris is gravely ill… so much that the wedding has to be postponed.’

Ella yawned, ‘Is that really what you dared to wake me for?’

Furlong’s eyes turned to saucers.

‘Ella! Harris’ sick, didn’t you hear what she just told you?’

Ella dipped her head to scrutinize the glimmer on Emily’s finger.

‘What’s on your hand?’

Emily threw her hand behind her back. ‘This isn’t about me. Harris isn’t well.’

Ella rolled her eyes.

‘We have much to do. We have many guests to tell not to arrive at Westminster tomorrow morning.’ Furlong regained her composure.

Ella slid back under her covers and tossed them over her head. Furlong balled her hands into fists. Emily turned and tiptoed back to her room. She smiled at her engagement ring, no one had ever given her such an expensive gift before.

Emily couldn’t shake the goosebumps that came afterward. Harris hadn’t been well a couple days prior when he was at the castle. Ella appeared concerned in front of everyone at the table, though now she didn’t care. Ella was getting her wish if only for a postponement, that didn’t mean she could have Elton.

They had gone far since the time they met at a disastrous lunch. With Ella the threat of losing him was large and too close to her. Emily chased thoughts that made her sweat out of her head. Ella was many things, but she couldn’t, she wouldn’t.

Emily stared at the rock bestowed on her finger by the love of her life. How far would Ella go to get what she wanted? Emily thought Ella was just a roaring lion behind a cage. The problem was not she could not do damage behind a cage, but that she was a lion.

‘My goodness.’