Page 35 of The Earl's Demure Spinster
The game continued, but Wesley’s heart was not in it. He could not even join in with the idly chatter around him. His life was hanging in the balance here and he was not sure which path he should take. The crossroads lying in front of him simply grew by the minute and he was utterly terrified of taking the wrong path and destroying his life forever.
***
Eventually the evening wound down to its inevitable conclusion, and Wesley found himself seated in the family carriage, flanked by his mother and sister. There might have been a silence surrounding them once more, but Wesley knew that it was different this time. He could feel the storm brewing and it would not be long before the thunder erupted.
It was his mother who shattered the quiet, just as he suspected she would, her voice slicing through the stillness like a blade. “I can not believe you chose to dance with that girl, Wesley. Lady Sylvia is nothing more than a fortune seeker, hoping to attach herself to a family of means. I can not believe that you will not listen to me about this. Your refusal to obey my commands is incredibly frustrating.”
Wesley clenched his jaw, the familiar sting of his mother’s disapproval washing over him. He had expected this reaction but had hoped against it. His fingers curled into fists at his sides, the leather of the seat creaking under the pressure.
“Mother, I…” he began, but his mother cut him off with a wave of her hand.
“Do not even try, Wesley. You know very well the expectations of our status. I keep repeating it, I keep telling you, but you will not seem to hear me.” She threw her hands in theair in frustration. “Associating with someone like Lady Sylvia jeopardizes everything we stand for. She brings nothing to the table but her ambition and her lack of fortune. I do not even know why I keep referring to her as a Lady because she is not that. Not really. If it were not for her aunt, we would not have to deal with her at all.”
Harriet, seated opposite, cast Wesley a sympathetic glance. Her eyes, filled with understanding, helped him a little because he knew that he was not alone. But she could not say anything to defend Wesley, not without bringing the attention on to herself. Wesley understood all too well why she did not want that.
How could he make his mother understand that Lady Sylvia was nothing like she suspected? How could he make her see that he wanted much more from his life and that he might want to follow his heart? Even if that was not what she wanted for him?
But the quiet did not last long. It seemed like his mother was not done yet. “We have worked tirelessly to maintain our standing in society, Wesley. I have worked hard, especially since your father died. You can not jeopardize it all for a passing fancy. There are suitable matches, alliances that would benefit our family. Lady Arabella, for instance. She is perfect.”
Wesley’s heart clenched at the mention of Lady Arabella again. He knew the strategic advantage of such a marriage, yet the very thought filled him with dread. Lady Arabella was everything his mother desired in a daughter in law: wealthy, well connected, and entirely indifferent to him in every single way when it came to her personality. In contrast, Lady Sylvia’s genuine warmth and unpretentious nature had touched something deep within him, something he could not ignore.
“Mother,” he said finally, his voice low but firm, “I understand our family’s position, but I can not base my life solely on strategic alliances. Lady Sylvia is not what you think. She is kind, intelligent, and sincere. Qualities that are rare inour circles. Qualities that I can not help but admire. You simply think that I am rebelling against you, but that is not the case. I want to talk with her, I like dancing with her, she is someone that I admire greatly.”
His mother’s eyes narrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line. “You are naive, Wesley. Your sentiments will lead you to ruin. Mark my words. I do not want you to ruin yourself, but I also do not wish for you to ruin things for us as well. Harriet and me. We do not deserve the tarnished reputation that you will bring by associating with someone like that.”
Wesley met his mother’s gaze, a silent battle of wills passing between them. He had always respected his mother, admired her strength and determination, especially in light of his father’s death. He knew that had to be hard for her, but he could not let her dictate his heart’s desires. He stole another glance at Harriet, whose slight nod gave him courage. She was clearly not upset by his decisions, so why could his mother not try and see things his way?
Was there anything that he could do to change his mother’s mind, or would he be swept away by her wishes regardless? That unnerved him greatly, but he truly was not sure how he could fight the expectations of London society. Not forever.
