“Ah, I see. I shall join them shortly. Thank you.”
The maid nodded and swiftly left the room. Elaine sighed, turning back to her mirror. She didn’t tarry for much longer. She ran the brush through her hair a few more times, twisted it into a chignon, and went about getting dressed. Within the nextten minutes, she’d donned a simple blue morning gown that was wonderfully within this year’s fashion—thanks to Lorna—but made sure to wear her sensible brown shoes, rather than the soft slippers Lorna had gotten for her. Elaine hoped there wouldn’t be a chance for her to regret her decision.
She made her way down to the drawing room to find Lorna and James already having their tea. Or rather, Lorna sipping hers while James read the newspaper. They were bickering, as usual, and Elaine wondered just how much James could be retaining when he seemed far too busy contradicting his mother.
“Ah, there she is!” Lorna exclaimed as Elaine approached. “Elaine, my darling, settle this row for us, won’t you?”
“It is not a row,” James pressed, his voice slightly annoyed. “I am simply disagreeing with you.”
“Which upsets me so now it is a row,” Lorna pressed. She drew in a deep, calming breath, taking Elaine’s hand as Elaine chose the seat next to her. “Who do you think is better? Mozart or Haydn?”
“Neither,” Elaine said. “I much prefer Beethoven.”
James snorted in laughter, turning a page of his newspaper. Lorna thinned her lips, blinking rapidly at Elaine as if she could not believe she hadn’t taken her side.
“Well,” James drawled. “I believe that brings our discussion to an end.”
“Yes,” Lorna murmured, clearing her throat. “I believe so.”
Elaine smiled as she moved forward for a piece of cake. It wasn’t her preferred way of having breakfast but she supposed a sweet treat in the morning once in a while would not do her any harm.
“What brings you two by so early?” she asked before taking a nibble of the cake.
“It is hardly early,” James replied, craning his neck to get a better look at the grandfather clock. “It is nearly midday. Most ladies ought to be up and about by this hour.”
“Oh, right. I usually am, but it has been some time since I’ve had such a long night. I was quite exhausted.”
“Rightfully so, my darling,” Lorna assured her. “It was your first ball, after all. And Lord and Lady Jones seemed not to have any intention of ending it. Had we not left when we did, I surmise it would have gone on for a few more hours.”
“Are they all like that?” Elaine asked curiously.
She wasn’t successful in hiding the apprehension in her tone and Lorna laughed. “Most of them during the London Season are, yes. But you are always free to leave when you deem it fit. There is no need to stay and suffer simply because you believe you should.” A mischievous glint appeared in Lorna’s eyes. “Although perhaps you may be far too preoccupied to concern yourself with the late hour.”
Elaine flushed. She avoided her aunt’s eyes, making her tea instead. But she knew this conversation was bound to happen again sooner or later.
The knock on the door saved her from having to respond. Paul entered, bowing respectfully before approaching with a letter in hand. “This arrived for you just now, my lady,” he informed Elaine.
Elaine frowned. “For me?”
“Yes, for you!” Lorna exclaimed excitedly. She was already on her feet, plucking the letter of the butler’s hand. “And it bears no seal. Who do you think it is from?”
“Perhaps you should let the person it was intended for open it herself,” James suggested firmly. And just in time too, because Lorna was already preparing to unfold it. She scowled and handed over the letter to Elaine.
Elaine’s heart thundered against her chest as she took the letter in hand. Was it the duke? Was he sending word of his intention to call on her? Or perhaps it was an invitation to dinner this evening? The possibilities were vast, ones that involved the duke and ones that didn’t. Yet, as she slowly opened the letter, Elaine found she couldn’t focus on breathing when her entire body was anticipating hearing from the gentleman who had followed her into her dreams.
She read quickly and each word had her hope deflating out of her. She didn’t think she had masked her disappointment well enough when she said, “It is from Lord Penly.”
“What does it say?” Lorna asked eagerly. James, of course, deemed this far more important than his daily newspaper and he set it aside.
“He says he enjoyed his time with me last night and wishes to see me again. Though in far more grandiloquent words than were necessary.”
Lorna’s shoulders sagged with disappointment. “Is that it? Did he not mention any plans to call on you? Or for a promenade through the park?”’
“Nothing of the sort.”
“How discouraging. A gentleman should never leave a lady wanting. If he intends to seriously court you then, I should hope that he will be more proactive.”
Elaine only shrugged. She didn’t dislike Lord Penly. But she certainly didn’t like him either. Throughout the course of the long night, he was only a blip in her memory, cast to the back of her mind and living in the shadow created by the duke.
