The Adopted Debutante

Playing the Piano

 "I'm so glad you could come, Jeremy," Eloise smiled. Libby had just left with the empty tray to bring it back to the kitchen.

With a grin, Jeremy nodded as he sat before the piano. 

"May I?"

"Oh, please," Eloise said eagerly. She moved to a closer seat to enjoy his playing. "You do play so beautifully, Jeremy. I don't think I would ever have understood how to play if you hadn't taught me."

"You're too modest, Eloise," Jeremy replied, as his fingers gracefully glided over the keys. "You have an aptitude for music and are a quick learner besides: two essential traits in a pupil." The music swelled as he spoke.

"It's so lovely..." Eloise sighed, resting her head on her arm.

"Not as lovely as you are." Jeremy murmured as he played. Eloise looked up at him.

"Am I really, Jeremy?" She asked. Jeremy paused and looked at her in some surprise, for her tone was not of pleasure but of doubt.

"What do you mean?" He asked in return.

Eloise sighed and looked down. "Everyone says that I am lovely, but...I don't know. Beauty isn't enough for a lady. I have so many things I need to know to be a proper lady. I try. I really do, but it's so difficult to keep everything straight in my mind."

"But that's not your fault, Eloise." Jeremy said comfortingly. "You weren't born into this life. Most wealthy young ladies begin learning at a young age. You've had to learn everything in four years."

"But Libby said that my duties will double once I am yours. I must bring honor to your family, but...I don't know how I can when I know so little..."

"No, Eloise," Jeremy interrupted, shaking his head.

"What if you are ridiculed because of me? Because of my inexperience as a young lady?" Eloise asked anxiously. "Jeremy, I couldn't bear the thought of disgracing you. You've been so good to me."

Jeremy turned and took Eloise' hands into his own. 

"Come now, Eloise, you mustn't think such things. The pending betrothal is weighing on your mind and toying with your thoughts. You're sacrificing present happiness for a possible, bleak future, one you don't even know for certain will be." 

He paused for a moment to let her ponder his words. 

"Don't worry, my love. You are beautiful and kind, and you are the best wife any man could hope for. Besides, if everyone says you're growing more beautiful, it must be because your virtues are growing and enhancing your loveliness. Don't you agree?"

"I...I suppose that could be," Eloise said uncertainly.

Jeremy smiled, "Come, darling, show me a smile in those bright eyes I've grown so fond of."

Eloise could not help but do so. Sadness could never burden her heart for long when Jeremy was around. Since the death of her family when she was fourteen, young Jeremy had been one of the few neighbors with whom she felt at home. He was almost an older brother to her, and the thought that soon she was to be his forever washed away her fears. Whatever dangers the future could hold, Jeremy would certainly know what to do.

"There now, that's the Eloise I love," Jeremy smiled. He gave her hands a slight pressure before releasing them. "I do hope Sir Carroll doesn't object to my melodious discord." 

He laughed as he began to play again.

"He wishes I filled the house with more of mine," Eloise replied as she stood where she could see Jeremy's face. "The preparations have kept me so busy..."

"Come join me, then, darling," Jeremy said, indicating the space on the piano bench, but Eloise had turned towards the window.

"They're returning," She said. Sure enough, the hunters were riding along the path.

"Did they take any game?" Jeremy asked.

"I'm not sure; but they'll show us, no doubt," Eloise replied. She turned to Jeremy again. "Jeremy..."

He looked up when she said his name, and their eyes held.

"I love you," Eloise said.

Jeremy gave a small smile and glanced down at the keys. He seemed to be thinking of something for a strange look passed over his face and it was a moment before he spoke. Then, he raised his eyes to hers.

"I love you, too," he said.

The sound of the opening front door caused them both to look towards the door of the parlor, and by the time Eloise turned back to Jeremy, he was cheerfully playing again and the strange look was gone.

~~~~

Leeds stepped back a pace to let the men through the large oaken door.

"Ahh, what a refreshing chase," Sir Carroll breathed as he entered the manor. "Quite the catch, wasn't it, Peter?"

"Ha! I haven't seen a stag like this for months or cut my throat," Bylious panted with pride, holding the head of the deer. The rest of the carcass was slung over the back of one of the horses.

"Now, that won't be necessary, Peter," Sir Carroll gave him a smiling look. "Mind your surroundings. Flintworth, dear fellow, do you need any assistance?"

Flintworth came riding up the walk. He had Bylious' and Sir Carroll's coats and hats over his knees. 

"Oh no, sir, thank you," he smiled. "I was just enjoying the grounds. You have a beautiful place here."

"Ah, getting tired of my property, eh, Flintworth?" Bylious asked.

"No, I was simply complimenting the landscaping of this particular estate," Flinworth replied, but Bylious, not caring to listen, had already followed Sir Carroll farther into the house. He was eager to show his prize to Jeremy and Eloise.

With a sigh, Flintworth dismounted his steed and gave the reins to the stable boy. He then took the hats and coats off of the saddle and ascended the front steps.

"There you are, Leeds," he said, handing the articles to the butler. "Don't worry, my man, they're still in good condition."

"I didn't doubt that," Leeds answered as he took them. "You look a bit winded," he commented, eyeing the older servant. Flintworth shrugged.

"I'm old," he said with a wry grin. "Old and ugly. Can't ride in the same way I used to. Even the pack horse outstripped me a few times."

"Age is not the point. What you need is a rest, old chap," Leeds said.

"There, there, I'm still good for something," Flintworth replied, patting Leeds' arm. "The Good Lord must think so, else I wouldn't be here."

"The Good Lord is the only one keeping you alive," Leeds said firmly. "If He ever breaks for tea, you'll be snuffed out faster than a candle in the wind."

"Shush, 'mind your surroundings,' " Flintworth cautioned him, then entered the parlor.

The carcass and head of the deer had already been sent into the kitchen to the be cleaned, but Bylious was entertaining Jeremy and Eloise by his dramatic retelling of the chase.

"Ho, a hard one to catch, he was," the man finished. "Had I not emptied both barrels into his belly, he would've jumped the lake and got clean away. Carroll's horses are nervous nillies around water, I gather."

"I'm certainly glad I wasn't the stag," Jeremy laughed. "Two rifle barrels seems a bit much in one animal's stomach."

"In hunting, you do what needs to be done and take no quarter," Bylious returned. "Unless all you want's a mouse, and even the traps set for 'em are devilishly fierce."

"Then I'm glad I'm not a mouse either," Jeremy smiled.

Bylious gave a grunting laugh, as if he felt the description of "a mouse" might fit Jeremy more than the young man would like. However, he said nothing more to Jeremy, and turned to Eloise.

"I'm afraid I bore you with my 'manly' doings," he said.

"Oh no, Mr. Bylious, I do find them fascinating."

"She's heard a tale or two of my own 'manly doings,' Peter," Said Sir Carroll, returning from the kitchen. Bylious turned and hailed him as he entered.

"Ha! Now if there's a man whose courage and manliness matches my own, it's Sir Fitzwilliam Carroll. I defy any man to outmatch us, eh, Carroll?"

"And you'll get quite a few of them, too," Sir Carroll replied, sitting down. "Any good man in the world has a stripe of strength and courage in him somewhere."

"Just look at Master Delend," Flintworth offered with a smile.

Jeremy smiled at him gratefully. Bylious didn't answer, but merely laughed and sat himself down. In the conversation that followed between Eloise and Sir Carroll regarding the size and weight of the deer, Bylious proceeded to glance now and again at Jeremy and end each glance with a chuckle. From his seat on the piano bench, Jeremy tried not to notice, but it cut him hard. He knew Bylious thought he was a weakling.