Elaine didn’t like the sound of that. She especially didn’t like how morose he sounded. She tried changing the topic. “I will be attending my first ball tomorrow evening.”
“Ho…how?”
“Aunt Lorna and James have agreed to sponsor me this Season. I am committed to finding a wealthy husband who will be able to help us, Papa. Perhaps I may even enjoy myself in the process.”
“That is good. You should enjoy yourself. You should be happy.”
“I am happy,” she lied, though she couldn’t understand why. It was evident that their circumstances were far from joyful.
“I want you to be happier,” her father pushed out weakly. “I have made so manymistakes during my life. I do not want you to suffer from them.”
“What sort of mistakes?” she asked tentatively, uncertain if she truly wished to know.
Edward said nothing. After a moment, a sob escaped his lips.
“Papa?” Elaine gasped, filled with alarm.
“I am tired,” he told her. “I wish to rest now.”
“Papa…”
“Go now. Rest. You have a lot of preparations to do for your ball tomorrow.”
She wiped her tears and nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. “I shall tell you all about it upon my return.”
“That would be nice,” he said and she hoped that was truly a smile she heard in his voice.
A few seconds later, his breathing grew loud but even, a clear indication that he had fallen asleep. Elaine stayed there for a while longer, thinking about all he’d said. Conversations did not happen often lately and when they did, they were always short-lived and unimportant. This one was different. Her father rarely spoke of his past.
At last, she stood and left the room, when she was certain her tears had dried. But by the time she made it to her bedchamber, they’d returned with full force. Hearing her father speak just now only reminded her of when he had been strong and healthy, when his illness had not turned him into a shell of his former self. When her mother had been alive, her brother had been home, and she’d truly been happy.
There was no changing the past, however. But as she crawled into bed and let her tears lull her to sleep, Elaine resolved to let her present dictate her future.
***
Grenshaw House screamed opulence, from the white-washed brick walls to the tiered balconies, to the long driveway lined with painted stone and manicured shrubbery. Michael had never attended a ball hosted by Lord and Lady Jones, but he had certainly heard the rumours. He was well aware of what others said about their grand ballroom and their endless wealth, how such balls often ended well into the morning because there was just simply so much to do. As his carriage pulled to a stop near the front of the house, Michael wondered if he would have anticipated such an event if his plan for revenge had not been simmering in his mind.
“Michael.”
Clarissa’s soft voice drew a weary sigh to his lips. He knew what she was going to say simply from her tone.
“Leave me be, Clarissa,” he said to her, watching as footmen approached their carriage. “If you do not intend to support my quest then at the very least, do not lecture me about it.”
“I cannot help but lecture you. It is what younger sisters do.”
“An older sister, perhaps,” he murmured. “But asIam the eldest, you would do well to listen to me.”
She was already shaking her head. “Do not purport to be wiser than me, Michael. Not when you are still on your insane quest for retribution.”
“Insane, she says,” he scoffed.
She sighed. “I only wish for you to see that there must be a better way.”
“There is no better way. And I shall not be convinced to the contrary.”
She sighed again but Michael ignored her. The footman was upon them now, opening their door. Michael nodded absently at him as he climbed out of the carriage and then helped Clarissa out. Right behind them, Beatrice and Henry were exiting their marked carriage as well.
They waited for the two of them to approach before they turned to the house, falling in line with the other arriving guests. The Jones seemed to have an unlimited amount of footmen because they kept pouring out of the house, assisting newcomers out of their carriages and escorting them to the ballroom.
