"Luther" Lord Edward declared, his cheeks reddening, "I can guarantee that they will be the cause of our downfall. Even though they have not slaughtered or banished us in the same way they did to other aristocratic families of Rioux, they still intend to strip us of our riches like a cloth."
"My Lord Edward," interjected Lady Luther, "we have ladies here."
"Pardon me," Lord Edward exclaimed, flinging himself into an armchair.
"Are not the Alexandre, Nicolas, and Marcel coming tonight?" Lady Edward inquired in her gentle voice, as she sat on the settee with her son. Her husband, in stark contrast, was quite vociferous.
Lord Luther declared that the Alexandre were too distant to make it in such little time; the Nicolas were not feeling well, and the Leroys concluded it was preferable to stay away.
"Does Viva's canines still keep a lookout for us in case of revolt?" Lord Edward asked, shielding his face. "Gathering the only six existing noble families of Rioux will undoubtedly be eyed with suspicion, but a reunion between an eligible maiden, her local guardians, and a family with an eligible son will not attract as much attention."
Sandra, who was a few months younger than the handsome blonde Ryan, watched as he cleared his throat and blushed.
They both averted their gazes, not responding to Lord Edward's comment.
"Lady Luther," implored Lord Edward, "I beseech you to let me speak my mind. I have let my feelings flow unchecked."
"Indeed I have. We shall need to dismiss additional staff to cover the tax bill."
Sandra took a sip of her tea--it was weak. Lady Luther had likely utilized the leaves multiple times previously. It was a convenient way to economize on what had become a costly import.
Lord Luther declared, "In order to reduce the impact of the tax, we shall be selling one of our carriages."
"No doubt," Lord Edward grunted, "some Viva scum will purchase it."
"What will you do, Lady Emilie?" inquired Ryan, exhibiting his quiet temperament, inherited more from his mother than his father.
Sandra laid her teacup aside. "It won't have an effect on Belcastle; I disposed of our carriages some time ago."
"Do you still keep all your servants?" Lady Luther inquired.
"Yes," Sandra said.
In a land that had once been filled with extravagantly attired lords and ladies, just six households remained. The rest had been slaughtered during the conquest or expelled. The surviving nobility had to bear a massive tax burden. Most families, including the Belcastle, managed to pay the taxes by cutting their servants' wages or letting them go. Sandra, however, took the opposite approach, selling whatever she could and keeping Belcastle's entire staff on. The Luther fell somewhere in the middle, letting go of some of their employees and selling some of their possessions.
Some families felt the burden of taxes more than others. The Luthers had the least land and the least amount of taxable income, whereas Sandra had the biggest estate and the highest title, that of Duchess. Taxes in Belcastle were the most severe in the entire nation.
"Hast thou heard that the Queen of Viva hath bestowed the Roussillon Estate upon a soldier of the Viva forces?" inquired Lord Luther.
"I did," declared Lord Edward. "Roussillon must be turning in his grave. The queen has been slow in distributing the estates that have been under royal control for nearly three years."
Lord Luther remarked, "I surmise they are deliberating which of their armed forces personnel to deploy to what location. National service in their nation is highly valued. Not even the aristocracy is exempted from it."
"Ah, toil? No, thank you!" Lord Edward exclaimed.
Ryan enquired, "Are the majority of the officers titled nobility?"
Lord Luther declared, "Officers are seemingly held in as high esteem as those belonging to the nobility, and possibly even regarded with a higher social status, though not necessarily a higher financial one. Many of them, I am led to believe, are the offspring of noblemen."
Ryan exclaimed that bestowing the Rioux estates would be a great way to reward them, as if they were second or third sons they would not be receiving a title or estates from their family.
"It is indeed most brilliant of the Viva Queen and her consort," declared Lord Luther. Yet, his expression quickly turned sorrowful as he uttered, "I cannot help but feel disheartened by the fact that my fellow countrymen's lands are being given away to..." At this point, he quickly looked at Lady Luther and Sandra before trailing off.
Sandra, running her hands over the creases of her unadorned gown, was astonished when Lady Luther clasped her hand in her own. "My dear, you appear exhausted," she murmured softly.
Sandra declared, "Although I am small, I still reap the benefits of my efforts."
"Will you not release even one servant?"
"No."
"Stubbornness is a trait in your family, it seems," Lady Luther commented, her head shaking in disapproval. "I appreciate your dedication, but what will you do when you wed? Ryan and Albert cannot finance Belcastle."
Sandra maintained an expressionless countenance. Prior to her father's passing, no one had been bold enough to suggest her marriage. But two years on, it seemed the only thing that occupied the minds of the noblewomen was Sandra's nuptials.
Sandra was not taken aback by the fact that the groom was not going to be a surprise. She had two options: Ryan Edward or Albert Nicolas, who was quite a few years younger than her.
She was expected to wed, and with taxes so high, she would have to do so without a dowry. Her chosen spouse would take her to maintain their Rioux nobility, rather than to acquire the Belcastle estate, as it had been the basis of her fame in the past. Upon her marriage, it was probable that Belcastle and all its assets would have to be disposed of, for no one would desire an estate of such gigantic proportions in addition to their own.
Sandra wished that there was an alternative, yet she was unable to perceive it.
"Sandra?"
Sandra flashed Lady Luther her most radiant smile. "My apologies; I momentarily lost myself in my own thoughts. I'm not sure what I'm going to do," she uttered.
Lady Luther sighed wistfully. "If only my Rodolf hadn't been taken from me by the war," she lamented, thinking of her beloved son who had perished in battle. Had he still been alive, he never would have been considered a suitable suitor for Sandra—the Luther family was not of the same status as Sandra's family in the days before the Viva army invaded.
"My apologies, Lady Luther," Sandra uttered, placing her fingers gently on the elder woman's palm.
Hesitantly, Lady Luther inhaled deeply and courageously gave her assent.
Sandra diverted her eyes from her forlorn hostess, and encountered Ryan's stare.
The bashful young man's cheeks reddened and he averted his gaze.
Sandra clasped her hands together and focused her attention on the dialogue between Lord Luther and Lord Edward She was determined not to abandon her mission to Belcastle until she had explored every other avenue.
Belcastle was Sandra's priority, even though Ryan and Albert were nice.
"Madame, it appears as though you are preoccupied this day."
Sandra averted her eyes from the group of soldiers patrolling around her. "Excuse me," she uttered, placing the standard bag of carrots on the countertop.
He declared, "No absolution is necessary," the coins rattling in his palm. "It was just a remark."
Sandra said not a word, stretching out her hand for the coins since the officer did not appear to be about to place them on the counter as was his custom.
Sandra's eyes locked with the officer's, his lips curving into a mocking grin as he lightly grazed her hand with his fingertips, lingering on the contact for longer than what was socially acceptable.
Sandra abruptly withdrew her hand. "I appreciate your custom," she uttered coldly, her posture rigid.
Three soldiers stood alongside the officer in place of his usual entourage. One of them chuckled at Sandra's response and gave the officer a nudge.
"Still smirking," the officer questioned, "What is your name, Miss?"
Sandra, as she was inserting the coins into the money box, nearly dropped them. "What?" she exclaimed.
"Your name."
Sandra swelled with nervousness, like an apprehensive cat. Lucia shrieked and spilled a basket of winter potatoes behind her. She could have pretended it didn't happen, but such an act would not hold up for very long. Her hair, as red as a fire, was an uncommon sight, and everyone was aware that the vegetable stand belonged to Belcastle.
"Miss?" the officer asked, his smile becoming increasingly lopsided.
"My appellation is Sandra," she declared eventually.
The officer adjusted the angle of his hat, smiling. "Till tomorrow, Sandra," he said.
He and his companions departed from the marketplace, entering and exiting in the same manner.
"Madame," Lucia said, hovering at Sandra's shoulder.