“You are never a burden!”
But Margaret could see she was. A fine lady dressed head to toe in lilac bustled over to congratulate Evelina on such a beautiful party, and how much she looked forward to the events over thecoming days. The whole time she spoke, her gaze lingered on Margaret’s poor gown.
“The shooting party, oh yes, that should be a fine thing, and the piano recital, too,” the lady said, giggling with her double chin shaking like sausages that had been bound together. Her beady eyes looked down Margaret’s dress. “One has to wonder… have you been cautious enough with the guest list though, my dear Duchess? One would not blame you for being… choosy now that you have been elevated in this world.”
Margaret tried to walk away, but Eveline grasped her hand and pulled her back so swiftly that she was in danger of falling over.
“I invite the people that matter, Lady Sedgwick.”
“Ah, you are too good of heart.” Though it was said in a praising tone, Lady Sedgwick glowered down at Margaret’s dress.
Across the last couple of weeks, their father, Viscount Edlerglen, and his failing finances had graced the scandal sheets many times.
“If you would excuse me, I must introduce my sister to some gentlemen this evening.” Evelina tried to steer Margaret around Lady Sedgwick.
“Oh, you intend to see her married, do you? Well, yes, yes, of course. I daresay, pigs may fly yet!”
“That awful, horrible –” Margaret was hissing under her breath, though Evelina gripped her hand tight to stop her.
“I will deal with her.” But before Evelina could say anything to her, Lady Sedwick had wandered off, her great bulging form swaying side to side as she made her way to the three gossiping young ladies, no doubt to join their whispers and talk disdainfully of how the hem of Margaret’s gown was now an inch too short for her as she had mended it so many times.
“I daresay she is right,” Margaret murmured. “How am I ever supposed to marry now?” Evelina chewed her lip in response. “Let us face it. The dream of marrying for love is probably an impossible one.”
“Why is it? I married for love, why could you not?”
“Our reputations are a little different, sister, may I remind you?” Margaret whispered.
Evelina blushed pink but didn’t argue with her.
“Men do not care as much for finances and reputation as ladies insist they do. Men want other things.”
“Do they?” Margaret was a little suspicious of this insistence.
“They want good hearts. They want a woman who can make them smile. They desire kindness. All these things you have in abundance.”
“Just because you have a good man who will look past a poor father without two shillings to rub together, does not mean all men have such kindness in them,” Margaret reminded her, taking a rather large gulp of her sherry.
Evelina seemed to think the better of giving her such a glass and took it away swiftly.
“Enough of this. Come with me and I shall introduce you to many eligible gentlemen.”
“Poor things. I do not doubt they will run and hide the moment you say my name. Perhaps it would be kinder to introduce me to them tomorrow on your hunt? At least then they could go and hide in the woods. There aren’t so many hiding places here in your parlor.”
“Oh hush.” Though Evelina smiled at her jest all the same. “Come, these are the gentlemen I wish you to meet.”
Rather than introducing Margaret to the circle of gentlemen who were sharing a drink with Gabriel in the corner of the room, they stood at a distance as Evelina pointed out each one in turn.
“There’s Lord Featherington. A good man, if a little… older,” Evelina said uncertainly.
“He must be double our age at least,” Margaret muttered. Though his age was not so much her objection. She didn’t like the way he dominated the conversation, talking over any otherman who endeavored to speak, even Gabriel, who seemed to find great amusement in this as he hid his smirk behind his port glass. “Arrogance is so desirable in a man.”
Evelina sniggered and covered it up with a cough when Gabriel looked their way with suspicion.
“There’s Mr. Kendrick, too. Now, he is a good man, a kind one, there is no denying that.” Evelina gestured to a shorter man, rather wiry in appearance, with a kindly face. Margaret smiled softly in the gentleman’s direction.
For all the kindness he may have possessed now, clearly, he took great pride in himself than to smile at a woman who had no money. Far from returning that smile, he looked away, scandalized, as if her look had burned him.
“A kind man can still value the worth of a good purse,” Margaret murmured.
