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Author's Chapter Notes:
Elisabeth gets lessons on how to be a lady.
Early in the morning, Elisabeth stared through her window at the autumn leaves that blew about and read the poem William wrote on an orange card in the shape of a leaf.

Come said the wind to
the leaves one day,
Come o're the meadows
and we will play.
Put on your dresses
scarlet and gold,
For summer is gone
and the days grow cold.

*Victorian children’s song

Then she quickly readied herself and joined Rose for yet another lesson in being a proper wife. Yesterday, she learned that she couldn’t cook: failure one. Today was hosting a tea party. First, she made sure the scones, sandwiches and butter cookies were ready. Then she sat down with her guest and placed the tea tray on the small table in front of them. She poured a cup for Rose then herself before placing it back on the tray.

Rose turned the spout. “The spout must always face the hostess.”

“Milk,” Elisabeth offered.

“You always offer the sugar first so it may dissolve before you pour the milk. Careful not to let the tongs touch the tea.” They sipped a little. “The saucer remains on the table and pinky down.”

“Scones,” Elisabeth offered.

“Napkin first,” Rose stated.

Elisabeth did so. After scones, they ate the sandwiches followed by dessert.

After tea in the parlor, they went into the dining room where a pile of dishes, silverware and other nick knacks sat in a large pile in the center of the table. “You must arrange the place settings correctly. Hopefully, you’ll have a cook who knows what to fix. Remember that everything must be perfect.”

“If it’s not perfect, my husband and my friends will forgive.” Elisabeth started placing the plates in their proper places.

“I’m sure at first he would. Forgiveness is easy for newlyweds. However, you are not marrying a man of such station that you can simply be an ornamental wife. William needs a functional wife. One that won’t embarrass him in front of a prospective client.”

Of the six forks, Elisabeth knew the salad fork and the one for the main course. Also, a knife was a knife but there was one for the butter, roast, game and several others that she couldn’t remember. Onto the stemware, she remembered the red glass was for Rhine wine but she couldn’t remember the others.

After she finished, Rose corrected everything before handing her a dinner menu. “What is wrong with this menu?”

“Too many sauces,” Elisabeth guessed.

Rose rolled her eyes. “No, you never serve fish with potatoes.”

Despite their dining room disaster, Rose continued with their lessons. “The most important thing for a wife to do is to always act like a lady. First, you must be a devout Christian. You need to attend church regularly. Now I know at one point you have considered a profession. Your profession is to govern your home and be a loving mother.” Rose looked around discretely. “Lastly, you must remain a virgin until marriage. You behave too flirtatiously.”

When she thought of everything her and William did do, Elisabeth blushed. However, one barrier remained intact. “I can assure you that I’m still a virgin.” *Just not entirely pure.*

“And you will remain so until your wedding night,” Rose stated. “A married lady never initiates the act nor does she behave wantonly. If she does, she is not a lady.”

*I’m sure William doesn’t want a lady in his bed. However, I’m sure he wants someone who can run his home. What am I going to do?* “I understand. I’m not feeling well. I’m going to lie down for a little while.”

Once inside her room, Elisabeth hiked up her skirt, climbed out of her window and shimmied down the tree.



After running all the way to William’s house, Elisabeth frantically knocked on their door. Once the servant let her in, Anne said goodbye to a few of her matronly friends who had just finished tea. They raised their eyebrows when they saw her rudeness but Anne quickly recovered the situation. “Elisabeth is here to discuss the wedding. She’s just a tad early but it’s alright since we’re just finishing up.”

While the others ladies left, Elisabeth stared at the perfect place settings and sighed. *This will never be me.*

Anne joined her. “What’s wrong dear?” When Elisabeth greeted her question with silence, Anne hugged her. “Tell me,” she pleaded.

“I can’t set a proper table, throw a proper dinner party or serve tea correctly so I won’t make a good wife.” Elisabeth plopped down on the chaise.

“I can teach you.”

Elisabeth shrugged. “Thing is I really don’t care about those things.”

“You don’t care about those things. Is it because Americans aren’t into as into the British pomp and circumstance?”

“That’s a lot of it. There are other reasons too. I don’t want to ruin William’s business because I’m not a proper wife.”

Anne looked at her sympathetically. “You may not be a proper wife by society’s standards but you’ll be a proper wife to William.”

“But what about the business dinners and entertaining,” she countered. “Will you help me with them?”

“Once you became the lady of the house, I planned to move to the country cottage.” Anne patted her hand. “Most young wives do not want their mother-in-laws anywhere near them.”

“This house is huge. We won’t be stepping on each other. It wouldn’t bother me if you stayed here.”

Anne daintily dabbed a couple of tears from her eyes. “We will ask William if it’s alright when he comes home.” She excused herself for a moment. When she returned, she handed Elisabeth a large bulky envelope. “Go ahead and open it,” she said.

Little seashells adorned the border of the card that featured a painting of a beach and an address in Malaga, Spain. “What’s this?”
“My present to you and William,” she answered. “One of my friends has a very private beach bungalow there and I thought it would be the perfect place for your honeymoon. You’ll take a steamship there and back. You’ll have about two months. That’s why William’s been working extra lately. He wants to clear his schedule. So, do you like?”

*Private beach, sex, naked William, sex, sun, sex, swimming, sex, I am so NOT a lady!* “It sounds wonderful. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Would you like to stay for dinner?”

“Yes, thank you.”

For several hours, they discussed the wedding and several other topics.


Just before dinner, William arrived home so Anne left the parlor to give them some privacy. Before he could say anything, Elisabeth threw her arms around him and kissed. When the dinner bell rang, they stopped and she ran her fingers through his hair. “This is most unexpected but the best welcome home ever.” As he held her close, he nibbled her earlobe making her giggle. “What brings you here?”

“Once we’re married, I won’t be acting like a lady.”

He crinkled his nose and pushed back his spectacles. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

“Rose told me that a lady never initiates you know.” She ran her finger down his chest. “I’m not sure I’ll be much of a lady.”

“I hope not.” He pressed himself against her.

“Good, then you’ll get even better welcome homes,” she whispered. The dinner bell rang even louder so he took her hand and lead her to the dining room. “So are you going to tell me about your Halloween costume?”

“No it’s a surprise.”

“That’s not fair. I mean Jane can’t keep a secret so you know about ours. Please tell me.” She jutted her bottom lip out. She and Jane decided to wear the same style of revealing outfits.

William smiled with what Justin came up with. Technically, they weren’t costumes. “You’ll just have to see. I will give you a hint. We both have been practicing.”

“Practicing what?” she asked.

“If I told you, it would give it away.”


Chapter End Notes:
Please R&R. Can anyone guess what William's costume will be? It's from a movie in my top 100. Bring on the guesses. Thanks for your support.



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