Everlasting | 18 | An Arranged Marriage

The Clare estate was all in an uproar over the next few weeks making the everything as glorious as possible for the ball that was to be held within a fortnight. Everything was absolute chaos but...it was a happy chaos.

The maids couldn't have been more ecstatic performing their daily duties alongside the multitudes of tasks for the ball. Many mended tablecloths, the gardener and his assistants planned out lovely bouquets of the Claire's most colorful and beautiful flowers, the floors were scrubbed clean down to the last particle of dust and garland and ribbons were strung all about the ballroom and the other parts of their home.

The invitations had been painstakingly inscribed on the best stationary possible and then issued to their respective families. Elizabeth sat back in exhaustion before glancing about her morning room and smiling.

“I wouldn't smile just yet, m'lady. You have quite a few more invitations to inscribe,” came Caroline's voice from just across her on the chaise, sealing the invitations with the family crest.

After a great dramatic sigh and a chuckle from her maid, Elizabeth pursed her lips and quickly got back to work. She knew she would hear from Ruby any time now considering her friend had devoted all her services to helping Elizabeth with the ball to be hosted so soon.

Elizabeth also thought about the chance of her mother appearing to help and stopped to think about Lady Camden's reaction to her new lifestyle. Elizabeth knew the chances of her mother coming to help were slim to none. The only night she would really see the woman was the night of the ball to be. And on that particular night, Elizabeth planned to be the perfect wife of the perfect man. And her mother would have no critiques.

The young girl smiled and moved to her next invitation, scrolling lightly atop the paper so as to make no mistakes.

“ELIZABETH ANNE!” came the happy and excited sing-songy voice from the now swinging door to her morning room. Elizabeth looked up from her escritoire and gave her friend a very distinct look. She glanced over to Caroline, unfazed by the intrusion, and then to the poor Miss Lucas in the corner, alphabetizing the invitations, looking like Ruby had scared the life from her poor body.

“Sorry, Liz,” her friend apologized, gliding over to where she sat writing.

Ruby found a seat on the soft velvet cushion in the bay window overlooking the gardens and cleared her throat to gather the three other women's attention. Pursing her lips and turning around, Elizabeth rested her hands atop each other on the back of her chair, awaiting her friend's urgent news. Or whatever it was the girl wanted to share.

Ruby took in a deep breath and, grinning, pointedly held out her hand for them to see. Gasps filled the room and soon so did happy laughter and questions of all sorts.

“When did he propose? Where did he do it? Just now? In the gardens?”

Questions flew from all over the place, coming from an excited Elizabeth and even from Caroline who had known the girl for just as long.

“Oh, my darling! You're getting married! Oh, what a day! Praise the gods above, Ruby Whitmore has finally found someone that's willing to put up with her for the rest of his life,” Caroline declared, her hand over her heart. The young maid's eyes went wide at this proclamation and then wider still at Lady Whitmore's laughter. Never had she heard another maid be so frank and rude and not get punished.

Their happy exclamations lasted a few more minutes before they finally settled down, not one of their faces any less ecstatic than when the news was first announced. Or rather...shown off.

Ruby took her seat on the chaise as Caroline sat next to her and Elizabeth sat on the floor in front of her friend, still admiring the ring. “Oh, Ruby! This is magnificent! I never imagined! Well, I had a thought that he would propose at some point but...now? This is so very exciting!”

Ruby just laughed happily and continued to answer the ladies' questions before a chuckle came from the doorway. The women all looked at the same time to find Christian leaning against the doorframe, his hands in his pockets, grinning at the three girls.

“So, I hear congratulations are in order?” he said, pushing himself from the frame. Ruby frowned and nodded before asking him how he had found out. Christian just grinned and replied, “News like that travels quickly around a house with servants who can't seem to hold their tongues.”

Ruby stood excitedly as he neared the women and she thrust her newly jeweled hand out at him.

“Ruby! Dear! Propriety should at least be a thought in front of a man of stature that you don't know.”

“Oh, please, Caroline. Dear Christian here is my best friend's husband. He should get used to the way I do things...”

Caroline's eyes were wider than saucers as her hand flew over her heart. A wary gaze shot over to her master standing beside his wife, still sitting on the floor looking up at him. He smiled and took Miss Whitmore's hand in his, admiring the large stone set upon her finger.

“I do believe, Miss Whitmore, that your husband will be the type to spoil his wife absolutely senseless,” he said, grinning. Christian placed his other hand atop hers and continued. “But in all seriousness, Miss Whitmore, you are truly blessed to have found someone who loves you just as much as you love him.”

He glanced down at his wife, sitting by his foot and grinned, offering his hand to help her up. Kissing Elizabeth on her forehead, he pulled her close and looked again to Ruby standing before them. “I hope you find as much happiness in your marriage as I have found in mine.”

Ruby beamed at the couple and clapped her hands together, looking to Elizabeth's smiling face. “Thank you soo much, Your Majesty,” she said, playfully. “I would be happy with only half as much love as the two of you found in each other. Oh, I knew from the beginning the two of you would make a perfect match!”

Having stirred from her shock, Caroline chuckled and rolled her eyes but said nothing more. The room fell to a comfortable silence as Ruby gazed at her ring, Caroline continued sealing invitations and Elizabeth held on to her husband.

After a few moments though, Christian cleared his throat and gathered everyone's attention once again.

“I fear I have a confession to make. I didn't come here solely to congratulate Miss Whitmore. My friends have asked if they can help with decorations, arrangements, anything you need for the ball. I have a strong feeling poor Mariela and Sarah are bored out of their minds and the men...well, they're just probably looking for an excuse to get out of their mother-in-laws clutches.”

Elizabeth's eyes lit up at the mention of her two newest friends, whom she had corresponded with since the very day of their departure from the Clare estate. Turning to Ruby, she took the girls hands in hers and said, “Oh, Ruby! How dearly I want you to meet them! Sarah and Mariela are such wonderful girls. They were so nice to me when I first met them. You'll love them. Please say you'll meet them?”

Ruby laughed and shook her head. “Of course I'll meet them. When do they arrive?”

The women looked at Christian before he chuckled and told them the women and their husbands would be there within the next week.

“Oh my. I have to find Andrew and tell him the news. Not to mention, I'm sure he's wondering where I got off to after he'd just proposed,” Ruby giggled, gliding out of Elizabeth's morning room.

“Oh, my dear. There will never be another dull moment in this house ever again.”

Elizabeth smiled and stood on her toes to kiss him. “No. I don't think there ever will be,” she whispered.