Scandalous is reserved for Tristan

- Josephine -

Aria rushed up behind me in the hallway.

“My Lady, I- “

“Not here.”

We entered our sitting room and Aria quickly shut the door, before following me into my bedroom.

I turned to face her, “Well?”

She gave me salacious grin, and waved her hand at me.

“Come I’ll tell you while we get you ready for bed.”

I anxiously removed my jewellery as she began to unlace my dress.

“Tell me Aria.”

I could feel her smiling behind me.

“Well, Lord and Lady Leven seem to be quite genuine. They are involved in several charities and get involved with philanthropy whenever they get a chance. Lord Leven’s family are very wealthy, very very wealthy. His Father and Grandfather were gifted titles and lands by the last King. Lady Leven’s background is more modest, but she and her family have always been involved in high society.”

I nodded slowly, “Interesting.”

Aria chuckled.

“No my lady, it’s the children who are interesting.”

I glanced up and met Aria’s gaze in the mirror, “Go on.”

“Master Silas is very stern. He is polite and courteous to the staff, but no one has ever seen him smile. He despises society season, and loathes going to balls. Although the girls think he couldn’t dance if he tried. The only person he engages with is his childhood friend Peter, but no one can understand why as apparently Peter is very jolly and friendly.”

My mind went back to the garden. If Silas was the tall stoic figure, Peter must have been the relaxed man beside him.

“Is that all?”

“It appears so. He’s very private by the sound of it. He spends his days sitting with his Father in the study, taking care of the tenants on their land. The maids have never seen him with a woman, and he won’t discuss marriage with his parents. Apparently Lady Leven is desperate to marry him off as she’s hoping it will soften him.”

Aria had continued to undress me as she spoke. I took a deep breath and rubbed my ribs as my corset fell to the floor.

“What about Elodie?”

“Ah, now Elodie sounds like fun, I think you two will really get along. She loves society season, because the balls give her an opportunity to dance.”

Aria and I shared a smile in the mirror. I had never been to the society balls, but my father had hired a teacher so that I could learn how to dance. I pain ran through me as I realised he wouldn’t be at my first ball. I slipped my undergarments over my head and continued to question Aria.

“Will she be married soon?”

Aria gave me wicked smile as she handed me my nightgown.

“Well, apparently she has a gentleman friend, but no one knows who he is. The maids are fairly certain that her parents don’t know about him, because they have seen her sneaking about in the dead of night. They have even seen her leave the estate in a small carriage and not return for some hours!”

My eyes widened with surprise.

“How scandalous.”

Aria chuckled. “Scandalous is reserved for Tristan.”

I sighed remembering his performance at dinner. I walked over to the bed, and perched on the mattress.

Aria’s wicked smile deepened.

“Tristan is everyone’s favourite. He gets away with everything, because he’s the baby of the family. He also helps his Father maintain his land, and the maids said that if there was a problem, people much preferred speaking to Tristan than Silas. He seems very charming, was he handsome?”

“Aria.” I rolled my eyes.

She chuckled and sat down next to me on the bed.

“Josephine, have you noticed that all of the maids are… well, on the older side.”

I furrowed my brows at her. I hadn’t noticed, and why would it matter?

She nodded and continued.

“Well, when Tristan turned 16 he had an affair with one of the young maids.”

“What?” I gasped in horror.

“They took each other’s virginity, and then continued their relationship for a year. Apparently she wanted to marry Tristan, but when he told her that they could never be together she told Lord Leven that she and Tristan were in love. The maids aren’t sure what happened, but the girl was moved out of the house that day and they never saw her again. Since then Lady Leven doesn’t hire young women to be maids in the house.”

I shook my head in disgust.

“That poor girl. As the Lord’s son he probably looked at her as disposable.”

“Yes certainly, but it doesn’t end there!”

I sighed. I don’t think I could be less impressed with this man.

“For the last few years he has been having an affair with Lady Middleton.”

“Who’s lady Middleton?”

“She is the widow of Lord Middleton, and a childhood friend of Lady Leven!”

It turned out I could be less impressed. This man ruined a young woman’s life for the sake of his lust, and not satisfied he then engages in an affair with his Mother’s friend, threatening the entire family’s reputation.

“It’s an open secret, everybody knows that they secretly meet, but no one says anything.”

I got up still shocked and walked around the bed before climbing inside. Aria, sensing my mood attempted to relieve the tension.

“I truly think you will be fine here my Lady. Every family has its secrets. Just keep your head down and focus on yourself. Besides, you will soon be attending many balls and events. I assure you, you will be having so much fun this spring and summer, that all of your concerns will fall away.”

I smiled at her, silently asking her to leave. My head was spinning and it had been such a long day.

“Good night my Lady.”

“Good night Aria.”

She turned and left, the soft click of the door echoing in my oversized room.

I tried to get comfortable, I must have tossed and turned for at least an hour. I flopped onto my back in frustration. My whole body was vibrating, there was no way I could sleep. I had to relieve this tension.