Page 81 of Puck and Prejudice
They crept downstairs. Lizzy’s mother was in the drawing room, pacing in front of the fireplace, a letter half crumpled in one hand.
“Mamma?” Lizzy’s voice was sharp with worry. “What has happened?”
“There you are! Where have you been hiding away? I’ve been beside myself with worry.”
“You’re frightening me.”
“A most dreadful accident occurred at the Row this very afternoon. A horse took a fright and bolted and a man died. We know him—it’s Frank Witt, the husband of your friend Cornelia.”
“No.” Lizzy pressed a hand to her mouth. “That’s impossible. I saw her the other night and she was so happy.”
“And now she’ll never see him again. Oh, Elizabeth, it’s a most ghastly turn of events. He was promenading with her when a white horse of doom flew into a wild frenzy—something must have spooked it. Frank removed dear Cornelia from harm’s way, but in doing so he was run down. He met his untimely demise on the dirt path in full view. I say, an indecorous end for a member of such a respectable family.”
“Mamma!” Lizzy looked annoyed if not shocked. “A good man is dead. I think we can leave off dissecting whether or not his end had sufficient decorum.”
“Well.” Her mother plucked a handkerchief from the sofa and dabbed her eyes. “I imagine it is of importance to his dear mother. The family is making funeral arrangements, but weshall all be calling to pay our respects prior, of course. Poor Cornelia, she will look ghastly in mourning. Remember how washed out she appeared after her father’s death? Black doesn’t suit her coloring in the slightest. Her figure’s remained passable, though, so she should be able to make another match. Although I wouldn’t advise Henry to throw over his pursuit of Olivia Abbot Davies.”
And her thirty thousand pounds, Tuck mentally added.
“Mother!” Lizzy’s voice rose. “Frank Witt, whom we have dined with on multiple occasions over the years and who was quite a kind man, has not been dead a day. I think you can wait to ponder his wife’s marriage prospects.”
Her mother pressed her lips into a thin line. “You’re absolutely right, my dear. Fortunately, Frank’s estate should provide for Cornelia quite well. She could choose to remain a widow, I suppose, and no one would question her decision. It’s certainly better than being an ape leader.” She waved her hands between the two of them. “At least you’re saved from that particular fate.”
Turning toward the door, she added, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I must locate my lady’s maid. My puce taffeta has faded to more of a mauve. I need her opinion on whether it would be suitable for paying condolences. Your gray silk will suffice nicely. And someone shall locate a black silk armband for Mr.Taylor.”
Then she was gone.
“I’m sorry.” Lizzy sprawled into a chair and kicked out her legs with a frustrated groan. “I wish I could say she means well, but that would make me a liar. As a widow herself, maybe she feels entitled to her judgment. I’m not certain she loved Papa, although I recall them being affectionate in their way.”
“Her actions don’t reflect on you.” Tuck knew that from experience. “Our families will behave how they are going to behave, and we have no control over it.”
“Try telling that to the ton. She is a ridiculous woman and so I too am at risk to be deemed as such. But then, so are most of her friends. Poor Cornelia. We aren’t incredibly close, but she is friendly and amusing and had clearly found a love match with Frank.”
He went around to the back of her chair and placed his hands on her shoulders, rubbing the tight muscles. “Your mom talked about apes. What was that?”
“Oh. That.” She scoffed, plucking a loose thread from her dress. “It’s a particularly charming old adage. As you’ve learned, women of a marriageable age fit into one of three categories: spinsters, wives, or widows. Among these, only wives or widows are truly accepted. Spinsters, on the other hand, are considered unnatural. Those who persist in their unwed state are occasionally dubbed ‘ape leaders,’ a term suggesting their ultimate punishment in hell, where they’ll be forced to lead apes—a supposed punishment for their controversial lifestyle.”
“The fuck? What the hell is wrong with people?”
“That’s perhaps a little more inelegant than I’d express it, but yes. Exactly.” She buried her face in her hands. “I need to clear my conscience.”
“What is it?”
“I’m afraid...” Her voice wobbled. “I’m afraid I’ve been too quick to celebrate widowhood. Before I met you, I had no clear understanding of what it might be like to be married to a person whom I not only liked but also respected. I’d been led to the idea that matrimony could never be an agreeable state, so I ignored the evidence that some people have found it quite fulfilling. One suchperson is Cornelia, who is now moving from wife to widow, and will no doubt find herself the worse for it. You see, she enjoyed her husband’s company, and suddenly I’m struck with the thought that... that...”
He froze. Waiting to see if she’d say the words—which ones exactly, he wasn’t sure, but he hoped they’d have something to do with her not viewing him as a means to an end. Maybe she’d say that this marriage of convenience had become infinitely more complicated.
But she never finished her thought, as Henry wandered through the door.
“What’s with all the serious faces? Did somebody die? Ah.” He clicked his tongue. “Pardon me. I heard the news at the club. I should go pay Olivia a visit. She was rather close to Cornelia. I’m sure she’d appreciate it if I put in an appearance. What do you think?”
“That you’re an unfeeling monster?” Lizzy asked dully.
“I shouldn’t say unfeeling, no. When I think of marrying Olivia, I have quite a lot of ideas on how to invest all that money and it makes me quite cheerful indeed.”
“Why is my family so insistent on being awful?” Lizzy addressed this question to the ceiling, but Tuck had to agree.
“You should be grateful that our father even allows you and this oversized colonial bear to remain in residence.” Henry gave a mocking nod in Tuck’s direction.
