Paris, France
Spring 1832

As in every depiction of it, spring is a time that signifies rebirth and the promise of new life, and in many ways, such was the case with the spring of 1832. The winter had left the world so cold and dead, but one day with no warning at all, spring had arrived. The dried out, rigid grass seemed to fade into green almost overnight, and the frost-covered grounds were suddenly peppered with flower buds that would blossom in the coming days. The rain that would sometimes come in the evenings became a welcome presence rather than a nuisance, seeing as how the spring storms only awakened the earth to unlock the breathtaking natural wonders that had been suppressed through the winter months.

The earth was a bright, happy place in the spring of 1832, and it was made even more so by the flowering companionship of two youths who had only just been introduced at the start of the season. Inspired by the lively scenes of nature that surrounded them, Thomas Mercier and Victoria Pelham found themselves pursuing the beginning of something that was new and even slightly forbidden. It started out as merely a flirtation that was only enabled by the lucky occasion that they should see each other in public; however, as the spring progressed, so too did their relationship. Thomas began to call on Victoria at her brother Andrew's house, though he did so under the pretense that he was there to see her other brother, his close friend, Edmund Pelham. This worked in favor of appearances, since their society in France was so prone to gossip; however, those within the Pelham household were not blind to what was really happening between them.

Edmund, the youngest of Jane's older brothers, detested the fact that his friend was using him to get to his younger sister, but whatever his frustration, he did nothing to inhibit the connection. He had a lady of his own to pursue, so his friend's business did little to interest him. Thus, Edmund allowed himself to be used as a reason for Thomas's increasingly consistent visitations.

Her eldest brother Andrew disapproved of his sister's actions, simply because he knew that he should be blamed for it if their parents should chance to find out about it. However, the principle of the thing did not bother him as much as he knew it should have. What he saw in his sister's change of attitude pleased him, and he believed that Thomas was the cause for it. They were clearly in love, and the happiness displayed in both parties was the only thing that kept him from separating them altogether. Perhaps it was because he had come to know the same feeling with his wife Margaret and could not possibly fault Victoria for wanting the same thing, or maybe it was because of the desire he had for his sister to be happy, but either way, Andrew Pelham could not find it in himself to do what needed to be done.

Victoria's third brother did not sympathize in the same way Andrew did, nor did he exercise the same levels of apathy as Edmund. No, Philip was a follower and enforcer of the law in the Pelham household. He knew the plans his parents had made for Victoria, and though he cared for her happiness, he cared for his parents' favor more. He was their second son, and as such, he felt that he had to prove himself to them in order to avoid being overlooked. Thus, knowing that she fancied herself to be in love, Philip was determined to keep them apart.

To Victoria, this made Philip a villain who she came to despise, but it is important to note that his motives were not entirely selfish. Though he strove to earn his parents' respect, he also knew that if Victoria's relationship with Thomas should continue, she would be heartbroken by the reality that she could not be with him. Their separation was made inevitable by the fact that she was to be engaged to someone else of her parents' choosing. Philip knew it wasn't fair that Victoria should have no choice in her marriage, but he saw it as an unalterable misfortune that she simply had to endure. That was how things worked, and he was not one to meddle with tradition.

Philip told himself that if his concern for her had been the only reason to separate them, that he would have stood up to his parents on her behalf, but unfortunately, Victoria's inevitable heartbreak was not his only motive. Philip's opposition to Thomas Mercier had more to do with the fact that Thomas's family owned the trading company that nearly put dear, old Henry Pelham out of business. There was a lot of bad blood between their two families, and not even the pure, young love that existed between Thomas and Victoria could serve to mend the hostile relation.

Thus, for these reasons, Philip sought to prevent an unfavorable connection between the Pelhams and the Merciers, and he did so very diligently. Since he was not the master of the house, he did not have the authority to cast the unwanted visitor out when he came to call on Victoria, nor could her convince his brother to do it. Andrew saw the whole ordeal to be harmless despite the many lectures he received from his younger brother, and so, Philip took it upon himself to act as Victoria's constant chaperone. Had this been his only concern during his time in Paris, Philip might have succeeded in tearing the two apart at an earlier time; however, Philip's attention was often diverted to matters of business, so there were many occasions during which Victoria and Thomas spent their time happily without him.

At first, Philip's attempts in separating them caused them much distress and annoyance, though as Philip grew busier with matters of the family trade, Victoria began to see it much as a game. She often plotted with Thomas to find ways to mess with her older brother, and for some time, Thomas thought this to be a terrible plan, but as he learned of Andrew's loyalty to Victoria, he began to have fun with it as she did. Days would come when Philip was present during their frequent meetings, and on those days, they found themselves playing harmless pranks on him purely for the amusement of it.

So in the end, Philip's constant presence proved to only bring them closer than they could have hoped. They spent their days laughing together about how silly Philip had looked when he drank the salted tea they had served him, or how he had scowled at them as Victoria had shamelessly flirted with Thomas at the dinner table. They learned to throw caution to the wind when they would spend time together. They learned to laugh, to trust, to love, but most importantly, they learned to be themselves. It was the purest kind of love, really. They were, at the heart of it, the truest of friends, and they both believed that such companionship could only be found but once in a lifetime.

And as far as the spring of 1832, that was where the pleasantries ended. While Victoria and Thomas found the spring to be a perfectly delightful time to exist, the world around them was anything but delightful. Two years had elapsed since the July Revolution, and still, political unrest plagued the nation of France. Rebels openly protested the newly instated king, and it was apparent to all that lived there that it was only a matter of time before a full-scale rebellion erupted in Paris. Tensions were high between contrasting political parties, and this tension was only heightened by the stunted economy and cholera epidemic. People were dying of malnutrition as well disease, and sects of radicals were in the beginning stages of rising up against each other. Thus, it was safe to say that things in France were not going so well.

Andrew Pelham was well aware of all this madness, and it was this knowledge that further distracted him from bothering with his sister's little flirtation with Thomas Mercier. When he and his family's lives were at stake, why should a silly forbidden romance matter to him? Simply put, it didn't. He was more concerned with arranging plans for the family's return to Newcastle, and though it was not his intention, this would prove to be more problematic for Victoria and Thomas than any efforts Philip could have hoped to make.

As the spring blossomed into summer, a stagnant heat fell across Paris, casting the the city into an even more volatile state. The unpleasant warmth was hot and sticky, and as the days passed into June, this heat seemed to do nothing but aggravate the already existing unrest. It was like the city had become a pot that had been cast over the flame, and as the temperatures rose, it became a matter of time before the contents of the pot should boil over, triggering a chain reaction within to cause an event of widespread violence and panic. And that was what happened.

On June 1, 1832 General Lamarque succumbed to his illness, and in the wake of his death, several riots broke out amongst the people. Barricades were built in the streets and people fought behind them, all in attempt to somehow change the state of the monarchy. It was a violent five days during which time the only sure things were the unsettling summer heat and the ever-present sounds of gunshots echoing through those bloodied streets.

Like many families, the Pelhams kept to their home for the days leading up to and following these events in hopes that the violence should pass over them without difficulty. Many families were not so fortunate as to make it to the other side unscathed; however, the Pelhams were blessed with wealth, and as such, their guards and well-fortified home was able to withstand the challenges that arose during that time. However, one thing did change within their household, and that was that Andrew had had enough. Once the revolution had been put down in its entirety, he determined that it was time for he and his family to leave Paris once and for all.

The whole family left one morning alongside the Sinclairs on one of Henry Pelham's great trading ships. With the rebellion still so fresh, Andrew thought it best that he should avoid making a big fuss over their departure, so they told no one of their plans. Needless to say, this little aspect left Victoria in a state of heartbroken agony. At first, she was stubborn and refused to leave her beloved Thomas, and it was then that Andrew became fully aware of his mistake of allowing them to continually see each other. They were bound together, and he could see that only something exceptionally convincing could separate them.

Thus, prior to their departure, Andrew sent for Thomas Mercier and invited him to his study for a drink between friends. It was then that Thomas learned of their plan to leave, the reality of which hit him like a ton of bricks. He couldn't fathom a life without Victoria. She was like fine wine, one taste and he was hooked. He had grown to love her sharp wit and defiant attitude, simply because such a headstrong woman was hard to find. At such a young age, Victoria had already determined who she wanted to be regardless of what she was told, and that fierce strength endeared her to him more than he could possibly express. She was beautiful, no doubt, but it was the rugged beauty of her soul that stuck him so brilliantly. He was in love with every part of her, even when she should cause him injury. It was always unintentional, he knew that, but still, like wine, she had a bite to her that kept those who loved her crawling back for more. Such was Victoria's hold on Thomas Mercier.

"I know that the nature of your relationship with my sister makes this... difficult to hear." Andrew leaned forward, setting his drink down on the desk between he and Thomas. "But you must understand that this is a matter of safety, her safety."

Andrew watched as Thomas nervously shifted his eyes to the floor, a pained expression crossing his handsome face. It was clear to Andrew that Thomas was carefully considering his options, and though he had hoped for an immediate response of understanding, this boy's thoughtfulness was nonetheless encouraging to him. It meant that there was a chance of obtaining his cooperation, and that was the one thing that was essential to his leaving France in a peaceful manner.

At last, Thomas lifted his icy gaze to Andrew's kind, golden eyes, and with a swig of whiskey from his glass, he replied quietly, "I understand."

Andrew tried to smile at the boy, but it was clear to him that Thomas's agreeable response was not one that came easily to him. The boy's eyes were filled with an expression of sadness that Andrew had only seen once before in his wife when they had lost their first child to fever. It was the look of heart-wrenching loss, and though he sympathized with the boy sitting in front of him, Andrew knew that there was nothing that could be done to prevent it. Victoria and Thomas's separation had always been eminent, but now that the time had arrived, Andrew understood just how much pain it would bring to both parties. He regretted their position, but at that point in time, it was too late to do much of anything to fix it.

Andrew sighed deeply as he observed Thomas's fallen spirits, but still, he persisted in his mission. "I wonder if you might help me, then." Thomas's hardened expression did not waver, but he nodded for Andrew to continue. "As I'm sure you are well aware, my sister can be a bit stubborn at times–"

Thomas chuckled, the smallest of smiles creeping its way onto his lips, "That is an understatement."

"You're quite right about that," Andrew grinned, allowing himself to use the somewhat lightened mood to his advantage. "I need to ask you for a favor, if you don't mind."

Thomas set his empty glass on the desk between them and leaned back in his seat, a knowing look in his still saddened eyes, "I already know what you're going to say, and my answer is yes. If my talking to her will ensure her safety, I'm going to do it." Andrew silently thanked God for Thomas's cooperation and listened as the boy continued to speak. "When are you all set to depart?"

"I'm afraid we are leaving tomorrow morning at sunrise," Andrew replied quietly, dreading the further devastated look he was sure to receive from Thomas.

Thomas sucked in a sharp breath and cursed under his breath, "Alright, shall I go to her directly, then?"

Nodding in approval, Andrew answered him adamantly, "Yes, please do. I believe she's still in the library."

Thomas stood from his seat, and Andrew followed suit, approaching the young Frenchman and extending his hand out for him to shake. As he shook Thomas's strong hand, Andrew smiled sympathetically at him, "You can't begin to understand how grateful I am for your maturity and understanding through this. I know this must be extremely difficult for you."

Thomas shifted his eyes to the ground and appeared to be having difficulty speaking. In truth, the man put on a good show, but inwardly, his emotions were nearly impactful enough to take hold of his behavior. Thomas was a proud man and would never be so bold as to show his true feelings to those around him, so for the sake of appearances, he kept himself in check. Andrew could see the struggle within him, but he said nothing in reference to it, allowing the boy to depart from him without another word.

Thomas walked the hallways of the Pelham home, his heart and mind racing with every step. Every corner he turned felt like another twist of the knife that had so recently been plunged into his chest, but still, he walked on. To him, the pain he should feel to secure Victoria's health and safety meant nothing, and so long as she was better off than him, he couldn't be bothered by his own sufferings. It was only she that mattered to him now, and he was unashamed of it, no matter the weakness it may have cast upon him. He was in love with her, and she with him. That was all he needed to know.

Thomas entered the library to find Victoria at her place by the window, reading a novel she had doubtlessly read before. He smiled as he saw her there, so focused on the pages before her that she didn't even notice him entering the room. Her light brown hair was down by her face, cascading down her back in a pretty mess of curls. Her dress was simple, and he supposed this to be because of the many days she had spent in doors separated from the violent world just outside. As he took a step forward, Victoria lifted her eyes towards him, and her face lit up with excitement. Dropping her book on the ledge of the window, she rushed towards him and he embraced her tenderly, holding her like he never meant to let go.

Though it pained him, Thomas held her away from him, looking into her soft brown eyes and observing the sadness that she too felt. "This is dreadful," he thought. "How am I to tell her that she must go away?"

Almost like she knew his thoughts, Victoria shut her eyes and turned her face from him, "I already know why you're here." Her voice was full of sorrow. "And you must know that I couldn't possibly leave you here. I simply cannot."

"Mon amour," Thomas whispered quietly in French to her, gently pressing his fingers beneath her chin and turning her head to look up at him. Her melancholy eyes fell on him and suddenly, the emotions that he had been so desperately trying to conceal burst from their boundaries with an unstoppable force. Tears prickles at his eyes, and no matter how insistently he attempted to blink them away, they would not disappear. The tears began to pool there in his eyes, and he knew that it was only a matter of time before they should fall.

"Mon amour," Thomas repeated, gathering all his strength to speak what needed to be said. "I do not wish for you to go, but for your own sake, you must. It is not safe for you here in Paris."

"This is silly," Victoria responded in a frenzied panic. It was clear to Thomas that she was not understanding. "It was never safe in Paris to begin with, so why must I leave now?"

Thomas sighed. Her stubbornness was surely not about to back down today. "Victoria, this is more than just you and I. Think of your niece and nephew, and your brothers. Think of the Sinclairs and that little boy of theirs that you so adore." Victoria's determined expression softened at the mention of so many people that were dear to her, and Thomas began to allow himself the feeling of success. "If you don't go, none of them will. Could you stand it knowing that you were the reason for subjecting them to the dangers of this place?"

Several moments passed in silence between them, and Thomas could see the gears turning in Victoria's mind. The tension in the air only increased as he stood there looking at her, but at last, she sighed defeatedly and allowed herself to smile.

"I hate when you guilt trip me," she said, a playful gleam in her eyes. "But I know you're right. I'm being selfish. I just–" Victoria stopped, brushing a rogue tear from her eye and collecting herself before continuing. "I don't want to leave you."

Thomas smiled though his heart was breaking, "And I don't wish for you to leave me. I love you, Victoria, and I want to marry you so that we might never part." He shifted his eyes to the floor, and wiped away the tears that were threatening to fall. He continued, his voice softer than before, "But now, I guess that's not a possibility."

At the mention of marriage, Victoria looked up at him with surprise. They had discussed it before, but never with the level of seriousness that existed between them now. She thought for several moments and then spoke with more certainty than Thomas had ever heard from her.

"Why shouldn't it be? Come to England with us, and then we can get married in Newcastle." Victoria took his hands in hers and intently looked into his tear-filled eyes. "Oh, Thomas! You must come with us. Our wedding would be the grandest of parties, and everyone at home would meet you and love you just as I do."

Thomas couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm, but he knew in his heart that this plan of hers would never work. The Pelham family hated him simply because of who his father was, and no amount of charm could change their opinion of him. He also knew that no daughter of a English duke would ever be allowed to marry the youngest son of a French merchant. There was no honor in such a connection, and deep down, Thomas had known this all along. Put simply, he wasn't good enough for her in any light, and that was why he felt so strongly that it was his duty to let her go.

Afraid that she might change her mind about leaving, Thomas played along with her wishes, telling her that he would join her in Newcastle soon after she left. He used business with his father as the reason for his delay, and she had believed him with the hope that he would return to her once he had sorted out all his affairs. Thomas hated to deceive her, but he knew it was the only way to save her from herself. He couldn't go with her to Newcastle. He simply couldn't.

But still, he embraced her one last time, this time stealing the most passionate of kisses before he departed from her. As he left her for what he believed to be the last time, the tears spilled freely from his clear blue eyes. Thomas was overwhelmed with grief and the most painful heartbreak he had ever come to know, but as he stepped outside into the pouring rain, his tears became mingled with the natural downpour. His sadness was hidden from the world, but like the blood still gathered in the streets from the days of rebellion before, Thomas knew his shame would stick to him as a constant reminder of the love he had stolen and of the woman to whom he had lied.

•••

This chapter gave me struggles to write not gonna lie, but I hope you like it!!

Thanks for reading, my loves!
-Kate❤️