Cecelia

By Sandy Grissom

Two young ladies are invited to Farthingale to stand up with Elisabeth at her wedding. Two young men, estate owners arrive about the same time. One lady is fun loving. The other is beautiful. So both men gravitate to the lovely girl. Will one of the gentlemen see the inner worth of the other girl? Will the pretty girl think the man she cares for only sees her looks and not what is inside? One man has a secret he has not made terms with yet? Will any of them get past their hang ups to make a solid relationship?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandy Grissom
• Release date: Oct 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005381523

Sandy Grissom

Sandy Grissom has loved books all her life. That love began by listening to her older sister read when she was still too young to discover the magic for herself. She's read everything from history to the phone book but her favorite authors are James Michener, Agatha Christie and the mystic William Blake. Over the years, romantic novels became a favorite. The top of that list is Pride and Prejudice. When she retired she had too much time on her hands and spent too much money and trips to the library to get books in order to satisfy her restless soul. It was then she began to write herself. As an adult she held a variety of jobs, all of them grist for her imaginative mind. The occupations in Choppy Waters will hopefully inspire someone to fight for their own dreams, to never give up on themselves or on love. A widow, Sandy recently moved to southern Indiana where she lives near the younger of her two beloved sisters.

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CECELIA

by

Sandy Grissom

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Smashwords Edition Copyright 2020 by S.K.G. Haag

Cover image by: Greg Montari via Pixabay.com

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Sandy Grissom has loved books all her life. That love began by listening to her older sister read when she was still too young to discover the magic for herself. She’s read everything from history to the phone book but her favorite authors are James Michener, Agatha Christie and the mystic William Blake.

Over the years, romantic novels became a favorite. The top of that list is Pride and Prejudice. When she retired she had too much time on her hands and spent too much money and trips to the library to get books in order to satisfy her restless soul. It was then she began to write herself.

As an adult she held a variety of jobs, all of them grist for her imaginative mind. The places she’s lived also feed into her stories, namely Colorado and the desert of eastern Washington State. Her heart, though she wasn’t born there, grabbed onto and lives in the west, Nebraska, Wyoming and most especially Texas.

A widow, Sandy lives in southern Indiana near the younger of her two beloved sisters.

CECELIA

Chapter One

Farthingale was abuzz with excitement. Two weddings would be coming up in short order. Katherine, Lady Farthingale, was the most excited. She loved weddings for they were the culmination of a love match. She was a little proud that she had a small part in helping along the two matches. Her husband, Wain to his friends, showed tender amusement toward his wife. The couple had been married just two years. Yet his wife had engineered a number of marriages during that time.

His best friend, Ian, had been married to Amy Smithers almost as long as Katy and Wain. Since then James Lister married Emily Worthington. John & Margaret (Wellington) Lewis married. Amelia Thomas and Robert Ellington just lately married. That couple were both widowed and found love again. Now George Lister and Elisabeth Thomas were busy planning their wedding. As were Evan Drayton and Anne Marks. All these couples met at Farthingale, cleverly matched up by Lady Katherine.

He could only wonder how many more couples she might set up. The running joke between them was that she would run out of young people to introduce. When that happened she would be forced to find a husband for Caroline Smithers. The lady in question could not seem to hold a man’s attention. Firstly, she spoke with a nasal quality that was off-putting. She seemed not to be aware of it and so did not try to alter the sound. Secondly, she only sought men with a great deal of money.

She seemed to think herself worthy of a lord or duke. Yet her father was a gentleman only. It was her pride that did her in. For any men of the status she sought were the least likely ones to offer for her. Wain did not look forward to the possibility that his wife would take the woman under her wing. It would be grating on his nerves to have her in house at Farthingale for any length of time. For the present and to his great relief, Katy’s mind was on the two upcoming weddings.

The first was a good friend of Katy’s, Anne Marks to Evan Drayton. Anne, like Wain’s Katy, came from Belgium. Katy knew her there and invited her for a visit to Farthingale Park. She came and fell in love with Evan. He then came into possession of Kensington Park, left to him by his great uncle. Evan and Wain were dear friends having known one another from boyhood. He was quite pleased to have Evan living less than two hours away by carriage. Katy was no less pleased to have Anne near.

Anne’s parents made a short visit to meet her intended right after the engagement was announced. They would be returning a fortnight before the wedding. Anne’s mother was not surprised to hear her twenty year old daughter had accepted a man’s proposal. She was surprised to learn it was for love. She thought Anne might have accepted someone out of desperation that she would never marry. She was relieved to receive a missive from Anne that declared her love for Mr. Drayton.

Her father was less sure of the match. Thus the visit. He had to assure himself of his daughter’s happiness. That she would be well taken care of and he hoped loved. He worried because Anne would live so far from family. He expressed surprise when he arrived at Kensington and met Evan. For he truly was a gentleman. Then pleasure to find his daughter’s intended was a man of means. Before the week was out, he discovered affection between the young couple. He would miss Anne but he promised himself that he and his wife would visit as often as they could. His sons were proving to be a men who could manage his businesses well. Time away would become less of an issue as the young men matured even more.

While he sorted that out, his wife was busy offering advice about the wedding service and party to follow. She spent that time with Anne and Lady Farthingale. The wedding and reception would be held at Farthingale Park so the couple could slip away to Kensington for their wedding night. Her parents would spend the night at Farthingale and return to Kensington a day or two later.

Evan’s father and brother had planned a short trip like the Marks but business intervened. Evan’s younger brother, Walton, would now be heir to Drayton Park. He would need more intensive training than was previously given him. They had thought Evan would inherit but surprisingly he inherited Kensington Park. Important business demanded neither man leave their estate early on. It seemed best then to arrive a month before the wedding and return home a few days afterward. They, too, were offered lodging at Farthingale Park after the ceremony. Evan’s letters did apprise them a great deal about Anne and expressed his love for her. That served to mollify his father to some extent. For the romance had progressed faster than Evan’s father might have guessed.

Both sets of parents had now arrived and were in house at Kensington Park. Anne was then allowed to lodge there. She could not have done so without others in house to ensure there be no compromising of the couple. Some gossipy persons would love to spread word should Anne be left alone in the house with Evan. No matter that his grandmother and thirty or so servants were in house. Not that she was his grandmother directly but related and Evan took a liking to her and decided to treat her as his grandmother. His own grandparents having gone to their reward.

It was important Anne be in house. It allowed her to give instructions to the housekeeper on how she wanted the manor house to operate. Every lady had her own desire of how she wanted things managed. Anne had been going back and forth between there and Farthingale the past weeks. On each occasion she had to ask another lady to go with her. Now with both sets of their parents in house, a trip was no longer necessary.

She first thought to have the wedding at Kensington. The ladies looked over the house for Farthingale had also been offered for the wedding site. Katherine subtly suggested to Anne that she and Evan might feel more comfortable with a day or two alone after the service. She spoke of her own wedding at Farthingale to explain.

The morning after we still had company in house. It felt strange coming downstairs to breakfast after a night of intimacy. I was so relieved to find only my parents at breakfast. By the time the others in house came down, for most of them slept in after the reception that went long into the night, I was about my duties as mistress of the house. I forgot to be conscious of how I might be perceived.

I had not thought…, Anne began but couldn’t finish the thought.

No one looked at me or Wain oddly because we then knew the ways of a man and woman. It was my imagination only that they might. I dare say I believe most new brides feel the same initially.

Yes, I see your meaning. We could hardly send guests away so late at night.

Neighbors who live nearby will likely travel home after the dancing and supper. Yet those coming from a distance will expect to stay overnight at least.

My parents may wish to start for home the next day. Evan’s father and brother might as well.

They are most welcome to move across to Farthingale a day or so before the ceremony and stay however long suits them afterward.

I feel I am asking too much of you, Katherine.

You are not. I love company anytime. For a happy wedding, it is even better. Wain will enjoy renewing his acquaintance with your intended’s father and he has not met Evan’s brother. I will certainly take pleasure in visiting with your dear mother again.

You are too kind. I accept your offer with pleasure. It will be much easier on the staff at Kensington. Evan tells me they have not had guests in house for some time. Our parents may be enough for the present. Had I thrust a wedding on them with such short notice, they might have been overwhelmed.

That conversation took place early on while Anne was still in house at Farthingale.

So then it is settled. When your parents or Evan’s arrive, you may travel to Kensington to take up your duties more fully. Evan’s grandmother will be happy to relinquish the position to you. She is so pleased that you and Evan made a match. She cares for you immensely.

She is a dear lady, Anne replied.

You should return here a day or so before your wedding day. Your dress can be left here in case it should alterations and require it go to the dressmakers.

Anne nodded that she agreed.

Anne’s mother had already posted her wedding dress over for Anne wanted to wear it. Her other sisters had worn it and it was her desire, too. It would need some altering. She did not know if the changes would be major or minor ones since she had not tried it on yet. Katherine had apprised the dressmaker in town about the possibility.

I am more slender than my sisters. I expect some adjustment will be needed. It’s a beautiful dress, Katherine. I have always wanted to wear it. I do fear it will be sadly out of date for another generation. Perhaps even for me.

The seamstress in town does fine work. She can surely update some parts of it if she finds it necessary. There are times, though, when a traditional dress carries the day very well.

I hope that is the case. I would not wish to disappoint my mother. She wants me to wear it as badly as I want it. Let us go up and look it over.

Katherine nodded.

Anne spoke again before they left the drawing room.

Perhaps we might leave for Kensington partway through the party, she asked.

Like Katherine when she first came to England, she was not certain if protocol was the same here as it was in Belgium.

A splendid idea. Such events do tend to go overlong. You will want to take time to move among the people to thank them for coming, have the meal and then a dance or two. After those proper things are done, there is no need for you to tarry too much longer.

Evan rode across to Farthingale nearly every day when Anne wasn’t at Kensington. He wanted to see his bride-to-be as often as he could. At times Wain rode across to Kensington in order to keep him home. The man needed to see to the work of the estate but his mind was ever on Anne. Wain happily kept him busy for it was important he make a right impression as master of an estate. Running off every day could give the wrong impression to the workers.

A few people did wonder that the wedding was set so soon. They feared the young couple was rushing things. Katherine told whomever hinted at it that they wished to be wed before Christmas. That it was foolish for Anne to go home to the Continent and not be able to return until spring, perhaps. A mistress was needed at Kensington and she could hardly give orders from Belgium. In addition, it would prove to be a hardship on both sets of parents to make so many trips so close together. All that put paid to the gossip mongers.

All was now set and in place. They only had to wait for the day to arrive.

Chapter Two

The second wedding would not be upon them for a while. George Lister, James’ brother on Collingwood, had become smitten with Miss Elisabeth Thomas. George lived at Brookline Park with his father and mother. James had as well before his marriage to Emily Worthington. Elisabeth was the sister of both the vicar serving Farthingale and the master of Bremerton Park.

George’s father was very traditional. He insisted they not marry for six months. He believed they needed a courtship period. George finally agreed if the count start from the day he met Elisabeth. His father gave in to the demand after some persuasion from his wife. George’s mother felt it was a good compromise since George wanted the wedding