#*ehrling 1900

1900s upper class lookbook for my baby lydia! cc links under the cut ♡

as helga aged, her final performance was fast approaching. it was held at a ball at the local hortense opera house, which the whole family of course attended. katya adored her grandmother and her talent, and although she was sad to see her retire, she was glad the hardworking woman could finally get some much needed rest and relaxation.

also in attendance at the ball were the crowleys. both katya and nathanael's parents strongly suggested they dance with each other, which they ended up doing, wanting to please them. it had been a while since katya had seen nathanael. he had grown into a tall and handsome young man, who intimidated her - far from the giggly little boy he once was.

the dancing was pleasant enough - he was clearly trained in it - and katya could feel herself getting lost in the music.

"i believe i have something i must tell you," he suddenly said. curious, katya responded. "what is it?"

nathanael moved behind katya, continuing the dance. "do excuse me for being so forward," he leaned in closer to her ear, speaking quietly. "i fear our parents wish for us to marry."

katya felt shivers go down her spine. "marry?"

"yes, marry," he responded. "i've heard my father discussing a merger, and well, yours works in publishing too, does he not?" he continued. "besides, what must all this mingling be for?"

katya was very confused. "marriage is done out of love, is it not?" she asked. nathanael scoffed at her. "are you really that naïve? arranged marriage has been happening for centuries." katya felt a queasiness growing in her chest.

"my parents wouldn't do that to me, they would never!" she exclaimed, her eyes filling up with tears. "please, let me go and stop with this nonsense!" she ran off to the balcony of the opera house and began crying - in her heart, she knew it may be true, as much as she tried to deny it.

lydia and adam's families came together to purchase them a townhouse from the britechester centrum - buckley house! it was the perfect size with all the modern amenities and a much needed upgrade for the growing family.

when katya ran off to the back porch of the crowley estate, nathanael followed close behind her, having seen her tears. he stood near her, giving her space but also offering comfort and asked gently what was wrong.

katya shivered at nathanael's sudden appearance. she knew he meant well, but his presence only reminded her of her now definite fate. wiping back a tear, she said, "it's nothing. don't worry about me, please."

"katya, please, don't think me a fool," nathanael responded. "you're clearly upset. you can tell me anything." katya averted her gaze and decided to tell the truth.

"my friend, josephine..." she said with a shivering voice. "she's here, presumably for a family member. we did not exactly part on good terms," katya continued, feeling a weight slightly lift off her shoulders.

"losing a friend, i see," nathanael responded softly, placing a gentle hand on katya's back. "it's akin to losing a lover. i'm sorry for your loss, katya."

katya bit her bottom lip and hesitated before speaking. "friends... no," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. she turned to face nathanael. "we were more than that," she said, thinking he might understand what she truly meant.

nathanael stroked katya's cheek, moving a strand of hair from her face. "a kindred spirit, then," he said, looking into her deep brown eyes.

katya felt a flutter in her stomach at nathanael's touch and words. "yes," she whispered, leaning into his touch in her sorrow. "she understood me in a way that no one else did."

"i can be that for you, katya, if you'll only let me," nathanael replied, placing his hand to her shoulder. "nathanael, i..." katya tried, before being truly surprised.

lydia lisbeth ehrling married adam mikael miotke on christmas day of 1901 in a small ceremony attended by both of their families. ♡

wedding photos under the cut!