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Freddie felt like an imposter as he sat in the cavernous space filled with joyful chatter. An imposter, as he found it difficult to find complete happiness in this union. That he could feel anything but delighted at his own brother’s wedding was shameful. Still, a lifetime of torment made it difficult for one to see anything but clouds.
Today his brother, Lord Hugh Prentice, wed the lovely Lady Sarah Pleinsworth. It wasn’t that he thought Hugh had married for anything but love. Maybe that had crossed his mind prior to knowing his brother’s betrothed. However, any doubt of that had fizzled when he had met Lady Sarah for the first time just two days prior and seen the look of adoration on Hugh’s face.
No, Lord Hugh Prentice was besotted with his new wife.
Freddie did not understand, he could not understand, how could Hugh choose to make such a devil’s bargain with Ramsgate. That he could choose to willingly provide his father with an heir, to continue to allow the Prentice bloodline to taint another generation.
More surprising to Freddie, was his brother’s fondness for his newly extended family. More specifically, his new sisters by marriage. Further confounding was Hugh’s desire for Freddie to get to know his cousins . It was how he found himself seated next to one Lady Frances Pleinsworth.
“Hullo Lord Frederick.” Lady Frances greeted him with a dazzling smile. The girl was eleven? Twelve? Freddie could not remember the exact age Hugh had placed on each of the Pleinsworth sisters, but he knew that Lady Frances was the youngest. When he did not respond, her head turned slightly, a bit like a small bird.
“It is… Lord Frederick?” She asked in question before turning apologetic. “Sorry, I always find it difficult to remember if one might have a title I should be using.”
“Lord Frederick is correct.” Freddie replied politely. There was a hereditary title, a viscountcy, but he resisted claim to any birthright provided by his father.
“Are you enjoying the party, Lord Frederick?” Frances asked as she held her gaze upon him and he wondered if she would see through the truth of any answer he provided.
“Of course, why do you ask?”
“I thought perhaps you were upset at not being sat at the head table.” She asked, looking toward the table atop a platform nearby, family surrounding Hugh and Lady Sarah. It was the last place he wanted to be, the center of attention.
“No, I’m quite happy here.” He replied to the girl.
Frances let out a sigh, before looking at him with a forlorn expression marring her features.
“I would have adored sitting at the head table.” She added sadly, her eyes still attached to the object with want. “Sarah was going to allow me to sit with them but Mama said I am still too young.”
“There is always next time, you do have two more sisters after all.” He offered, finding a need to cheer the wisp of a girl up.
“Yes.. next time,” Frances added wistfully before suddenly perking up. “I did manage other concessions, however.” She looked back at him with a conspiratorial smile before adding in a whisper. “... to the cake.”
Freddie looked worriedly at the girl, and then at the still-untouched cake across the way. Her grin was large and proud and he decided that no mischief was likely afoot. Still, he found it necessary to inquire further… he did love cake.
“What concessions might you have arrived at Lady Frances?” Freddie asked, hoping for the best.
“The piping… and look at the top!” She replied smartly. “Doesn’t it look spectacular?” Frances asked, looking immensely proud at her contribution.
Freddie looked deeply at the cake, attempting to discern what might be special about it. The piping was of a blueish-silver he had not previously seen on a cake, and it had a perfectly symmetrical twist to it. This effect was continued at the top and it seemed to complete into what looked like… a horn?
“It looks a bit like a unicorn, now that you mention it.” He added in observation.
Frances let out an excited squeak at his answer.
“Yes!” She yipped in celebration, her joy unnoticed amongst the festivities. Frances looked toward him in excitement at the topic. “Tell me Lord Frederick, do you like Unicorns? I adore them..” She finished with a dreamy sigh, her brown eyes again looking toward the cake.
“I don’t believe I have thought much of them.” Freddie replied sincerely, before smiling at Frances and adding “... If I were to see one, I’m sure I would adore it as well.”
Though a mythical creature and likely not real. Freddie had always been partial to dreams, it was the one indulgence he allowed. Achieving his own happiness would require dreaming of a future that was not yet possible.
“I would like to be the one to discover them one day.” Frances continued, apparently deciding the topic had moved from the cake to greater analysis on the subject. “Even Lord Hugh agrees that they may exist.”
Freddie looked at her quizzically, that
did not
sound like his brother.
“Well… he has agreed that we are not able to disprove their existence.”
Now that sounded like Hugh.
“If you were to find one… a unicorn… what might you do with it?” Freddie asked with a playful edge. “Would you tame it as your own? Perhaps ride it?”
Frances shook her head back and forth before responding.
“I would simply admire how marvelous they are.” She spoke sagely. “I don’t think we are meant to control such creatures. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Freddie looked at the girl with a bit of wonder, so pure of intent.
“I believe you are correct Lady Frances.”
Maybe having cousins would be nice...