Lizzie straightened her back immediately.
“Let’s get to know each other a little more, shall we?”
Elizabeth nodded.
“First, let us order some tea so you can watch me pour.”
After Elizabeth had witnessed the most refined pouring and serving of her lifetime, Lady Burham told her a little bit about herself.
“As you already know, I am Her Grace’s relative. I’ve lived alone ever since the war took my husband and son,” she said, her features perfectly composed, despite the minuscule tremble in her voice.
“My condolences,” Elizabeth told her sincerely, as she understood loss very well.
“That is why I’ve accepted this endeavour,” Lady Burnham explained, “for companionship. I hope to pass many pleasant moments with you.”
“I hope that as well.”
“Now, tell me why you think you need my help; what are the things you feel most insecure about?”
Lizzie inhaled deeply.
“Honestly, almost everything related to my brother’s world. You see, I’ve lived not far away from here my entire life, and yet I might as well have been abroad. My mother tried to instil certain things in me when I was younger, but I’ve forgotten so many of them. Why? Because I never had the opportunity to use them.”
Elizabeth stood up and started pacing.
“Who was I supposed to curtsy to after my father died? Who was I pouring tea for when no one ever visited us, not to mention that we never drank much of it, seeing how expensive it is!”
Lady Burnham calmly waited for her monologue to be over.
“I can see that you are frustrated by your inability to make sense of the world these days, Lady Elizabeth,” she said as she gently motioned towards an armchair.
Elizabeth slumped against its padded back without any grace whatsoever.
“It is time for some difficult truths, I think. Lady Elizabeth, your mother’s actions have cast her out of polite society; you must already be aware of this.”
Elizabeth nodded soberly.
“But what you may not know is that polite society often says one thing, and does something entirely different. A great number of men, and women, belonging to the Ton engage in affairs such as your parents’. A few aristocrats have fathered illegitimate children and given them their name, an inheritance, and even raised them alongside their legitimate heirs later on.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened in surprise.
Lady Burnham continued, “The first difference is that most of those men were unmarried at the time. The second one is that you are a youngwomanwho wasn’t raised in her father’s household. You weren’t educated or chaperoned appropriately, and you’ve even spent time in employment. At least the late Duke gave you his name, so that’s something.”
Elizabeth kept the truth to herself.
“If I had been raised alongside my siblings, it wouldn’t have mattered that I was conceived outside of wedlock?”
“I think it would have matteredless, especially with your late father’s protection. But we should direct our attention to the things wecaninfluence or change. You will have to control yourself far more and far better. Extreme displays of emotionsare unacceptable and are considered ill-bred, and that includes even unmoderated laughter.”
Elizabeth pressed her lips together. She knew Lady Burnham was right.
“I know that your parents’ actions have nothing to do with who you are, but not everyone will see it that way, and some may even be nasty to you. Your demeanour has to be beyond reproach, and you cannot respond to provocations of any kind. You must develop an armour made of ice, cold and impenetrable.”
“What else?”
“You need to avoid discussing your previous life and your working days, even if it is the teaching of children. Also, refrain from discussing poverty or finances in general. Almost everything but vulgarity is forgivable. You need to imagine yourself as a sheltered young lady who only had to worry about bonnets and dresses and sweets and behave accordingly. That is the wife these men expect to have,” Lady Burnham said with an apologetic tilt of her head.
“Was your husband like that?” Lizzie couldn’t stop herself from asking.
