"Son, I'm only telling you this because I am your mother and I love you. This is wrong Sean, you have never even laid eyes on this girl. Please son, reconsider what you are doing." Eleanor Dowager Duchess Maybree begged, Sean was her only son and she loved him dearly but he could be as stubborn as his late father. Sometimes a downright ass.
"Mother I do not know how many times I have to tell you, there is nothing to be done now but accept this marriage." He took a deep breath to calm himself. Sean had married a woman he had never seen for her money, not because he was a fortune hunter but because he was responsible for a title and a large estate that provided for his family and tenants alike. Maybree had been slowly falling into great debt while his dear father had been alive and now that Sean was the 8th Duke of Maybree he was trying everything within his power to save his ancestral land and his family from destitution. It not been for Mr. Silva and his desire to marry of his daughter to a tittle Sean and his family would be facing poverty.
"What of love Sean? Compatibility, what if this young lady is not a comely sort? Maybe that's why her family chose to marry her off in this manner.""I do not care if Miss Silva looks like a horse."
"Good, because for all we know this young lady could be deformed." Eleanor knew she was being silly but she had to make her son see reason.
"Mother I did not marry Miss Silva for her looks." Sean told her once again.
"No, just for her money." She said disappointment clear in her voice.
"It is the norm." Sean said defending his decision.
Frustrated with her son Eleanor turned to leave, she knew she was getting nowhere with her argument but she knew she had to try because she had a feeling Sean would come to regret that awful decision.
"It is despicable, I thought I had raised you better than this, I see I was wrong."
After his mother left Sean sat in his library in silence, he did feel shame. But the mounting necessity would not allow him the luxury to marry for love. He knew he had one the right thing, Eleanor did not know the dire situation they all stood on. There where too many people depending on him, Sean wished it had been different but one thing he learned at a young age was that there really was no point in wishing for what ifs.
Anna stepped out of the carriage that Miss Catherine had rented and looked at the magnificent country home. There was no turning back now. After she and Catherine parted ways in Liverpool, Anna had tried to think of ways out of her predicament but with no money or knowledge of the foreign land Anna had no choice but to accept her faith.
"Uh...yes sir."
"Miss Catherine, I apologize for this most uncouth welcome but we where expecting you early evening and it is mid morning." The older man said to her almost absently and Anna felt guilty for arriving ahead of schedule. "My name is Collins the Rose Hills butler, Welcome." Anna bowed and quickly followed the butler who started walking towards the house without warning.
"Miss Catherine Anne Silva." Collins announced and Anna held in a nervous giggle at the thought that she and spoiled Miss Catherine shared a name. As she walked into the morning room Anna was struck by the splendor of her surroundings and by the elegance of the ladies standing infront of her.
"Oh Miss Catherine we where not expecting you so early, I am Lady Eleanor Taylor." A beautiful older woman said with a brittle smile that had Anna wondering if she was truly welcomed.
"It is a pleasure m'lady." Anna bowed awkwardly, realizing she was bowing like a servant and not a lady. She hoped the other ladies did not notice.
"Oh but I am being quite rude, this is Lady Sarah Fuentes my sister and Lady Emma Barlow Dowager Countess Estling." Anna bowed in the general direction of the other women.
"You are nothing like I imagined Miss Catherine." Lady Emma said examining Anna.
"I hope I am not disappointing." Anna said nervously, after all she really was not whom they expected.
"Nonsense dear, you must be tired, Collins will show you to your room. You can get settled and freshen up before dinner." Eleanor said softening to the girl, after all it was not her fault that she had been auctioned off like cattle. They lived in a world ruled by idiotic men. Anna bowed once more and quickly followed Collins out of the morning room, grateful to have some time to herself before she meet the entire household and Hampton S. Taylor.
"Ian, my friend I feared you would not arrive in time to witness my shame." Sean said relieved to see his friend. Sean met Ian Merrett while at Eton as young boy, Ian had been an outcast because of his middle class status.
"Sean if you feel shame over these nuptials why go through with them?" Ian said taking a seat across from his friend.
"Besides the fact that I gave my word and already signed the marriage contract, I must be honest with you, Maybree is quite in debt. My father was a good man but he had no head for business." Sean finished.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Ian felt sorrow for his friend's sacrifice, yet he couldn't say he understood it. As a doctor Ian Merrett worked for a living and had no responsibility beyond his own needs.
"So am I, I just wish this decision was not so hard. How are you Ian what have you been up to." Sean changed the subject even with Ian he just couldn't bring himself to talk about it anymore.
"Working incessantly, I have been working with the very poor and unfortunates in London." Ian began to explain when they where abruptly interrupted.
"Sean," Eleanor said walking in to the library. "Oh Ian, how are you dear?"
"Very well thank you, m'lady"
"How many times must I ask you to call me Eleanor dear?" Turning to her son "She's here." Sean didn't need anymore explanation, 'SHE' was obviously Miss Catherine Ann Silva. His wife. "I suggest you meet her before dinner, that is the least you can do."
"Of course."
Anna looked out the window of her new bedroom and wondered if she would ever be free, now that she was finally here in the home of her 'husband' there really was no way out. Anna thought of James and how much she loved and yet soon she would betray him by becoming another man's wife and lover. At the thought of her wedding night Anna's stomach turned and she felt nauseous, would she really lay with a stranger? Anna took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves, but the tears kept flowing she felt caged.
Sean sat infront of his wife and was at a loss for words. They had been sitting in the awkward atmosphere for the past half hour, barely speaking and she refused to meet his eyes. Sean had been extremely surprise at her appearance while Catherine was indeed a beauty she was nothing like he imagined she would be from her letters and her fathers description of her. But ever since she walked into the room Catherine was drawn and sad.
"Miss Catherine may I be frank?" Sean asked tentatively.
"Yes of course my lord."
"Are you crying because of this union? Miss Catherine I have fought everyone in my household over this marriage but I will not force you to be my wife. If the thought of being married to me has you this upset, I will write your father right away and we can annul the marriage."
At Lord Taylor's words Anna's heart skipped a beat, he was willing to let her go! The temptation was almost to great to pass up, if he let her go free she would be able to return home and marry James, but the fantasy was short lived because Anna knew that if she asked for the annulment the Silva's would be informed and she would be discovered as a fraud and at best would spend the rest of her life behind bars.
"No my lord I am sorry for these silly tears I am just overwhelmed with this situation, it is most unusual" Anna said kissing goodbye her last way out.
"Yes of course, my apologies. Would you like to discuss the details of tomorrow's ceremony?" Sean tried again to engage the crying woman in conversation. It was difficult to see her crying silently like a victim.
"I'm sorry my lord but I am feeling quite under the weather, I belive I rather just retire for the night. Can you give my apologies to your family, it has been a long trip from New York."
Anna fled the room without waiting for an answer, once he was alone Sean felt hollow and uncomfortable He was getting exactly what he deserved for selling himself for money, a bride that couldn't stand to be in the same room with him, a mother who kept looking at him with contempt and a deep shame in himself. Sean feared his life was turning into a nightmare of his own doing.
Also a huge thanks to MrNSheikh on youtube for your amazing Dowager House it is inspiring and the perfect setting for Rose Hill
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