“Well, they don’t have much attention to spare for me this week,” Eleanor said. “If ever there was a golden opportunity to get away, this might be it.”
“Oh, I should have known you would have some devilment in mind,” Phineas said.
Eleanor laughed. “You make me sound so wicked. I don’t suggest anything uncouth, I just thought it might be nice to get out of the house and away from the crowds for a bit. Don’t you think so?”
“I’m always interested in that,” Phineas said. “You know how little I like these sorts of formal affairs—and this one is to take the entire week. I fear I shall need lots of breaks if I’m to maintain my sanity.”
“Then it’s lucky you have me,” Eleanor said. “I know all the best ways to get out of the house without being seen or stopped.”
She led Phineas down the hall to the rear of the house and through a small side door that led out onto the grounds. “We won’t be discovered out here,” she said. “You can only see this part of the grounds from a few of the windows, and none of those windows are in rooms that anyone is likely to visit today. As long as we stay on this side of the house, nobody will find us.”
“Unless they come looking for you,” Phineas said. “They wouldn’t come looking forme, but your parents don’t like it when they don’t know where you are, and they’re bound to notice you’re missing.”
“I don’t think they’ll do anything about it,” Eleanor said. “They’ll scold me later, but they’ll want to keep their attention on Marina, especially now that the wedding guests are here. The last thing they’re going to want is a production about what happened to their wayward younger daughter, especially since they’re hoping to find me a husband this week.”
Phineas looked at her. “Are they really?”
“Oh, yes. At times you’d have been forgiven for thinking it was the reason they threw this party. It’s as if all they can think about is who I’m going to marry!”
“I’m sure they must have more of their attention on Marina than on you,” Phineas said.
“I think so. But not to the degree I would have hoped for. After all, Marina’s affairs are settled now, so there’s no reason for my parents to worry about her. I’m the one they need to take care of.
They wandered across the grass, vaguely in the direction of the river, and Eleanor took a moment to appreciate the fact that she would walk this way with Phineas and that he wouldn’t try to warn her against any danger or reprimand her for having fallen in the water one time as a child. He probably wasn’t even thinking about that. Even Marina, who was never anything butkind and loving to Eleanor, seemed unable to forget about that episode—though of course Eleanor couldn’t be too angry with her sister. She knew it had been traumatic for Marina to see her get injured when Marina felt she was supposed to be caring for her.
“You do look lovely today,” Phineas said.
Eleanor beamed and spun in a circle “Thank you,” she said. “Personally, I think this gown is ghastly, but I’m pleased you like it.”
“Oh, it isn’t the gown,” Phineas said. “You’re right, that’s…well, it isn’t exactly to my taste.”
Eleanor laughed. “How diplomatic of you. Itisthe latest style, and I’m sure there are many gentlemen here who enjoy the way it looks. I know my sister likes this style—although every gown she’s been given for the week is more to my taste than this one!”
“Well, I wouldn’t say I know very much about ladies’ fashions,” Phineas admitted. “But what I do know is that you look lovely. Perhaps it’s just because I’m so pleased to have the chance to see you again, after such a long time apart.”
“I’m very happy about that too,” Eleanor agreed. “I’m glad you’re here this week. It really will make the whole thing much more bearable.”
“Now, the gloves, I do like,” Phineas said, admiring them. “That embroidery is really something. Did you do that yourself?”
“Oh, no, my embroidery is nowhere near this good,” Eleanor said. “This is Marina’s handiwork. She gave them to me as a birthday gift this year.”
“That was kind,” Phineas said.
“It was. I hate to wear gloves, and she knows that, but I hate it slightly less when they’re as beautiful as these,” Eleanor said.
“Is that why you’re wearing them, then, even though you hate gloves? Because she gave them to you, and you want to honor her during the week of her wedding?”
“No—well, that’s why I’ve chosen these specific gloves. That, and the fact that they really are my favorite of all the gloves I own. But I wear gloves because my parents insist upon it.”
“But I saw Marina. She wasn’t wearing gloves.”
“You can’t figure it out?” Eleanor laughed. “I have to wear gloves at social functions because of my scar. Marina has perfectly lovely, respectable, ladylike hands, so it’s all right for her to keep them uncovered.”
Phineas was quiet for a moment.
“I really don’t think your scar is so unappealing,” he said at length.
“That’s kind,” Eleanor said. “I’d like to think the same thing. But my parents are sure that no gentleman could possibly look at it and still want anything to do with me.”
