“Catherine, open the door. It’s me, Elizabeth.”
Catherine considered. It could be a trick.
“Catherine, open the door. It’s my room, too.”
Still, Catherine hesitated. She had heard her father move away, and it wasn’t as though Elizabeth could make her go down.
“Catherine, if you don’t open this door, you’ll be sorry later,” Lizzy warned. Considering Catherine had had to bribe Lizzy to keep her mouth shut about the events at the Beaufort ball by giving Lizzy the only thing Catherine had of value, the jewelry their grandmother had left her, she could not afford to anger Lizzy again. Especially when her father was in a bad mood with her and inclined to grant Elizabeth any favor she asked. Next thing she knew, Lizzy would have Catherine sleeping in the attic.
Catherine removed the wood brace and moved away. Elizabeth opened the door. She was dressed as though she was the one with three suitors waiting downstairs. In addition, to the sapphire jewelry Catherine had been forced to give her, Elizabeth wore a light blue cambric day dress with a fluted ruff. Despite the fact that the style was from last year, Elizabeth looked fresh and new in it. If only people would look past her pretty face and figure and see the true Elizabeth. Behind those cornflower blue eyes lay only malice and temper.
She put her hands on her hips and frowned at Catherine, who wore an old, stained brown work dress. “Catherine! No wonder you didn’t want to open the door. You look a fright—as usual. Change and come downstairs. Daddy has three men here to see you.”
She spoke the last word as if she were truly awed that any man would be interested in her sister, even though they all knew her father was offering her up to the highest bidder. As the niece of an earl, she could offer breeding and connections to wealthy merchants who had money but no other means of moving into the upper classes.
“And if you don’t come down soon, I might just steal them away from you. And unlike your sorry attempt with Valentine at the Beaufort ball, I will succeed.”
“Go ahead,” Catherine said, sitting on her bed.
“Why, I think all three are half in love with me already. What will Lord Valentine say?”
“Who cares?”
“You do. You tied me up to keep me away from him. But he sent a note to say he’d come today. Are you jealous that he won’t give me up so easily?”
“Not at all, and I’m not going downstairs. You can have them all.”
If they wanted Elizabeth, then they wouldn’t be interested in her. On the other hand, what had her father promised these men to get them here? If they were after money, they might not be so easily dissuaded.
Catherine glanced at her sister. Well, she would have to dissuade them. Lizzy was looking in the mirror, adjusting her gown and babbling on. “But you haven’t even met them. Here. You can borrow my old blue ribbon if you want.” She pawed through the litter of items on her dressing table— actually there was only one table, and the two girls were supposed to share it, but Elizabeth never allowed Catherine near it—and pulled a long length of blue satin ribbon from under a comb and straw bonnet. “You should do something to get that ugly mop of hair out of your face.”
“I don’t want the ribbon,” Catherine said, holding up a hand. “I want the men to go away.”
Elizabeth turned back to the mirror. “No matter. It wouldn’t suit you anyway. Perhaps I should try it. Everyone will be complimenting my eyes.”
But Catherine had other ideas for the ribbon. While Elizabeth stared at her own reflection and pinched her cheeks, Catherine crept off the bed and started for her. A moment later, she grabbed Elizabeth and pulled the ribbon from her grasp.
But Elizabeth didn’t let go. She let out an angry yelp and yanked it back, turning slightly in an effort to use her weight to win the battle. Her elbow thrust out and knocked over a lamp, and it crashed to the floor.
“What the hell was that?” her father called, and Catherine smiled. Already, the plan was working. But the ribbon would not be enough.
She ran to the windows and yanked the cords off the drapes so that they fell, shading the room. The cords were thick and strong. Perfect restraints.
“What are you doing?” Elizabeth said, backing up now. “You’d better not tie me up again. Daddy will beat you if he finds out about the Beaufort ball.”
“He’ll beat me anyway.”
“I can make it worse.”
Catherine was going to have to risk it. “Come here.”
Elizabeth tried to run, but she didn’t move fast enough. Catherine tackled her to the floor and began binding her sister’s arms.
Elizabeth let out another squeal, and their father called, “What in the devil is going on up there?”
“Help!” Elizabeth called when her attempts to fight were rendered futile. “She’s got me!”
And to her surprise, Catherine found herself laughing. She pulled the cords tighter, immobilizing Lizzy’s hands behind her back. Then she tied a knot so tight it would have to be cut to free her sister. She jumped back, and Elizabeth immediately scrambled to her knees.
