Of Devonshire

Esther had always been her pride and joy. Though she was her sister and not her mother, despite how she had taken on such a role, she looked upon the woman as the best parts of the family. Still a child in Sophia’s eyes, she could not help but be taken along by her obvious ploys to get her to speak. Her brothers had seemingly left her be, but Esther? She had always been the one full of surprises. Her lips quirked up ever so slightly into the smallest of smiles as she watched the youngest Cavendish stoop to pluck the stem of lavender, she was suddenly reminded of the days when Esther had been just a child, no higher than her knee, scrambling around the garden with a beaming smile. Their mother had never appreciated the young girl for what she was. No doubt she would not appreciate her now. Sophia took the stem delicately between her fingers, raising the stem closer so she could take a delicate sniff, feeling instantly relaxed by the pure smell of the plant. “A fine choice indeed” she agreed, glancing at the rows of plants that adorned the garden. The offer to sew the flowers into a sachet took her aback ever so slightly, though she did not know why. Esther had always been the most openly generous of them all. “That would be lovely, thank you”. She knew how hollow her words sounded, how they were both just playing the part, words and actions two entirely separate things. More than that, she felt how much of a disappointment she was being. “Truly” she tried again, reaching to clasp Esther’s hands, “I would love that”.

She was thankful that Esther picked up the trail she had laid in the conversation, albeit clumsily, and as Esther spoke she dropped the other woman’s hands, linking them in front of her stomach as they walked, still holding the lavender stem gently between her fingers. “Yes, I should leave that bit out if I were you” she nodded in agreement, trying so hard to force some of the joviality into her voice that she was so expected to have. Instead she just sounded tired and withdrawn. Which of course, she was. She just wished it wasn’t so obvious. She could see the wariness in Esther’s eyes, could feel the tension between them, the questions unasked. It was turning the air colder by the second, and every second made her feel that little bit more uncertain. She wanted nothing more than to have the relationship they had once had, but every time she looked at Esther she simply saw distance, a gap she did not know how to bridge. “I am so pleased to hear you are filling your time, even if I do not know where you get these ideas from” she told her after a long pause. “You certainly do not get them from me or William”

As Sophia clasped Esther’s hands in her own, Esther swallowed the lump in her throat, gazing into her dear sister’s eyes and seeing a hint of her former self staring back. For a moment, it was twenty years ago, when Esther would scamper up to Sophia with a handful of flowers to brighten her day. How much had changed...and yet so little. “I want to do everything I can for you. You’ve had it so difficult and my heart aches for you. I know I could never truly alleviate the pain, but I shall try.” Esther squeezed her sister’s hands and continued walking ahead. The autumn flowers were now in full bloom, and she simply had to catch a glimpse of them as they grew taller each day.

“I have more ideas than I know what to do with, but not enough time to bring them all to fruition. What a pity that each day is cursed with only twenty-four hours.” As Esther peered over at a bed of cheery marigolds, she thought of Sophia alone in her room, hardly doing much of anything. Her family had given her a purpose and a pastime, but now there was a void in the young woman’s life that needed to be filled. “Would you ever wish to help me with tutoring?” The words escaped her before she could stop them. “Not with literature, unless you wanted to, but I know you can sew and embroider and display manners far beyond my ability. You could show these less fortunate girls how to have the proper manners of a lady, even if they never will attend a formal party in their lives. They might one day use their skills as housekeepers, perhaps, until they marry.” Esther paused. Was it too much to ask? “It was only a suggestion, to keep you occupied,” she added, the excitement draining from her.

“Friday sounds agreeable, unless you would rather go sooner. I am free today. I may not be the most knowledgeable on ladies’ fashion but I’ll do my best.” William took another sip of tea. “I think we would all rather that she remains up north but she won’t miss the wedding.” The stop at Hardwick on their return from Chatsworth had not been a pleasant one for William as he had made the foolhardy decision of informing the Dowager Duchess in person about his change in bride - something that had not gone down well.” His eyes narrowed playfully. “And what makes you think that I don’t? My valet does a fine job of it.”

“Lovely, then let us go today. I see this as an opportunity to educate you. Matilda will be thoroughly impressed by your knowledge of hoop skirts and petticoats by the time I’m finished with you.” Esther patted her mouth dry with a napkin. The summer at Hardwich had been an interesting one, with Esther hiding away in her room while the Duchess stormed about the house, furious with William. She had learned over the years to stay out of her mother’s way if one of her siblings opposed her, lest Esther find herself also being scolded. “You know she’ll be quite sour through the wedding. I fear what will happen if she bites Matilda’s head off as she likely wishes to do.” Hopefully, Sophia would be up to the challenge of subduing their mother. Heavens knew that Esther would be as far away as possible.

Tom was gratified when the youngest Cavendish approached him.  He had long decided that he would do all he could endear himself to the entire family.  After all, if all went as he hoped, he and Richie would soon owe one another a great deal.  It seemed the best coarse, for all of them, to maintain a friendly familial relationship.  Yes, he wished to know Esther and her sister better, and what more promising opportunity to begin than this?

He smiled pleasantly at her as she spoke to him, inclining his head in greeting as she addressed him.  He chuckled softly as she described her boredom.  “I quite understand,” he replied, evenly.  “I was forced to begin renovations on Burghley over the summer months, as much because they were needed as out of a lack of other pastimes.”  

Tom was a man who was fond of mental exercise and, finding it lacking from other avenues, was always determined to invent a new cause of mental activity.  Generally, when in want of such, he turned to books, to poetry, to philosophy, but occasionally he needed a puzzle to crack, some tactile mental game or one which required greater intellectual gymnastics than even his impressive library seemed able to provide.  As a lord, he could simply pick and choose such a pastime.  He knew it had to be far harder upon the fair sex, deprived of the opportunity for such entertainments save in precious few cases.

“One can always rely upon the London season for such,” he agreed.  “Did you see Sheridan’s latest play?”

Shaking his head, Tom’s smile was very soft.  “I am on my own tonight,” he replied.  “What of you, Lady Esther?  Were any family or friends able to accompany you, tonight?”

Esther’s eyes widened as she imagined the sprawling house with its massive spires and endless rooms that she had always dreamed of exploring. “Burghley, such a beautiful place to spend a summer. I read that it was built for one of Elizabeth I’s most trusted advisers in the late 16th century.” She smiled, as she always did when reciting her history lessons. How fortunate that Esther had especially taken an interest in Elizabethan history. “You must be honored to live in a house with such rich history.” Chatsworth House, where the Cavendish family lived, had over twice the amount of history, but it would be impolite to say so.

“I did see the play, and I can only hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.” Esther grinned, her eyes sparking with mischief. The night had been filled with laughter at the soldiers’ expense, and there were few things Esther loved more than a good laugh. “I’ve been trying to get my hands on a copy of the script so I can ensure that I memorized the lines properly.” Her memory most likely had served her well, though many of the lines had been drowned out by laughter from the exuberant audience.

Her light smile fell as she noticed the Marquess’ subdued nature. Though he smiled, was he unhappy with being alone? Or was he simply shy at his preference for visiting Almack’s without the company of another. “I came alone as well. The house is brimming with wedding plans and I simply had to run away from it all.” Esther met his gaze. “For what reason did you come alone?”

“Don’t you worry about that. I have ordered a fine new suit. I should so hate to disappoint everyone.” Not that William was ever anything less than finely dressed, but the very last thing he wanted whilst under such scrutiny to incur further talk by wearing something old. “Let me know when you would like to go, my day is mostly free. And mother will be pleased when she comes down in December, I don’t want her to think that I’m not looking after you properly.” Relations with the Dowager Duchess were still somewhat strained, not even the negotiation of Richard’s betrothal to Lucretia Godwin could quite assuage his mother’s ire. “Scrappy? I resent that!” He sniffed haughtily before laughing. “My title? No, Matilda is not as shallow as that. Truly I do not know but I don’t wish to question it. Is it so unbelievable that women find me charming and handsome?”

At the mention of their mother, Esther narrowed her eyes, her usual cheery demeanor vanishing like mist in the morning sun. “Perhaps we could go on Friday afternoon,” she suggested, toying with her tea spoon. For a moment she remained quiet, her expression dark. “I’m certainly not looking forward to December. I’d be quite pleased if Mother stayed where she was. We visited her over the summer, surely that was more than enough for all of us?” Esther knew her pleas were futile. It would be Christmas, and the Cavendish family would be together once again, even if it was with the one woman Esther never seemed to get along with. She gave a forced laugh. “William, I only jest, you will be as handsome as Matilda is beautiful when you both meet at the altar. So long as you keep your mustache trimmed, of course.”

closed for @ecavendish

location: the gardens of the Cavendish townhouse, London

The morning had passed by quietly, Sophia preferring to hole herself away in her rooms, spending her hours wrapped up in blankets as she sat looking out onto the city beyond her balcony. She had heard the sounds of her family downstairs, gentle murmurs of conversations that passed by her door, and once or twice she had thought she had heard a halting footstep outside her bedroom door. She knew that she would have been more than welcome to join them, but instead she preferred to work on her sewing, a small embroidery hoop on her lap, humming a nursery rhyme to herself softly. It had been the one she had sung to George during those precious days of his infancy. But when she heard the knock on her door the song died on her lips, jolting her back into the real world. 

It had been Esther, with an offering to walk in the garden. Had it been anyone else she would have sent them on their way without a pause, but it had been so long since she had spoke to her sister, and years since there had been any real closeness between them. And now they were making their way around the garden, the silence stretching out between them. Upon her return it had startled her to see her sister so grown, for she still remembered her as the young child whose hair she had plaited in front of the fire in the parlour. She knew how to talk to that child. She did not know how to talk to the young woman who was standing next to her, and that broke her heart in an entirely different way. “William tells me that you have started a reading group…” she began, clutching for conversation strands. 

Ever since Sophia had returned home, an awkwardness had settled between the two women. Once Sophia had been akin to a second mother, perhaps even more so than Esther’s actual mother, but the death of her husband and son had taken that woman away. In fact, come to think of it, the woman Sophia had been had seemed to vanish years before. For Esther, who seemed to stumble over her words at every opportunity, it seemed that Sophia had hidden herself away behind a wall that none of the Cavendish family could appear to breach. Seeing the sunlight streaming through the windows, an idea began to emerge. Perhaps a walk in the garden would lift her sister’s spirits.

It didn’t appear to be working, at least not right away. Esther paused to reach down and pluck a stem of lavender from one of the flower beds. “Here, smell it. I convinced the gardener to plant some herbs this year and they’ve been a lovely addition. Lavender is known to be soothing. Would you like me to sew a sachet for you to place by your bedside?” The words seemed hollow and fake. They had spoken little since Sophia’s incredible loss, but what was Esther to say? She handed her sister the lavender and clasped her hands together, picking at her fingernails. “Yes, the group has been doing well. One of the little girls has started borrowing our books to read in her spare time. Of course, I haven’t told William where his books have been disappearing to.” She flashed Sophia a forced grin. What else was she to talk about? Should she express her sympathy, or reassure Sophia that she still had childbearing days left, or that she could always remarry? Or should she offer to listen to laments that Sophia clearly didn’t wish to express?

Come all you fair and tender girls 

That flourish in your prime 

Beware, beware, keep your garden fair 

Evelyn listened to her companion attentively, carefully nodding along as she spoke. While the younger lady certainly seemed idealistic, she could not really blame her - she was hoping for love, too, but life has made her a cynic, and now she hopes for nothing; it is much less disappointing. Slightly frowning, she allowed herself a petite sigh. “I do not she why he would not agree, when he chose to follow his own heart, rather than an arrangement already set. If my brother was trying to force me to do something he should have done, but chose to follow a different path, then he would be my brother no longer.” While it seemed harsh, it was the way she worked - honesty and loyalty; if her brother ever married someone for love, and disregarding duty and promise, and insisted Evelyn marries someone she does not love, for duty and promise, then it would be highly hypocritical of him, and no longer deserving of her sisterly affections, and her loyalty to him. Fortunately for both her and her brothers, they were not of the hypocritical sort. Lightly chuckling at her latter words, Evie nodded. “Indeed. While some are a sight for sore eyes, the others are a bane to one’s eardrums - and often one’s brain, as well.”

“We are important in our own way, Lady Cavendish. Perhaps we do not hold such grand titles, but we do hold everything else. Men seem incapable to truly function without our presence, or our guidance.” She added with a soft chuckle, which ebbed to a melancholy smile. “I often wonder that myself. It would be lovely to have them as they one were, before duty took over their brotherly affections.”

Esther nodded. It was true, William had followed his heart and he seemed a great deal happier after having done so. It would be nothing short of hypocrisy if he were to deny her the same right. “You’re very wise, Lady Harley, though I don’t think I could ever abandon my brother. I’m not sure what it would take for me to do so. He will always be my brother, even if he was unkind to me.” She wrinkled her nose. “That’s not to say I wouldn’t have a few choice words for him.” 

Evelyn’s words rolled over her and sank in. Though Esther felt like nothing in comparison to William, it was true, women had their own bargaining power that was often overlooked. “I couldn’t agree with you more. Though a man may rule, there is often a strong woman behind him, lending her advice. I can only hope that our fine brothers will find ladies who can do the same.” For a moment, Esther allowed herself to think back to the old days, when William was a boy. But then again, he never truly was a boy in her eyes. He had always been older and wiser, being nine years her elder, though now he seemed preoccupied more often than not. “At the very least, I’ve been blessed with a second brother who bears no responsibility and seems positively content to avoid it at any cost.”

She glanced towards the sun rising higher in the sky, beating down with increased intensity as morning slipped into noon. “It’s been a pleasure, Evelyn, but I must be going. I’ve been gone all morning and I wouldn’t want to cause worry.” Esther reached for her horse’s reins and untied them from the tree. “And please, we must speak again about your betrothal. The suspense will kill me otherwise.” 

Romance was lovely, but it was unlikely. It happened only in the books, and tragedies, and more often than not, it ended poorly. Life was difficult, and it was complicating and often left no choice - even if taking that choice is a choice in itself. Lightly chuckling to the younger Lady’s words, Evelyn nodded. “Certainly. If I cannot tolerate my husband, then it would be a rather poor match. Love either will, or will not, come and I cannot my base my entire future on a perhaps. For now, tolerating him will be enough.” She replied as honestly as she dared, and lightly chuckled at her comment, but at the topic of Earl William, Evie felt her smile turning more honest; “I admire your brother greatly for the bravery, but I admire his Lady more. It takes a great deal of courage to go against one’s family.” Her reply was interrupted by a light laugh - and while in the first part Lady Esther was correct, the other part made her chuckle. “I sympathise, though I do not give them the pleasure of knowing their pretty faces make my heart quicken. Granted, half of them lose their charm the moment they speak.” She added the latter with a mischievous glint lighting up her eyes.

“You mean, my brother?” She tilted her head, before answering. “Well, he is divine. We were a lot closer before the burden of the title befell him, alongside the second elder brother, but he treats me nicely, and with respect. They both do. They cherish me as much as I cherish them.” Her reply was honest, and she asked; “And your brother? Is he good to you?”

Esther shifted her weight from one foot to the other, suddenly feeling childish for hoping in such a daunting dream as love. Was it enough to simply tolerate a man? Though, in truth, it likely wouldn’t be her choice. As the youngest daughter, she could only hope that William would be distracted enough with Richard and Sophia before pushing her into a match. “I hope to wait until I love a man before I marry. I would base my future on that chance, but William likely wouldn’t agree. I haven’t spoken much with him on the topic...” Or any topic, for that matter. “I enjoy sitting at a party and gazing at men from afar, hiding behind my fan like my life depends on it.” She giggled girlishly. “Talking to a man often makes him far less appealing in my eyes.”

Before the burden of a title...was that a common corruption of older brothers? William had seemed much less like an unreachable authority figure before their father had died, and now his eyes were set on politics, marriage, and whatever responsibilities a duke was saddled with. “Your family sounds much like my own. William loves me dearly but he’s older and more important than I will ever be. He seems to be more of a father than a brother, since my own father died when I was only ten. I wonder how many other ladies are like us, longing for their brothers to be as they were before being bestowed a title.”

“I’m quite certain that my time under Sheridan’s scrutiny is fast approaching.” William could only hope that the playwright wouldn’t be too cruel when it came to addressing the scandal that was William’s abrupt change in bride. “What would you say to a visit to Madame Seymour later to order a dress for you? My treat.” It was only right that she had a new dress.. or two. “Late December. I believe the invitations should be going out soon. She certainly is…” He trailed off with a dreamy expression. How he had charmed a lady such as Matilda he did not know. “I do so hope that the two of you will be friends, Esther.”

“A new dress would be lovely, if only you promise to find yourself something appropriate to wear for the wedding as well. All of London will be watching, after all.” Especially after the scandal. Esther clenched her jaw, thinking of the vile words she had in store for whoever spoke poorly of her eldest brother, scandal or no scandal. Her mood relaxed as William spoke of Matilda, his eyes wandering off into the distance as if seeing an angel on the horizon. “I haven’t ever seen you so smitten with a lady before, William,” she said with a smirk. “She truly seems like someone special to you, and if so, she will be special to me as well. If I may ask, how did a scrappy thing like you manage to capture her heart?”