Sometimes it seemed as if the world was divided into women who wanted to be exactly like their mothers and those who wanted to be nothing like them. Elizabeth wanted to grab her friend’s hand, but was aware of everyone’s eyes on them.
“If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?”
“America,” Elinor said with a smile that could be heard despite the gloved hand.
“Miss… Louisa,” Powell guessed incorrectly, and Elizabeth had to fight tears for the second time that evening.
She was the only one in the room who realised what the taciturn man had done. And she knew why he’d done it. She watched him take off the blindfold and suppress a smile at Elinor’s delighted face.
For the rest of the evening, Elizabeth could not stop thinking about thatalmostsmile, and how deep and silent love could be.
*
All those thoughts were forgotten the next morning, when the household was awoken by Powell’s fury. He’d gone into hisdaughter’s room to lead her downstairs for breakfast and found a note on her bed, saying that she was eloping to Gretna Green with none other than George Slaymaker.
He was outraged and almost called out the Baron, eager to destroyanyonefrom that family. The men managed to calm him down and took him to the library, whereas the women gathered around Sophie’s mother, trying to comfort her. She was understandably upset over such an inappropriate thing occurring under her roof.
“Who knows what has been going on, and for how long!” she hissed, as Isabella and Violet exchanged amused glances.
“Maman, she is out, has a generous dowry, and he is an earl’s son. I don’t think there is much of a scandal there. They probably thought her father would disapprove because she is so young and thus decided to elope,” Violet said calmly, obviously used to dealing with her mother’s moods.
Elizabeth briefly wondered what it would be like to have a father whose love you felt so secure in that you believed he’d forgive you for eloping. And then she wondered what it would be like to have a social standing so solid that you didn’t have to worry about such a scandalous incident marring it. She shook her head, knowing that both of those things were beyond her reach.
“Is there no longer any respect for one’s parents? If her father disapproved, he most likely had good reason to do so! Mayhap he had a more advantageous match in mind, one that might further his business or his political connections?”
“I think his business is fine, Maman,” Violet said patiently. “In a few months, it shall all be forgotten, and Mister Powell and LordSlaymaker shall be good friends. And Miss Caroline shall be very happy, so don’t endanger your health over it, please.”
Elizabeth barely suppressed a smile and turned to the other women in the room to see whether they sported a similar amusement on their faces. Instead, she came face to face with Louisa, who looked despondent. Lizzie vaguely remembered seeing the younger Slaymaker walking with Louisa the day before. Had the young woman been hoping for something? Had he given her an indication that there was reason for hope?
“Isn’t her father in trade?” Lady Helena asked, not bothering to hide her distaste.
“As a matter of fact, he is, Lady Helena,” Sophie’s mother said.
“I say Lord Slaymaker should have married a titled lady; he is, after all, the son of an earl,”Lady Helena said, and the heart of the problem finally revealed itself.
Another lesson learnt, Elizabeth thought.
Their last day at Winchester was more silent and solemn than it would have been without the elopement. Both the Baron and Mister Powell left immediately to try and retrieve the young woman before she reached Scotland.
Ian and Charlotte continued on to London after breakfast. Elizabeth and her friends thanked their hosts, said their goodbyes, and left soon after that.
“I hope all house parties I attend are this eventful,” Amelia said dreamily as their carriage left the gates of the manor. “I’ve gotten so many good ideas for my writing.”
“I hope they aren’t,” Elinor replied.
Elizabeth just smiled.
Chapter 11
Elizabeth had hoped the three Wednesdays she’d already spent at Almack’s by now would have inured her to the awe of being there, and yet here she was, overwhelmed once again. All the air had been kicked out of her lungs when she entered the ballroom and saw what had to be hundreds of people.
Will my nerves ever be able to bear this?she thought as she laid a hand on her stomach. Her aunt Isolde swiftly knocked said hand away with her elbow, which also had the unintended effect of prompting Lizzie to be mindful of her posture.
At least she no longer worried herself ill about dancing – not only was there always a steady supply of gentlemen to dance with, but she worried less about the steps and enjoyed the movements more.
People knew her now, and she knew them – as she made her way around the room with Isolde, they exchanged greetings and pleasantries with others who had been allowed into thissanctum, referenced family members and earlier conversations, and, despite the underlying stiffness of it all, Lizzie was beginning to feel like, perhaps, she belonged.
In the middle of her conversation with Amelia, they were interrupted by Isabella and a wretched-looking Louisa.
