Addington estate • with Archie
The events of yesterday’s ball had unfolded as a somewhat more bearable affair than she had initially anticipated, but Dorothea was acutely aware that this was only the beginning. The relentless cycle of social events loomed ahead, and she remembered it all too well.
“I’m quite capable of dressing myself, Mama, even today,”. she exclaimed with an insistent tone, encouraging both her mother and maid to leave her room, making it abundantly clear that she preferred to prepare on her own . It was a matter of principle for her, why would she need a battalion of attendants bustling around when she was more than competent at attending to her own attire? So she did just that, embracing her remaining independence.
Calling day, as it was commonly known, held a mixed bag of emotions for the young ladies of the ton. It was a day marked by the delicate balance between celebration and potential disappointment. where they awaited the arrival of prospective suitors who would drown them with compliments, lavish gifts, and perhaps even declarations of love until the very air became thick with flattery. For many, this attention was a source of delight, for what lady didn’t savor the moment of being a subject of adoration?
However, calling day was also a double edged sword, one that could cut deep with disappointment. The sight of an empty doorstep, the agonizing wait for callers who never arrived, was a wound that ran deep. The shame was a difficult thing to conceal, etching itself on a young lady’s face, and the parents who had nurtured grand expectations would regard their daughters with a mixture of disappointment and, sometimes, even anger. “You had no callers, you are a disgrace to the family,” were words no young lady could bear to hear.
Yet, Dorothea observed this phenomenon with a certain detachment. She has witnessed it all first hand, and the conclusion she came to was that maybe she was just destined to be alone, or at least better off that way. Men weren’t that great anyway.
But things don’t always get exactly what you wish for, do you?
Yet, here she was, reluctantly diving into yet another season of societal expectations, in the relentless pursuit of a match. not for her own happiness, but for the contentment of her family. It wasn’t about her happiness, unlike others, she strongly doubted that repeating this cycle would result in a different outcome. Dorothea was no romantic dreamer; she knew a knight in shining armor wasn’t riding to her rescue. This was reality, not a fairy tale.
•
On that day, when the whole town seemed to be filled with excitement, Archie’s unexpected appearance at the Addington estate stirred a mixture of emotions within Dorothea.
“Lord Archie-” she exclaimed as her mother let Archibald though the door. As he stood before her, Dorothea couldn’t help but feel a twinge of surprise at his unexpected presence on her calling day. His presence was not something she had anticipated, considering the circumstances of their past interactions and the absence of the person through whom they had first met, who was no longer part of their lives.
As he spoke of the attention she was receiving from the gentlemen, a playful glint danced in her eyes. “Delighted might be an overstatement, but it is a rather eventful day, isn’t it?” she responded, her tone light and teasing, het still unaccustomed to the situation. She took note of the flowers, appreciating the thoughtful gesture. "Thank you for the flowers, my lord, they are beautiful.” She thanked him with a soft smile and a nod “It’s a charming surprise, but I must ask, what brings you here on my calling day?"
She couldn’t help but wonder about his motives, considering their shared history and the fact that Archie had once been tied to the life she had with James. There was an unspoken tension, a sense of untold stories lingering in the air. Dorothea, however, remained composed, a picture of grace, as she awaited his response.
@astxrism Archie