Chapter 40 - (1)

The next day, shocking news quaked noble society as it echoed through tea parties and luncheons, deep into the night; Lady Steinhouse had a lover.

Tea rooms were buzzing with this interesting news; they had not had something this juicy in a while. People who would not usually accept invitations to tea were accepting; the women of society took joy in talking about this. Soon, Old Lady Trent whose window looked into the Steinhouse front yard, invited her guests for tea and shared how she had seen Lady Steinhouse leave the house at night and return that morning wearing a man's coat. The topic was hot.

As though one scandal was not enough, news soon spread that the Mclears are marrying their daughter to the heir of Longstrum; the wedding would take place the next day. The rushed marriage made a lot of people imagine things. What could have possibly happened? Most people talked of how pitifully young the bride was and how it was not right. But they soon stopped talking when they discovered the groom was the heir of Longstrum, who has been sick since birth; there were rumours that he may not live till his mids. As such, giving him a wife so early, was for the best. But where could the Longstrums find a lady of society ready to marry someone so sick? Especially given the fact that the sick heir was only fourteen. Not only was he too young to take a wife, which ever wife he chooses would have to be much younger than him. No family would agree to this marriage.

If so, why did the Mclears agree? Did something happen? Why would they rush into this? Still, no one in society thought it was wrong or complained about their age. News of this reached Leah back in school, who cried till her nanny came to pick her up. When she marries, she would no more be expected to go to school or have unmarried friends. As every other married woman was much older than her, she would not be having any friends at all. She cried as she was taken back home; she could not wait to get back and throw a tantrum. She always wanted to be a lady, but this was not how she had thought it would happen.

By midday, a lot of things had taken the society by surprise. If only they knew, this was only a speck of what was to come.

Lady Steinhouse's maid rushed into her lady's chambers and curtsied at her figure sitting on her vanity.

"My lady, something has happened! Something bad!" she said in a panic.

"What?" the lady asked in a frown.

"The entire socialites are saying that you have a lover!" the maid announced.

"What?!" Lady Steinhouse sat up straighter, "How did this happen?!" she asked her maid.

"I don't know, my lady. I went over to get things at the market and heard the servants talking. They said every household is talking about it. One even said that Old Lady Trent next door said she saw you leave last night and return this morning wearing a man's coat! Everybody is talking about it!" the maid said.

"That old lady seems she wants to truly expire before her time!" Lady Steinhouse fumed.

"My lady, the coat in your wardrobe..." the maid asked cautiously. She seemed as though she wanted to confirm the rumour, but could not ask directly; as it may anger her lady.

"What? You think he is my lover too?!" Lady Steinhouse blushed at the thought.

"My Lady, there is really someone?" the maid's eyes rounded out in shock. She had followed the lady for years and never has such a thing happened. Looking at the lady's blushing face, confirmed her thoughts.

"My lady, you can not do this! If you start this, it may get out of hand!" the maid said in panic.

"Lizzy! What am I starting? Don't sprout rubbish!" Lady Steinhouse rebuked strongly, but the blush on her face did not allow the maid to take her seriously.

"My lady, if the gentleman is any of virtue, he would come and take your hand as his wife first. You must make sure he comes and marries you soon, before your reputation is destroyed! My lady, this is a scandal!" the maid said.

"Marry me? don't sprout rubbish! Get out!" the lady's face turned a deep red.

"My lady.." the maid continued.

"Get out.!" Lady Steinhouse scolded and the maid hurried away. Lady Steinhouse seemed to have tuned a redder than a tomato. The word 'Marry' spun in her head, giving her wid thoughts.