London's New season has begun in earnest, and This Author cannot imagine the drama, gossips and scandals that will unveil. Frustrating mamas, unyielding bachelors and of course newly minted debutantes out on display. Families to be united....
On the subject of family....
The Harringtons as everyone knows are by far the most prolific and chaotic family in the society. One has to commend the dowager viscountess as This Author cannot imagine how she manage her household of ten children although two are married. Amelia, Nicholas, Benedict, Catherine, Dorian, Elliot, Felicity, George, Hazel and lastly feisty Iris. The infamous Harrington siblings named in alphabetical order.
For those new in town, Viscount Nicholas is named after his grandfather as a sign of love and respect. Fear not....the viscount is loved and respected by his family.
This Author however has one question in mind...will 1812 be the year Viscount Nicholas succumb to the clutches of his Mama and gets married.
LADY RAVENSCROFT'S SOCIETY PAPERS, 20 APRIL 1812
"Lady Ravenscroft is here!" A mail boy screamed across the street as the carriage conveying the Beaumont family pass by.
"Lady Ravenscroft?" Helena Beaumont asked her mother in confusion.
Helena had left the Ton five years ago for the countryside. The death of her father about a year prior was the only reason why she choose to come back.
She had choose to go away from the Ton and its gossip when she was but seven and ten. Her debut had to be delayed for five years by her father due to unforseen circumstances.She had no idea who Ravenscroft was.
"She is the gossip sheet in town. She always have a new gossip for the Ton every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays" Lady Beaumont explained to her daughter as the carriage came to a stop at the Beaumont house.
Helena could not help but stare at the service boys running around the street with the paper sheet in hands, people scrambling around just to get their hands on the sheet.
"What makes the woman so special that everyone buys her paper?" Helena asked in confusion as she makes herself comfortable in the house. Her younger sister, Hiliary enters the room with a big smile on her face as she gives her a hug before taking a seat.
"What is the topic of discussion?" Hiliary asked as she take a bite of her biscuit.
"Lady Ravenscroft"
Hiliary looked up from her plate with a devious smile. She knew Helena loved mystery and Lady Ravenscroft is one. "She is the infamous mysterious newspaper that arrived on the doorway of every member of the Ton about two years earlier and has since taken the Ton by storm." She said while offering her biscuits to her.
Helena stare at her younger sister before collecting the biscuits she offered her. "And dare I ask, what makes her so special?"
Lady Beaumont crossed her arms. "What sets her apart from every other society news is that she lists her subject's name in full."
Helena looked up in surprise. "In full?"
"She does not abbreviate any of her subject's name, she reveal their names and insults them to a point of destruction not to mention that she is anonymous, people have a love and hate relationship with her." Hiliary explained.
Helena snatch up one of the sheets reading through it curious to see whatever Lady Ravenscroft is up to. "How has she manage to stay hidden?"
Lady Beaumont set down the embroidery in her hand and reach for the paper on her hand while glancing through it. "No one knows how but she cannot keep a secret this huge for long. At least our names is not in it today"
"Was it before?"
Hiliary let out a snort as she set down her plate."She likened my dress to that of a fruit."
"Pardon me for not listening to the shop girl" Lady Beaumont said with a sigh.
"At least it is better than what she said about Lady Halloway's daughters" Hiliary said.
Helena could not help but ask, "What did she say?"
"Something along the lines of their dresses are a crime against good taste and ohh...she chose for her daughters to wear her curtains again." Hiliary said with a big smile.
"That woman ought to take the advice of shop girls whenever she goes to the modiste, any one with eyes knows that Lucia would look more beautiful in blue or perhaps green."
"You did not listen when we went for a soirée yesterday" Hiliary commented.
"And for that, I apologize" Lady Beaumont muttered.
Ann Beaumont stood up and sit beside her oldest daughter and Helena knew what was about to follow. "Lord Harrington seems like a fine choice for you."
"No." Helena said slowly.
"He is a Viscount!".
Helena had given up the hope of getting married long before she became a debutante, she can never succumb herself to the pain her mother had to endure in her marriage. She would rather live her life as a spinster rather than being tied up in a marriage to a useless man.
"He is a wonderful gentleman, I met him with his mother the other day. He is such a a sweet fellow." Lady Beaumont said with a sweet smile.
"I am sure he is no different from other gentlemen who pretend to be the sweetest fellow when they are in fact evil themselves." She said.
"Helena..."
"Mother, I only agreed to come home because it has been a long time. Father hated the idea of me getting married and as much as I hate to agree with him on things, I hate it as well. I am very much content with being alone and I hope you will respect that."
"Can I ask you for just one thing?" She asked while staring at her, the room filled with silence. "When a gentleman comes along and he is everything that your father was not, please do not send him away."
"I will try" that was Helena only answer.
"Lady Morribel's ball is tonight, do not forget. You can wear your blue dress" she said as she head out from the room.
"She is only looking out for you" Hiliary said after a while. The biscuits long gone.
"I know and I appreciate it but you should have been with me when I was away. It was very much more enjoyable than a season here."
Hiliary raise her brows at her. "And what did you do?"
"The question ought to be what did I not do. I ride, I shoot, I paint and planted a lot of flowers that suited my taste" Helena explained.
"Father will be rolling in his grave." Hiliary said with a smile.
"And that just makes me much more happy."
"Well you might end up finding this season much more enjoyable" Hiliary commented.
Well with Lady Ravenscroft around, London's New season is about to be much more interesting...
Meanwhile about five and ten blocks away from the Beaumont 's home, the house of the Harringtons is filled with chaos left and right.
"She has written about us again?" Lady Harrington reveal as she make her way into Nicholas study holding Lady Ravenscroft gossip sheet..
Nicholas Harrington leaned back in his chair, the document in hand long forgotten due to his mother and younger brother presence.
"And what did she have to say?"
"She said you are loved and respected" His mother said with a smile on her face.
"I sure hope so."
"And she thinks you might get married" Lady Harrington said with a smile.
"I hope to do so as well," Nicholas said as he drops the document in his hand on the table. "As soon as I find the right woman."
"You won't find one if you do not look which is why you will accompany me to tonight's ball" she said.
"It is Lady Morribel's ball!!!" Benedict said in panic.
If Lady Morribel realize for a moment that Nicholas has finally decided to get married, he will know no peace.
"Lady Morribel's ball is the perfect place for him to find a right woman" Lady Harrington countered while glaring at Benedict.
Nicholas sighed, anything that makes his mother happy. "Fine."
"What!!!" Benedict yelled.
Lady Harrington immediately smiled. "I shall draw up a list of the ladies attending Lady Morribel's ball for a fine match." She said before leaving him and Benedict alone.
"Did no one hear me?" Benedict asked in confusion.
Nicholas heave a sigh. He loved his mother, he truly loved her but the idea of marriage was not yet on his list. Not that he does not want to marry, he simply has not found the right person.
Benedict let out a chuckle seeing his expression, "You do realize that you are going to have to dance with almost every eligible ladies tonight."
The statement force a groan out of him.
Benedict grab the wine in front of him to drink, "Explain what exactly you wish for in a woman and I might just know the right person for you."
"And what makes you think you can know such person?"
Benedict place a hand on his chest feigning betrayal. "I am more outgoing than you are and have talked with much more ladies than you have."
"Rephrase that with saying you are a Rake."
Benedict chuckles as he down his drink, "I am listening."
Nicholas had spent the last decade devoting his time to his family, refining the family business and is well known as a man of honor. He rarely consult with women of the Ton. Since he had returned home from Cambridge, he had stopped sleeping around. He had always hoped to marry like his father had. Someone with which he would fall in love with. Or perhaps someone with a challenge.
Sometimes, he thought, why did he stop but honestly he couldn't sleep with women he feels nothing towards.
He enjoyed life though, he'd ridden in nearly every horse race, he'd visited or rather been dragged by Benedict to the gentleman's club. He had spent his early and mid twenties drinking and wining with friends experiencing all that there is to life.
Although Philip Harrington's death was sudden and unexpected; Nicholas tried his best to fill the shoes he left behind especially towards his baby sister Iris who never met him. His mother and other siblings were also very much cared for with the same affection that Philip had shown.
He had accompanied Elliot and George to Eton personally as well as Dorian to Oxford, and had gone to wild number of recitals given to his sisters (all of which almost rendered him deaf). He made sure that despite having eight younger siblings and one older sister, there is enough money to secure their futures.
As he is growing older, Nicholas realize that having a new Lady Harrington around is inevitable, now is the time for marriage even though he has not met the right person. He had to be realistic in knowing that his parents were very lucky for theirs to be a love match—many of the marriages in the Ton were not love matches. He needed to settle down, have a son and pass his title. Perhaps he might be lucky enough to fall in love with the lady after marriage.
Nicholas is not asking for much.
"Firstly and most importantly," he could not believe he is saying this. "She cannot be stupid."
"A wise choice to be honest" Benedict commented.
"Someone who at least understands the basic principle of what being a Viscountess means" he explained.
"As much as I love your choice, that will be such a hard thing to do" Benedict said as he pour himself another glass of wine.
"Why?."
"Have you met the ladies in London?" Benedict asked with his brows raised.
"Sure, you might be lucky enough to find a lady who is not stupid but one who knows what being a Viscountess means..... I find that hard to believe no offense" Benedict explained.
Nicholas sighed as he pour himself a drink. "I might be lucky. Perhaps someone new in town."
"Well, that is only if there are new ladies in town. Most ladies or perhaps all that I have conversed with are more into their dance lessons and simply do not understand how to take care of a house." Benedict said.
"You simply have not looked well enough." Nicholas said as he focus his attention back on the document at hand. "I want someone with whom I can relish a challenge. Someone who will tickle my fantasy."
"I wish you good luck then my dear brother because you are going to need it." He said before leaving.
Luck...
Nicholas certainly could use a little bit of it now....or perhaps Lady Morribel might have someone in mind for him like she always do.