Read online free
  • Home
  • Romance & Love
  • Fantasy
  • Science Fiction
  • Mystery & Detective
  • Thrillers & Crime
  • Actions & Adventure
  • History & Fiction
  • Horror
  • Western
  • Humor

    Persuasion


    Prev Next




      Persuasion

      By

      Danielle Dubois

      © Copyright by Danielle Dubois, July 2012

      © Cover Art, July 2012

      Published by KK and M

      Lake Park, GA 31636

      kkandmpublishing.com

      This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s

      imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living

      persons or events is merely coincidence.

      Chapter 1

      While the bustle that was happening around her sent a sizzle of excitement

      through Lady Lily Mercer's veins, it also brought a thrill of fear.

      The hundreds of people roaming around her aunt's London townhouse were

      here for her, and their numbers were steadily increasing as the hours

      passed.

      On a deep inhalation, Lily walked slowly into the crowd and knew that even

      last week, when she had attended court and been presented to the

      sovereign herself, she had not been so nervous. There was something

      distinctly unnerving about a come out. Here, all eyes were on her, on any

      faux pas she might make, on her dress, on her deportment. The number of

      errors she could make were numerous and almost the entire guest list would

      relish the idea of a good gossip at Lily's expense.

      That was another fact that she had come to dislike about London, the

      maliciousness of the people and all because they were bored! Lily had never

      known anything like it!

      Had she had her mama at her side and not her aunt then Lily knew that she

      would have been fine. Instead, her aunt was here and her mama was at the

      family seat in Cheshire, hibernating from life in the family estate as she

      mourned Lily's papa's passing. Although her father had died eighteen

      months earlier, her mother still grieved him as though mere hours had

      passed and not almost two years.

      Gathering her skirts in her hand, Lily grimaced as the action prodded her

      into looking down, and, once again, she spied the golden bodice of her

      dress. It appeared as though her dear Aunt Millie had slipped a whispered

      message to Madame Boliage when she had been measured for the dress by

      her aunt's modiste, one that meant her niece's coming out dress was not the

      respectable white linen it ought to have been and, instead, was a clinging

      white crepe-back satin in the Empire line, but to her provincial sensibilities,

      the bust was entirely indecent.

      She had to quell the overwhelming desire to rush upstairs and return to her

      suite to hide at least a small part of her décolleté with a fichu. The urge was

      uppermost in her mind and, strangely, it eased her nerves to some extent. It

      was with difficulty that she turned from the refreshment tables and cast a

      weary eye over the proceedings.

      The ballroom took up one whole floor of her Aunt Millie and Uncle George's

      London mansion. The heat was oppressive and came from both the crush

      and the extraordinary amount of candles. It made it hard to breathe and she

      wished that she could walk out on to the balcony without being missed, but,

      as the epicenter of this event, she could hardly disappear as she so wanted.

      The three thousand candles, the housekeeper had informed her of this

      number with a sniff, were dotted around the enormous room and as she

      took in the cavernous depths with a glance, she noted that in truth, another

      one or two thousand more were needed. There were areas that were far too

      dark for decency. But she supposed, cynically, that they would make the

      rakes and their married lovers content. Not that she was supposed to even

      know what a rake actually was, but one heard rumors and they were

      impossible to completely dismiss as out of hand.

      The central lines of the rooms were more illuminated. On the largest of the

      six towering candelabras, there were over five hundred candles and the rest

      contained around four hundred apiece! The walls looked as though they were

      moving from the sheer number of flickering flames!

      Ordinarily, it was a girl's family who organized the come-out ball and not the

      girl herself. But Lillian's Aunt Millie was, while a lovely aunt, a tad addled in

      the mind department. Lily knew more about this event than she cared to

      ever know! And for this to be her truly first step on to the marriage mart,

      where she would be called upon to arrange more of these beastly events,

      made her feel positively dreary!

      She was grateful. Truthfully, she was. But she was also mired with apathetic

      gloom. It had assailed her since her father's death and she felt sure she

      would soon choke upon her glumness!

      Many a girl, her age or younger, would have greatly appreciated having this

      grand ballroom at their disposal. And she did. Inwardly, Lily sighed. She did!

      Her tired gaze swept along the huge expanse of space, which was absolutely

      overflowing with the best of the ton's humanity, and switched to the décor of

      the room, which was much more to her taste. It always managed to press

      her into an art-induced stupor, when she took in the magical magnificence of

      the painted beauty this room contained.

      Even though it’s sheer size was vulgar, her uncle's antecedents had at least

      been sage with interior decorating.

      While the room had four walls, they were four very large walls and each

      depicted a Renaissance scene. The murals were overlarge and delightful,

      displaying the frolicking Gods and Goddesses of ancient Rome with the touch

      of a master's hand. The woodland area and the bluer than blue skies that

      were redolent with warmth. The sepia tones that added a patina of vivacity

      and the other rich colors that gave a much needed elegance to the ballroom.

      Cornices and faux columns decorated the wainscoting in a glittering white,

      which had been daubed especially for this grand occasion.

      An orchestra was stationed at one end of the room, the refreshments at the

      other. Music lovers congregated at the former, and the tabbies at the latter.

      In the very center, couples danced merrily.

      It was a jovial scene, yet it inspired no happiness in her.

      Her smile was more of a grimace, as one rather putrid-looking matron

      introduced her daughter and son to Lily. Naturally, this was a breach in

      etiquette. As the daughter of a Marquis, only a Duke or person of the same

      rank could come up to her without invitation or introduction.

      Lily brushed that aside and attempted to greet the three with welcome. This

      was not the first time it had occurred and while her aunt pressured her to

      cut them as was her right, Lily couldn't find it in her heart to do so.

      No. It was her ball and she had to be the hostess.

      It was true that that should have been Aunt Millie's role, but her unfocused

      way of looking at life had been rather infuriating these months past and it

      had been up to Lily to have the ball arranged. In truth, she had preferred

      organizing it! Give her that any day of the week, than attending the damned

      thing!

      Especially considering what it
    meant - her first day on the marriage mart.

      She shuddered at the thought of spending the rest of her life with any of the

      men here. But the one consolation she had was the fact that she would not

      have to be pressured into marriage. Thank the Lord!

      She was most fortunate, of that she did know and needed no prompting to

      truly understand the depth of the gift she was being handed. The majority of

      the guests here were friends or acquaintances that she had gradually come

      to know over the period of her life. Lily could, with certainty, calculate that

      at least ninety of the girls here were being pressured into making a match.

      And yet, Lily was independent. Always had been and always would be, as

      she had been raised that way. It was, therefore, difficult for her to be with

      milksop girls who had just left the schoolroom and who were very firmly

      under their mother's control.

      At two and twenty, Lily was long overdue this ball. Yet while most women of

      her social strata would love the regalia and the opulence of this party, she

      wished she could depart! Either that, or hastily spirit herself away to the

      library for a much quieter evening.

      Lily smiled to herself at that thought. Her aunt might be of the eccentric

      variety, but she would be certain to notice that her beloved niece had

      disappeared somewhere on what should have been the grandest night of her

      young life!

      She bobbed a curtsy to the over-bearing mother before her and quickly

      drifted away to free herself from the avaricious lights in the matron's eyes.

      She could almost hear the woman's thoughts, how marvelous to not be

      rejected by Lady Mercer! Perhaps she and Herbert could make a match! The

      social difference isn't too large. After all, he is rather important in

      Westminster! Surely that repairs some of the gap?

      Wrinkling her nose at the thought, for while she had nothing against

      Herberts in general, with this man in particular, she certainly did! A paunch

      at five and twenty? Who had ever heard of the like! Society and the ton did

      encourage a rather dissipated lifestyle, but that did not mean that she had

      to lead that kind of life too! Especially with Herbert at her side! If she were

      to marry, it would not be to a man who needed corsets more than she

      herself did!

      It wasn't that she was a snob.

      In fact, the matron she had just swept herself away from had been the snob!

      But Lily was of the opinion that were she to ever place herself within any

      man's control, she would have to love him. Of that she was dead certain.

      Love did not conquer all- for had her mother not loved her father and yet

      was she not sinking into an early grave? But still, it was vital to a person's

      existence. Of that, Lily did know. Her mama was unhappy now, but her

      years had been filled with felicity and that was down to the love she had

      shared with Martin, Lily's papa.

      A woman swept towards her, dressed in a rather virulent shade of purple. A

      turban sat askew on top of her head and a huge bejeweled brooch sat plum

      in the center of the headpiece. She wore the current Empire-line style but in

      a purple and lilac brocade that ensured she garnered attention. At her throat

      was an overlarge amethyst that glistened and gleamed.

      “Darling!” Lily's Aunt Millie cried and bestowed upon her amused niece's

      cheeks two kisses. Lily always enjoyed her aunt's flamboyance. There was

      something both childish and coy about it that made the woman, who was at

      least five and fifty, seem more of a débutante than herself! Not that Lily had

      learned of aunt's age from Millie herself. Goodness, no. Her father had

      amusedly recounted the dear lady's age, when Lily had compared the older

      woman to a playful nymph once.

      While the thought of her papa saddened her, it did not affect the serene

      mask she presented to the world. Perhaps her eyes were touched with her

      feelings. “Yes? Is something wrong, aunt?” she murmured as she calmly

      patted her aunt’s hand.

      “I'm sure that your uncle has disappeared to the gaming tables, my dear,

      and after I specifically told him not to! What do I do?”

      “What do you do?” Lily repeated with a frown. “Why not simply leave him?

      It’s not necessary to have him here. We both know that he hates to dance

      and that he is only holding the ball because of his fondness for me. Leave

      him in peace, aunt. Let him enjoy his cards!”

      “But I asked him not to!” Aunt Millie responded, a mutinous cast about her

      mouth. She looked perilously close to stomping her foot. “Lud, what am I to

      do with him? You see what I've had to endure these twenty-four years

      past?”

      Privately, Lily thought her uncle a saint, but she kept that thought firmly

      bolted in her head. Lily and Uncle George shared many a tense and strained

      look when glancing upon Aunt Millie's more extravagant tantrums, but not a

      word was ever said against the older lady. Despite her childlike ways, Aunt

      Millie was liable to be deeply hurt by any criticism, and, regardless of her

      nature, which could be both selfish and intolerant, she was well loved by her

      whole family. Lily included.

      “Oh! Leave him, aunt!” she murmured soothingly, inwardly thinking that at

      least one member of their family could be content that eve. “You never know

      he might win something and buy you a present!”

      A tradition had been established long ago by her aunt and uncle, and was

      well-known amongst them all. Uncle George had the poorest luck, but on

      occasion had been known to win and always a large sum. As aunt forbore to

      allow him to gamble, he always purchased her a gift with the winnings.

      “As if that is enough this time, Lily! Honestly. Tis important that we show a

      good face to the ton! Another pendant would hardly do that!”

      Lily waved a hand. “But we've already presented a good face, aunt! The ball

      started over two hours ago!” And she had been counting every minute!

      Aunt Millie looked unconvinced. “It is not as though I ask much of him, Lily!

      Oh, it is too much! As it is your special occasion and I should not be

      burdening you with this, I shall drop this matter. But he shall hear from me

      later! Of that I promise!” she declared and swept away as swiftly as she had

      arrived, regal in her purple attire and rebellious with it!

      Lily ducked her head to hide her smile and simultaneously shook out her

      skirts. She looked up as someone laughed particularly loudly and

      inadvertently caught some of the glances that were thrown her way. Rather

      than be pleased by this, she was displeased!

      Her aunt had decried that it was about time she left the wilderness of the

      country on the very day of her arrival in London one month ago. But Lily was

      not as out of touch as her aunt believed. She had many friends in the ton,

      and during her period of mourning, had received many a letter detailing the

      gossip and news of the foibles that had occurred within the crowded groups

      of the ton's most influential people.

      One of the men that had cast a smile at her mere moments ago, according

      to her friend Lady Sara Doverby, had had an affair with one of his maids

      then cast h
    er out, when she had, horror of horrors, become pregnant!

      Certainly not the type of gentleman Lily wished to become acquainted with,

      never mind marry!

      That was the beauty of having friends that were wed, while she wasn't. It

      meant that they told her things that unwed débutantes had no right to hear.

      In truth, if she had to go through this charade of a come out, then she was

      content to do it now and at this stage in her life for it meant that she was

      forearmed and forewarned!

      Of course, being forearmed and forewarned was most unseemly. It meant

      that she knew all that she shouldn't, from what occurred in the marriage bed

      to the affaires du coeur of the ton's most eligible gentlemen. Naturally, she

      cared not but Lily knew that many a man would find her depth of knowledge

      disgusting.

      Out-sweeping her fan, Lily fluttered the decorated and patterned silk and

      enjoyed the slight breeze against her admittedly flushed cheeks. The heat

      was oppressive and the dreadful crush did not help at all.

      She returned to the refreshments table and took a milk ice, its taste was

      mildly pleasant, but she enjoyed it for its coolness and for no other reason.

      Lily watched as myriad maids rushed in and out with small bowls of the

      concoction she was eating. Ices were a nightmare for the cook, but a

      necessity if one were to survive a ball!

      With a determined smile, Lily determined to cease being such an irascible

      bore and to make an effort to enjoy herself. The truth was that a few years

      ago she would have been delighted by this event. Would have spent the

      evening in raptures, as she explored every inch of the ballroom and danced

      along the entire length of the floor!

      Her father's death had changed her and not necessarily for the good.

      She smiled warmly at one of the younger girls, who looked as though she

      had been cowed one too many times by the domineering woman at her side

      and noted the simple elegance of her dress. Deciding that she wanted to

      know the modiste behind that garment -for no longer could she trust her

      aunt's, not after this debacle of a dress at any rate!- Lily stalked towards the

      duo and curtsied.

      “Lady Lily, such a pleasure,” the elder of the two murmured, a slight bloom

      of surprise on her cheeks.

      “The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Sampson. May I steal your daughter for a stroll

     

    Prev Next
Read online free - Copyright 2016 - 2025