“I’m glad. I’ve always wondered what was bothering her, but never felt close enough with her to ask.”
“It is quite a tricky situation. Imagine asking someone you're not close to whether they were having problems because they looked unwell and only insulting them by doing so! Speaking of looks, I am loving that dress on you! The colour is so unusual, it looks like a sunset,” Elinor said enthusiastically.
Lizzie felt her face heat as she remembered how Colin had gone to Miss Euphemia’s and ordered an entirely new wardrobe to be made for her this Season, selecting most of the colours himself.
"I don't want my duchess wearing dresses she danced with other suitors in," he’d said.
While Elizabeth had rolled her eyes at him, the gesture turned out to be quite necessary, since she had given away most of her dancing gowns to Elinor back when she had thought the next chapter of her life would be taking her to Wexcombe. She almost laughed at how differently things had turned out in the end.
Of course, Lizzie said none of this out loud, seeing as Elinor was currently wearing one of Lizzie’s old dresses, which she had very successfully altered to suit her figure.
“Thank you. You know how much I like bright colours,” she smiled. “I like what you’ve done with your hair tonight,especially with that celestial blue ribbon. There are just some things that blondes can wear better than the rest of us.”
Elinor blushed under the praise and shook her head.
“I’ve had a letter from Amelia,” she said, changing the topic.
Lizzie felt a pang of unease. “She never replied to my last letter. Perhaps she hasn’t received it.”
“Could be,” Elinor shrugged. “She writes about her life in the country in a very amusing manner. I can see why she was drawn to writing stories.”
“Do you think she’ll ever let us read one of her stories?” Lizzie smiled.
“I hope she will. She is such a surprise, so her stories will most likely be too. I mean, can you imagineourAmelia, our quiet, shy friend, who was practically sewn to these chairs, summoning the pluck to approach a man and suggest marriage to him?” Elinor laughed softly.
Elizabeth thought back to that horrible night on the balcony and the humiliation of what both she and Amelia had overheard the men say about them, and she silently acknowledged that it had left a lasting mark on them both.
“I actuallycanimagine it. You remember how she used to talk about the marriage mart? And if she was tired of her family’s comments and of the waiting…” Lizzie trailed off when she felt eyes on them. “Is Mr Powell staring at us?”
Elinor bit her lip and looked down at her hands. She seemed desperate.
“Is there something going on with the two of you?” Lizzie inquired.
“I need to get married soon,” was all Elinor said.
Before Lizzie could push for more information, Mr Powell’s shadow fell on them. Once again, Elizabeth was struck by how different the two of them looked next to each other. Fair, delicate, soft Elinor, and the dark, tall, and wiry Powell.
And their eyes – Elinor blinked a lot, seeming perpetually confused by something, whereas Powell tended to stare intently at whomever he spoke with, which did not help quell the intimidating rumours about him.
“Ladies,” he said, “I hope you are enjoying yourselves?”
“We are, thank you,” Lizzie replied when she realised Elinor wouldn’t. “I meant to inquire about Miss Caroline earlier. How is she?”
“She is well. She is to be confined at her husband’s estate in Scotland soon, and I shall be travelling to join them there and…helponce the babe is here.” His face suddenly looked ashen at the thought, and the women exchanged a look, both thinking about his late wife.
“Such wonderful news!” Lizzie exclaimed, trying to brighten the mood. “So this ball is sort of your farewell to the Season?”
“One might say so,” he smiled mysteriously.
“I thought you would use the free time you have now that your daughter is wed to dance, enjoy yourself, maybe find a wife of your own,” Lizzie teased him.
Eli angrily nudged her foot with her slipper, and Lizzie wanted to burst out laughing.
Powell straightened, and his whole face hardened.
“I shall never marry again,” he said.
Elizabeth was taken aback by his tone. “I apologise, I didn’t mean to overstep -,”
