Chapter Text
You must. You must do it for your sister. You must. You must do it for your Family. You must. You must do it for the money. You must. You must … because you are the only one who can.
These were the arguments that pressed down upon his head as he was summoned back from school. The family was in need, and there was nothing you would not do for your family. Lance felt though, that dressing up in a gown, donning a bonnet, impersonating as his sister, all but swindle her fiancé and securing his income into the family, that could save his family status, were a stretch. But one does what one must for the family. Even if the corset were killing him slowly and with uttermost precision.
The McClain’s were a family with uttermost respect and pedigree. They were always invited to all the parties and soirees, and one would be lucky to be considered an acquaintance of such high stature, outside and in the city. The problem was, and Mrs. McClain would rather drink from the night pot than let anyone know, that they were broke.
The family had always enjoyed the finer things in life, and lived comfortably in their estate on top of Estero hill, which was considered one of most impressive estates in the region, despite it’s moderate land around it.
The late and honorable Mr. McClain senior, had worked hard, married an heiress and had secured a wealthy fortune, he could pass on to his oldest son and future children. As such Mr. McClain Jr. had married a love match, and enjoyed the rich fruit from his father's labor. And in good time also he contributed to the sizable family fortune. It was first after his father's passing that they found out that the treasure chest lost a considerable amount each year. Mr. McClain senior had been an honorable man and charitable man, much to his poor wife's despair, but in his late years, his memory stared to fail him, and he keep giving help, and financial support to people, a lot with questionable reason of honors, even if there were no money to give from.
So Mr. McClain Jr. spent a good deal of his time tracking down and settling his late father's creditors.
He himself felt very lucky that his wife blessed him with five beautiful and smart children, that each would contribute and make a name for themselves in the world.
Their oldest Mr. Luis McClain had married a wonderful woman Elisabeth from a good family, and they had been blessed with two children, Nadia and Sylvester. They had their own small town house a bit away from the family, until they would inherit the estate. The young couple had felt like they needed to spread their wings for a while, and introduce their children to city life.
The oldest McClain daughter was in her own way beautiful. She had declared herself a splinter to many young bachelors despair. Miss Veronica McClain would in no way let any man determine her life, and had taken up the studies to become a doctor, even when many advised against it. Still she proved them all wrong, and graduated first in her class as the only female in her class, year and school. She had set up her own practice in town, and people were knocking her doors down, to be treated by her. Either for her work and reputation, or to brag to their neighbors that they had been helped by one of the only female doctors south of Okelion.
The middle son Mr. Marco McClain had been a bit of a wild child, but in the end he was also straightened out, and was sent off to serve and have a most esteemed military career.
Then there was the youngest, the twins. Mr. Lance McClain and his sister Miss Katherine McClain. The boy was a smart, bright boy, that took the scholar way and studied in one the the most esteemed universities in the city on a scholarship, The university of Altea. Here he studied the sky with a graduate in Astronomy and physics, with Economics on the side.
His twin sister was a divine beauty, a delightful dancer, who could sing like a bird and was the attention of every ball and tea party she participated in. Unfortunately she was cursed with poor health that sometimes would make her ill from days on end, before she returned with wit and grace to the social scene like she never left.
Sadly for their family, tragedy struck further, and Mr. McClain was killed in a road accident when he was returning from the city, leaving the family without their largest benefactor and beloved father. The official story was that Mr. Luis McClain and Missus moved back to the estate, because they now officially owned it. In truth it was because even though Mr. Luis did make a remarkable income to care for his family, he did not make enough to procure for two estates, and had to move back to the family estate, to take care of their grief stricken poor mama.
Miss Veronica’s doctorate had made her whole family proud, but cost the bank box dearly. The expense for the education, books and equipment, whom she was charged extra for because of her gender, plus the loan her father had to make, to help her start up her practice, had taken a toll on their lifestyle, but still not enough to cause worry. They would pull through and Mr. McClain would earn it back. Eventually.
Despite Mr. Marco’s splendid military career, he was sometimes in less fortunate company, and under the influence developed an uncharming habit of gambling, that quickly ate away of his income, and money that was supposed to be sent home to the family.
Dear Miss Katherine, who was her mother's pride and joy and greatest social success, were also her greatest worry. Despite her brilliant place in her social settings, she had always been frail, and easy to take ill. The family had done everything in their power to conceal the fact that every other month, when their daughter was away on finishing school, she was actually home sick in bed unable to move, barely eating or talking.
Only her brother and twin had been lucky enough to get a scholarship to school, thereby not being a strain on his family. He even secured lodgins under his own budget, by taking up a small job as a library assistant to secure his own income.
But it had all come to naught. The old debt and new debt had piled up with his sister's medical bills. Luis had sold his town house and moved back into an estate, and the money earned were used to hold creditors at bay. The estate staff had been reduced, and half of the estate closed up to spare on expenses to keep the place warm in winter. All the children sleep together two by two, with the Luis family in their own room. Only Katherine with her declining health was given her own room. Veronica slept next to their mother to help her heal from the loss of her father.
Only the outside of the estate was kept to the expected standards, plus a series of rooms to host small parties and dinners, all to keep up appearances. When people enquired about some of the closed rooms, Mrs. McClain giggled and brushed off the enquiry, saying that they were being re-decorated to a more modern style. The rooms had been under ‘Redecorating” for three years now.
Mrs. McClain would make sure that everything was perfect, as expected of her social standing. Even if that meant that her children would sleep in the same rooms, and they would be served porridge for days, because social etiquette demanded that she hosted a small dinner party.
Mrs. McClain's definition of small included only a five course meal, a band and only thirty invited guests.
Luckily Miss Katherine could save them from this grueling state of improper lifestyle.
Mr. McClain had in his youth stricken acquaintance and later friendship with a certain Lord Kogane. The two of them had been inseparable in their youth, but duty and time had separated them. While Mr. McClain had been blessed with five children, Lord Kogane had not been so lucky, and his dear lady wife passed away while giving birth to his son and heir Keith Kogane. After his son's birth and wife's passing, Lord Kogane had married his mistress whom he already had an illegitimate son with. He took the boy in and the two boys grew up as equals and brothers.
But the good name had taken damage with the affair, and the name Kogane no longer held the esteemed respect as it once did.
In fear for his son’s position and future, the two old friends stroke a deal.
McClain's youngest daughter, who was only two years younger than Lord Kogane’s heir, would marry his son, when Miss McCain had come of age.
So from when Miss Katherine was five, she and Mr. Keith Kogane had become engaged to be married, with a minimal dowry and good income sent to the McClain's as a friendly gesture.
Now because of the different regions the two families had inhabited in the childhood years, Miss Katherine and Mr Keith Kogane, now Lord Kogane after his father's too early passing, had never met. Simple letters have been exchanged, but nothing note or gossip worthy, but at least they were made aware of each other after the Late Lord passed, as no one had informed the families of the agreement before the Lord died.
Circumstances were not in their favor and the engagement was prolonged due to the passing of Lord Kogane, the new Lord Kogane was too preoccupied with settling his fathers affairs to start up a courtship. So the two young people did not start the official courtship until a couple of years after Katherine had been out in society. Now that Katherine was soon to become 19, the two of them would meet and start their courtship.
But Katherine had once again fallen ill, and was unable to leave her bed. This time their family doctor warned, she may never leave it.
That was a problem. No man would want to marry a frail, and ill wife, that would probably never be able to bear him sons, and would only be a financial burden on his shoulders.
Lord Keith Kogane had done what nobody would have expected him to, and turned his family and fortune around. He had made a name for himself as a trader and businessman, and even made his bastard brother part of his business. Every social eye, and every unmarried daughter had their eyes on him, to snare him in and catch the big prize, that was his newly bought estate Marmora in the countryside, that was the biggest in the region, and his yearly income of 30.000 pounds a year.
Such a man would clearly not settle for a woman such as Katherine, if he knew her predicament. Even to honor his father's memory.
But the McClain’s needed the money and the yearly income Miss Katherine would be entitled to after marriage, to get them out of debt. After the two youngsters were married, Luis, Marco, Veronica and Lance would be able to make enough money to keep the estate and earn back their ways of living. That is what Mrs. McClain augmented at least. To give Katherine a chance for recovery, Mrs. McClain convinced Lord Kogane to have a long engagement under guise for the couple to get acquainted before marriage. Katherine’s condition was only half the truth. There was no way that Mrs. McClain would have her daughter to have anything other than the perfect spring wedding. Even if that meant waiting several months for the wedding to be held. Still the Lord needed to be distracted and engaged in the meantime.
So Lance had been called back from school to act out his Mother's ingenous plan. Her words, not her sons. Lance, who had the same face as his twin, would impersonate his sister, seduce and make the mighty Lord Keith Kogane fall in love with him, to secure the marriage and income. Lord Kogane would then marry Katherine and after the wedding, take care of her and her medical bills, because he loved her so. The whole family were delighted and praised Mrs. McClain for her brilliant plan.
Lance, on the other hand, saw a lot of conundrum in his mother's whiff of genius. It seemed to bear on Lance's ability to seduce a man, and durability to wear a corset. And all the implications and problems if they got caught.
His mother wacked him over the head with her fan, in a most unladylike manner and shushed him. So prior to Lord Kogane’s arrival, Lance had been segregated to his mother's personal teachings on being a lady.
He dressed in gowns and dresses. Had special wigs made to look like his sister's long hair and updos, wore lace chokers and high necked dresses to conceal his Adam's apple. He learned to speak quietly, and in a higher tone to make his voice more feminine and wore makeup to enhance the right features. He was schooled in dinner etiquette, and his mother was sure, as long as he stayed away from Katherine’s normal social circles, no one would recognize him.
But the rug was pulled out from under the family, when Lord Kogane announced his arrival, two weeks and four days prior to their agreed meeting time. So Lance had exactly three days of training and lessons as a lady, before meeting the estimated lord. Or as Lance had begun to refer him as. His undoing.
But he squared up, sucked his stomach in, got sealed in a corset, donned a dress, wig, stockings, makeup and gloves and prepared to meet the mighty Lord Kogane.
How hard could it be to seduce a man?