Chapter 27

I awoke from my nap feeling refreshed and in a more positive state of mind.   I’d reenacted my attempt to connect with my distant cousin, Anton, and believed I knew what I’d done wrong.  I was eager to try again.

Summoning Elsie to help me get into the contraptions that they considered proper attire - but, to me, were more like torture apparatus that I knew I’d never grow accustomed to- I hurriedly dressed for dinner and eagerly raced to the dining room.

As soon as I entered the large room with its beeswax polished furniture and woodwork, I was grateful to Elsie for refusing to cut corners on my appearance in order to save time.  There, sitting in the seat next to the one that was assigned to me was my newly acquired husband.  I could feel the flush in my cheeks as I struggled to stop my heart from fluttering all over the inside of my chest as I did my best to casually approach my appointed spot at the table.

Seeing me