Love at First Glance (2 page)

           
“The ball will take place next Thursday at seven p.m. sharp. I’ve made arrangements with a new local dress maker in London for all of you to have a fitting on some of the finest dresses that are just in.”

           
Lillian watched as her sister’s faces lit up. They were always excited to shop and spent a lot of their time in the presence of other socialites. It was something that Lillian could absolutely care less about.

           
All she wanted was a world of peace and quiet, away from all of the stuffy social norms that her mother and father constantly preached and enforced. She didn’t believe that life should be so rigid. She wanted a more relaxed way of life. She wanted a bit more freedom to think and feel what she pleased without it being in question because of what society dictated.

           
Lillian finished her tea. “Well if that’s all, Mother, I had a few more things to tend to in the garden.”

           
Charlotte dismissed her daughter. Once she exited the room, she let out a deep sigh. It was as if she could breathe again. Once outside, she let her strawberry blonde hair down and ran back to the garden, the one place she was at peace. The last thing she wanted to do was dress up and be paraded around by her mother for the sake of setting her up with an eligible bachelor.

           
“Lily!”

           
A smile came across Lillian’s face. She was overjoyed to hear the voice of her brother, Victor.

           
“Over here, darling,” she called out. Lillian wiped her hands and put down her pruning shears as she watched her brother approach.

           
Victor took his sister by the hand and kissed her on both cheeks. “You look absolutely ravishing.”

           
“Victor, seriously, I’m dressed in old rags out here in the garden. I’m far from ravishing.”

           
Victor shook his head. “I wish you could see what I see, Lily,” he said as he gently touched her chin.

           
Lillian suddenly felt squeamish as she looked her brother in the eyes. She hated when people pointed out how beautiful she was. She always felt so plain compared to her sisters. They were tall, blonde, and blue eyed. She was moderate height, strawberry blonde mousy hair, and brown eyed. Her father said that she looked exactly like he remembered his grandmother. But that never made Lillian feel any better. It just made her feel like more of an outcast. Even Victor had blonde hair, blue eyes, and boyish good looks.

           
“Mother said that you’d come outside to the garden and I wanted to check on you.”

           
Lillian went back to pruning her flowers. “Yes, you know that I love it out here. Are you going to be at this God awful society ball that Mother has scheduled?”

           
“I will,” Victor said calmly. Lillian stole a glance at him.

           
“Are you serious, Brother?”

           
Victor folded his arms while he watched Lillian clip a few roses. “Lily, you are the only one that doesn’t like to deal with society. When Mother throws a ball, I get a chance to rub elbows with other men and discuss politics and religion. It’s a great opportunity for me to follow in Father’s footsteps. After all, I will one day be the Earl of
Lanchester
myself. It’s important for me to know everything that he knows.”

           
Lillian nodded. Victor was right about that. Besides, he deserved to socialize with other men since all he had was sisters.

           
“I do understand. I just hate feeling like I’m on display is all.”

           
Victor gave his sister a light pat on the back. “It’s not that bad. Mother and Father know what’s best for all of us. But don’t take this ball so seriously. Go and have fun. You may not meet the man you are going to marry there, but you are sure to meet someone worth keeping company with. Just relax.”

           
Lillian took a deep breath. “Brother, you are absolutely correct. I will do just that. I will not take the ball or myself so seriously. I’ll try my best to have fun.”

           
“Good,” Victor said with a smile. “Because with a determined mother like ours, you won’t get out of going, so you may as well prepare yourself.”

           
Lillian kissed her brother on the cheek. “Thank you for the uplifting conversation, Victor. I think you may be on to something.”

           
Victor excused himself from the garden and Lillian took a seat on the wrought iron bench nearby.
 

           
Her brother was right. All she had to do was remain calm and enjoy a few dances with a beau and the night would be over with before she knew it.

           
The problem was that her mother was relentless and if it looked like she wasn’t going to gain a suitor, she may kick the matchmaking into overdrive and surely no one would benefit from that, besides one Charlotte Willington.

Chapter 2

           
“Do you know of Richard
Smythe
?” Kate asked.

           
Lillian served the ball back across the court. Kate, Olivia, and Lillian had convinced their father to have a tennis court built. They enjoyed playing often. It was one of the only times all of the girls would get together and have a good time.

           
Olivia sat on the side of the court watching. She did not like to do much activity but was always available as a spectator.

           
Lillian returned the serve. “I have heard of him. But don’t know him personally.”

           
“I’ve met him. He’s very charming,” Olivia replied.

           
“Really?” Kate said as she missed the ball. She stood there for a moment. “I’ve heard that he’s very handsome. What did you think of him,
Liv
?”

           
Olivia smiled. “He’s tall, blonde, and his gorgeous brown eyes are to die for. He’s also the son of a wealthy businessman. His mother is American though. Her family owns several department stores in America. Why do you ask about him, Kate?”

           
Kate wiped her palms on her skirt. “Mother has invited him to meet me at the ball.”

           
Lillian shook her head. “Is it what you want, Kate?”

           
Kate smiled absently, then replied. “I don’t mind when Mother looks out for me. As a proper Englishwoman of status, she will ensure that her daughters marry the right man. I don’t know why you have a problem with that.”

           
“Kate, you don’t really mean that. I can tell by the look on your face that you would prefer that she not set you up like this. Don’t you two want to just let love happen on
it’s
own?”

           
Olivia laughed. “Love? Who says that we are both trying to find love? Lily darling, marrying is not about love. It’s about status and name. I like the life I live and I
like
being rich. Why would I want to trade all of that in for love?” Olivia asked matter of
factly
.

           
Kate gently touched Lillian’s arm. “Lily, you have to give up all of this talk of love. It’s nice to think of, but the truth is that not many people find love. But you can grow to love someone after being with them.”

           
Lillian looked at her sisters. She hated the way that they resigned to never truly love another.

           
“You two can let Mother control your lives if you’d like, but not me. I’d like to meet that man that loves me the way that I love him. I don’t want to be trapped in a marriage with a man that I don’t love.”

           
“Do you think that Mother and Father don’t love each other?”

           
“No, Kate. I think they love each other in some sort of way. But I don’t think there is any passion. I couldn’t live my life knowing that I could have a passionate relationship with someone and not have it.”

           
“Oh, my dear Lily. Ever the dreamer,” Olivia commented as she rose from her seat.

           
“It’s almost time for tea. We need to be on time. I have a few things that I’d like to do in town today.”

           
Kate followed behind Olivia, both of them giving Lillian a glance full of pity.

           
Lillian sighed. She knew that it wasn’t too much to ask for a relationship full of passion and love. She wouldn’t give up looking for it.

~

           
Willington Manor was abuzz with talk of the society ball that Lady Charlotte was
hostessing
. The anticipation was on high. The kitchen staff was busy readying for the extravagant dinner they would serve and all of the house staff was making sure that the silver was polished and that everything was just so.

           
The sisters enjoyed tea when their mother entered the room. “I hope you all are ready for the event of the season. I’ve heard that everyone has responded to the invitations and will be here. I hope you girls will be on your best
behavior
.”

           
Although Charlotte made the comment general, her gaze fell on Lillian.

           
“Yes, Mother,” Olivia and Kate responded as they sipped their tea.

           
Lillian stayed quiet. She wasn’t into giving any more thought to the ball that she already had.

           
“Now, I have invited potential suitors for each of you. Kate, the handsome Richard
Smythe
is coming to meet you. He’s an intelligent young man who is well travelled. His mother is American, but we won’t hold that against him. Olivia, you will meet Daniel
Botsworth
. His parents are high society and have homes all over Europe. His father and your father have many of the same interests and we thought that the two of you would be a great match.”

           
Olivia nodded. “I’m looking forward to meeting him, Mother.”

           
“As he is you,” Lady Charlotte replied. She smiled, feeling like her matchmaking was all coming together.

           
Charlotte clasped her hands together and her jaw clenched as if she was about to reveal something painful.

           
“My darling, Lily.
Mr.
Cyril
Aimsley
will call on you. He’s a wonderful young man. He has studied in France and is a burgeoning businessman. His parents own several businesses and wonderful people.”

           
Lillian knew that what her mother spoke of was the financial connection that her parents always wanted to keep in their back pocket. Old manor houses were expensive to keep up, especially with the fact that her parents did not work. They had grounds to keep and staff wages to pay. The goal was that Olivia, Kate, and Lillian would marry money and that would help keep Willington Manor afloat.

           
“Thank you, Mother.” Lillian didn’t want to really comment any more than that. It would be pointless to do so. Charlotte’s mind was set and things were already in motion.

           
“I hope you all have been fitted for your dresses and that you love them. Ladies, this ball will be the talk of the town. Guests are coming from London and are ready for a great time. I hope you all are ready to play gracious hostess.”

           
All three girls nodded. They knew what to expect from their mother. It was best to just nod and agree. Lillian continued to sip her tea and sit quietly. She hoped that her suitor at least made for comfortable conversation so that she could make it through the evening. As her sisters giggled and chatted about what their potential suitors would be like, Lillian panicked a bit inside. She would have to find a way to let
Mr.
Cyril
Aimsley
down nicely. She wasn’t interested in any man that her mother set her up with. She was intent on finding love on her own.