“I mean that your life is yours.” James looked down at his own teacup balanced in his lap. “Believe me, life can take a downward turn if one pins all their happiness on the presence of a single other in their life. If I can give one piece of advice that you’ll choose to listen to, let it be this.” He paused for a second, breathing in as if building the courage to give this advice. “Do not latch all your happiness onto one person.”
Margaret nodded slowly. In his own way, James was trying to protect her. She didn’t know how long this good humor of hiswould last. Perhaps just as long as he managed to hold himself back from having a drink, but she was glad at least that for a change, she was talking to her father, and not the addict who had so often taken his place.
“I can be happy without him,” Margaret said with firmness. She was glad Evelina was not there at that moment.
Evelina knew how romantic at heart she was, how often Margaret had pinned her hopes on marrying a man she loved. Having someone to remind her of this naïve wish now would not help.
Margaret needed a stronger backbone, so she would make one for herself. She would find a way to be happy without thinking of love or a happy husband.
“What makes you happy?” Alexandra asked softly.
“You three,” Margaret said with a smile. “Evelina.”
“Family,” Louisa surmised quietly.
“Exactly.”
“Then we could do those things on the list you made,” Penelope offered up. “We could spend more time together?”
“I’d like that.” Margaret was relieved her father didn’t ask about the list, as it was something she had created privately with her sisters. Yet James seemed more interested in staring darkly down into his teacup at that moment.
Perhaps he is wondering how we ended up here.
“There are independent women of means who enjoy their lives,” Alexandra said, leaning forward animatedly. “There is a fine widow in the ton, Mrs. Selwin, who is known for her grand social life and her charitable endeavors, is she not? She is very happy without a partner in her life.”
Margaret blinked, thinking what a fine idea this was. She had never met Mrs. Selwin but had seen her in passing. The lady did indeed always look very happy. She was smiling, busying herself with affairs. Surely with how busy she kept herself, she did not have time to mourn the loss of what could have been?
“I like that idea. Very much.” Margaret blinked.
“You often talked of the orphanages before,” Alexandra said, leaning forward animatedly. “Perhaps you could offer to help with them in London.”
“A fine idea.” James spoke up, surprising them all. Margaret smiled in shock at her father who just smiled back.
“You enjoyed throwing the ball,” Louisa went on. “You could hold other events. Perhaps soirees for ladies, card nights, games nights. After all, you like your cards.”
“I do.” Margaret nodded. This was also a wonderful idea. “Perhaps when summer comes, I could hold tea parties too in the garden. We could play croquet and battledore.”
“This sounds wonderful.” Penelope leaned forward, full of animation. “You know Evelina would help with such preparations.”
Margaret knew Evelina would help if asked, but she rather liked the idea of doing all the preparations herself. It would help to keep her mind distracted.
“My debut is coming up, too,” Louisa reminded Margaret softly, laying her hand on Margaret’s arm. “If you still wished to host the event, you could.”
James leaned forward at this news. Margaret knew without needing to ask him that he was eager for this idea too. After all, the event would then be paid for out of her purse, rather than his. On this occasion though, she didn’t mind his eagerness. The idea of preparing Louisa’s debut was a wonderful distraction.
“Yes, yes, I would love to.” Margaret clutched Louisa’s hand tightly. “Would you come and stay a while, Louisa? We could make the preparations together. The two of us.” Now she had alighted on this idea, she was eager to see it through. Havinganother in the house would help her not feel so alone and suffer the quiet so much either.
“Of course.” Louisa smiled at her. “I’ll stay as long as you wish me to. Christmas is not far away now.”
“Yes. You must all come to my house for Christmas.” Now Margaret was making plans of things to do, she was eager to put as many into her diary as possible. She turned to her father. “You will come, won’t you?”
“If you wish.” He smiled softly. “Of course we will.”
It would give her something else to think about, to plan a wonderful Christmas dinner for her family, and to arrange for presents too.
“What if…” Penelope began slowly, then clearly thought the better of her words and fell silent.
“Go on,” Margaret urged. “What did you wish to say, Penelope?”
