CHAPTER 7 

William and Angelina were sitting at a table in a teahouse, enjoying the discreet and refined atmosphere. Angelina's blonde hair was pinned up with several bobby pins around her head, giving her a sophisticated look.  

William looked at her. "It is always a pleasure to be in your company, my dear friend," he said. "But I feel there is a reason behind our meeting." 

Angelina smiled and took a sip of tea before speaking. She was an elegant and underhanded woman, shaped by the standards of the society she was in. "In my new residence, there are many servants, so I wanted to avoid unwanted gossip," she said.  

 "Enjoying your new residence?"  

She smiled satisfied as if she had just won a prize. 

"The mansion is magnificent, indeed, however, managing it all requires a lot of work." 

He looked at her puzzled. 

"Tell me, what is the reason for this sudden meeting? I am curious." 

She leaned toward him.  

"I won't be evasive, we don't have time for that. You and I share a common goal: I also wish you to marry Meg."  

William seemed surprised by the revelation. "What is your interest in that?" 

"I don't want her to become a burden to my husband," Angelina replied. 

"How noble of you." He laughed. "I am beginning to worry about the delay in this marriage. I wasn't expecting Meg to refuse my proposal, and it's been frustrating me." 

William was a young man, but his reputation as a libertine and deviant had already spread throughout London.

"William, let's be frank and honest with each other, why you, being a rich man with numerous suitors, wish to marry Meg, she is a poor wretch, no family with no heritage. I understand Miss Martha wanting to marry Meg to a well-born man, but I never understood why your father agreed to it. 

He laughed sarcastically. 

"Dear Angelina you already have your answer, as you said yourself she is a poor wretch with no family.  

"I still don't understand." 

"Actually, it's not a question of wanting to get married. I don't want to get married, my father who demands that I do so. If I choose a noble wife, I will be forced to follow a series of rules and traditions, which would limit my freedom. However, if I decide to marry Meg, I will have the advantage of maintaining my current lifestyle and still receive financial support from my father."  

"But, you will have children with her," Angelina argued. 

"I don't intend to consummate the marriage. It will be a good deal for everyone. She will have a roof over her head, my father will have a daughter-in-law, and I will have money without having to work."  

She drank some more tea and popped a cookie into her mouth.  

"We need to create a situation where she won't be able to say no to marriage." 

William thought for a moment before answering. "How?" he asked, seeking guidance.  

Angelina sighed, looking impatient. "Ah, dear William, don't play naive. You know very well how to do this," she said, with a tone of voice that made it clear she didn't want to explain anything further.  

William looked at her, trying to understand her cryptic words. "How would I do that?" he insisted.  

Angelina looked at him with a mischievous smile on her lips.  

"There are evils that come for good. James forced me to accept Meg living in the same house, it will give us some possibilities. What there is no shortage of in that big house are rooms." 

"But..."

"Nothing really has to happen, but it has to look like it did. I will plan everything, you just need to be there in the same room as her. That will be enough." 

James wasn't sure what Angelina was planning, but he felt that they were creating an alliance between them.

                                                                        // 

While preparing James' favorite cake in the kitchen, Meg was surprised by the arrival of Angelina, who smilingly entered the room. 

"Hi, Meg! What's that delicious smell?" said Angelina with a friendly smile. 

Although she found the other's attitude a bit odd, Meg politely replied, "I'm baking a cake, it's almost ready, Angelina." 

Angelina then tasted some of the cake's syrup with her fingertips and made an observation, "I think you've overdone the sugar." 

 "Mistress Martha taught me the recipe with that amount of sugar," Meg replied a little disconcerted. 

"You are always so modest," Angelina said with a smile. "I really admire that about you, Meg." 

"Thank you," Meg replied, feeling a little uncomfortable with the compliment. 

Angelina laughed softly and suggested, "How about we take a walk around the garden? The weather outside is very nice, and I want to talk to you for a while.  

"Garden?" 

"The maids will take care of the cake," Angelina reassured.   

They started walking through the gardens and Angelina held Meg's arm as if they were good friends.  

"Meg, I must confess that I was unfair to you yesterday. I would like to apologize," Angelina added.  

"It's all right, it's been a difficult few days."

"Besides, I was also unfair in wanting to force you to marry William. I can't imagine what it's like to marry someone you don't love. I was very lucky to have a husband who is in love, James is completely in love with me, but I recognize that this is not the reality for all women," Angelina concluded.   

As Angelina spoke, Meg felt an intense pain in her heart, as if a knife was listening piercing her soul, but still, she forced herself to disguise her true feelings.  

"I know it was Lady Martha's wish," Meg said, trying not to show her distress. 

"She only wanted your safety. But what do you think of William?" 

"William is a mystery to me," Meg replied with a sigh. "I've known him since childhood, but I know little about him now, only the gossip that swirled about him being a notorious libertine."  

"I think there is some exaggeration in those rumors. Our families have known each other for many generations. But, we were inseparable, even though William was a little older than James and I," Angelina spoke up.  

Meg recalled the time when she, James and William were children, and they played together in the garden of the mansion. In those days William would always tease her. But after he left for America, everything changed, they all changed.   

"He traveled to America so suddenly that even James couldn't say goodbye to him," Meg continued.  

 Angelina suddenly stopped and looked at Meg, "I want to be your friend! I want to be your best friend! We need to get along and I promise I will never talk about the wedding again," Angelina said with a smile on her face.  

Meg felt that there was something strange about the whole situation, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She didn't understand what was behind Angelina's attitudes, or if there was sincerity in her words.