Goodness, it was far too difficult to keep herself together today. Perhaps it was because today was the anniversary of her mother’s death five years ago. Each year she expected it to get easier and each year she was proven otherwise. Influenza had claimed her beautiful mother far too early and, shortly after, her father’s health began to decline. Their physicians worked tirelessly to figure out the root of his illness but, as their coffers ran dry, so did the help of those they hired. It wasn’t before long that Elaine was left to take care of her father herself.
“That is not quite true,” she replied, striving for a lightness in her voice, though it sounded flat to her ears. “You have Simon. He may be away at Eton but he would forsake it all, should he know you needed him.”
Edward shook his head slightly. His eyes often watered, a side effect of his illness the physicians had said, but the pure pain etched into his face made Elaine wonder if they were real tears.
“And there is Aunt Lorna and James. They are ever at hand to assist us. We are never truly alone.”
Edward shook his head again as the tears fell down his cheeks. Elaine thought he might have something else to say but then his eyes drifted close and sleep claimed him instantly. She paused for a moment, watching the staggered but very real rise and fall of his chest before she allowed herself to relax. Shepreferred him when he was sleeping, she decided. He always looked more at peace.
But it gave her a moment of peace that she did not want. With nothing but silence as her companion, there was no stopping the waves of emotional memories that assaulted her. She would never forget the day she lost her mother, the day English Society lost the Countess of Suthenshire. She had been so well loved that nearly all of the Ton came to her wake.
Elaine never knew many of their names. They paid their respects but they did not care about the disgraced Earl and his children. They gossiped about them behind their backs and had little empathy for Elaine and Simon. Of course, Simon went off to Eton shortly after Edward fell ill so he didn’t know the extent of their father’s state. Nor did he have to suffer the scrutiny of their ruined reputation and a significant dip in finances. That was Elaine’s burden to bear and hers alone.
She spent her days in the same manner. Taking care of her father, maintaining appearances in Society, keeping her brother ignorant of the true direness of their situation, and longing for the opportunity to save her family.
There was a gentle knock on the door. Elaine blinked, realising with a start that she’d started crying again. She wiped her tears quickly and croaked, “Come.”
The door opened and their weathered butler, Paul, appeared. His loyalty to the family remained unwavering, even though so many of the other servants had left due to their inability to compensate them.
“Lord and Lady Abney to see you, my lady.”
Elaine quickly stood. “Pray show them in,” she told him hurriedly as she made her way over to the sofas arranged in the centre of the room. “And please prepare us some tea.”
He nodded and slipped out of the room just as Lorna and James appeared. As usual, Lorna’s presence was like a breath offresh air, breezing into the room with a pep in her step. Her son, Elaine’s cousin, followed closely behind, his expression as grim as always.
As mother and son, they were always an interesting sight. The Dowager Viscountess of Abney rarely let her feathers get ruffled, a lively spirit capable of improving the mood of anyone she was near. Quite unlike James, the current Viscount of Abney, who viewed life through serious and critical eyes. Despite his austere demeanour, he was one of the kindest, most gentle people Elaine knew.
Then again, she did not know many people, since she spent most of her days cooped up in the house.
“Elaine, my darling.” Lorna swept to her side and placed kisses on both cheeks like she always did. “How is it that each time I see you, you grow more and more beautiful?”
Elaine flushed. “It is such a pleasure to see you, Aunt Lorna. And you as well, James.”
“Elaine,” James greeted gruffly. He ran a scrutinous gaze down the length of her. “Are you well?”
“As well as I can be,” she confessed, settling into a seat. “Though I was curious when I might hear from the two of you again.”
“Mother is to be blamed for that,” James said, sinking into the sofa next to Lorna. “She feels the need to entertain every one of her friends whenever they pay her a visit. And they arealwayspaying her a visit.”
“Oh, do not be envious, James,” Lorna huffed. “It is most unbecoming of you. If you wish to make as many friends as me, you need only say so and I shall gladly teach you my ways.”
“I do not wish to learn your ways.”
“I would beg to differ,” she huffed, laughing. “It is nothing to be ashamed of, you know.”
James gritted his teeth, getting visibly annoyed. Elaine watched in fascination. She couldn’t understand how James was so oblivious to what his mother was doing. Anyone could see that Lorna liked getting him riled and yet he walked into her trap every time.
“Famous last words of an envious man,” Lorna sang and laughed when James grunted in frustration. “He likes to get himself in a huff,” she said to Elaine. “Let us ignore him. We are here for you, after all.”
Elaine smiled. The last time they’d spoken, Lorna had mentioned sponsoring Elaine’s debut for the London Season. Elaine had spent days imagining what that would be like. She’d hoped to debut at the proper age of ten-and-nine or twenty like most ladies of her station but, given her situation, she supposed she should count herself lucky that she still got the chance to do it at one-and-twenty.
As if she heard the direction of Elaine’s thoughts, Lorna said, “We cannot wait any longer. Any older and you will lose half your potential prospects and that simply cannot be done.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity, Aunt Lorna,” Elaine told her. “But I’m afraid I must admit that I am unsure of what exactly I should do.”
“Oh, goodness, it is such a pity that Margaret left us so soon. She should have been here to guide you. It is not fair that she shall not get the chance to see you debut.”
Lorna’s shoulders sagged with sadness and a moment of silence hung heavy in the room. As Elaine’s maternal aunt, Elaine knew how close Lorna had been with her mother. Lorna was still mourning her as much as Elaine was.
