Page 9 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
Nathaniel thought for a moment, wishing to answer as best he could and hoping that he would do justice to his grandmother.
“She is doing as well as any woman might during such a difficult circumstance. Or man. Anyone who experiences the loss of a child. I have spent a great deal of time with her, but I am well aware that it remains difficult for her. She misses my father. She even missed my mother, despite having not cared a great deal for her over the years,” Nathaniel said.
“She disliked your mother?” Lord Kensington asked, surprised by this news.
“It was not a dislike. But I often saw that she doubted the love between my parents and I believe it was for good reason. Although my parents were loyal to one another, it certainly did not appear as though they had a true love,” he admitted sadly.
“You think not?”
Nathaniel realised then that he had perhaps made an error. Lord Kensington was a friend of his father, certainly long before he began to befriend Nathaniel. Was it wrong for him to confess a doubt about the love between his mother and father?
“I simply wonder at times,” he reiterated.
“Yes, I suppose there is nothing wrong with that. It is difficult to discover love between others. And in times like ours, it is a question worth asking. A great deal of marriages are arranged just as yours was,” Lord Kensington noted. But suddenly, he added, “So I think you are correct, Mr. Norton. It is possible they did not have love. But they did have you. And I believe that that was enough.”
Chapter 5
Olivia was sewing the new ribbon on a simple dress for Gemma, giving it a flair that her youngest sister would be thrilled by. Two days had passed and she first wrote the story that she had been thrilled to share with her sisters. Seeing how they loved it, she now chose to surprise them with this addition to their clothing.
She couldn’t wait to show the dresses to her sisters, but in the meantime, she was working hard to ensure that they did not see them while she was still doing her work.
Clouds were collecting in the sky and making it more difficult for Olivia to see from where she was in the room. There was not enough light flooding through the windows, so she decided she had little choice other than to sit outside for a while. Either her sisters would come or the rain, but as long as she was able to, Olivia decided that sewing outside was her best choice.
Pulling a chair out through the door, Olivia made herself as comfortable as she could on the wooden seat. It was far from ideal, but it was enough for the moment.
The clouds remained light in colour so she was less concerned about the rain than she had been previously. She could see well enough and was hoping that she would at least finish Gemma’s dress quickly that day.
However, Olivia was caught completely by surprise when she saw a figure coming her way. It was not a man she had ever seen at their home before. Certainly, he was seen going back and forth each day, but not to the Digby home.
“Is this the residence of Miss Olivia Digby?” the man asked, his satchel heavy with paper.
She continued to stare at him for a few more moments, not sure what she could possibly say in reply.
“Miss?” he prodded.
“Um…yes. That is me. I am Olivia Digby.”
The postman looked at her more closely, then again at the letter in his hands. “Right, here, this is for you,” he told her, holding out the paper.
“For me? A letter?” Olivia asked quite uncertainly. She felt like a fool for being so confused, but she couldn’t imagine who would be sending her a letter.
Reaching out her hand, Olivia accepted it and noted the crest sealing the paper closed. The postman made his way from the home, but Olivia barely noticed at all. She could hardly comprehend what this letter could be.
The crest stood out in a way that made her heart pound intensely. It simply couldn’t be. The Kirby Family? Truly?
The Kirby family was notorious for their wealth and status in society. The reason they would be sending a letter directly to Olivia Digby, one of London’s typical young women without wealth, could not be grasped. She stared at the letter further, eyeing it with deep suspicion and an inherent fear, as though her hands were not worthy of holding it.
But she could not learn what it was that had caused this paper to land in her hands until she opened and read it. Olivia knew that well. So she took the chance, laying the dress carefully on her lap and gently placing the paper on top of it.
She slid her finger underneath the seal and opened it with a reverence and caution that she couldn’t quite express.
The lettering was elaborate and decorative, quite possibly the most beautiful hand she had ever seen. It was exquisite and it was as though the paper glowed beneath the black of the ink. Not only that, but she was amazed by the addition of silver swirls along the edges of the sheet.
No paper had ever looked so marvellous as this.
To Miss Olivia Digby,
An invitation has been issued from her ladyship, the Dowager Eliza Kirby of Manning Estate. It is at her behest that you should pay a visit at the estate on Tuesday, the thirteenth of July, at three o’clock in the afternoon. Your visit shall include tea and cakes. Please promptly respond if this suits you and do not delay. Stationery has been included for your reply.
