“What do you mean?” Eugenia asked.
“You said you weren’t interested in the Duke of Hallowbinder,” Esther said. “Is that true?”
“Yes,” Eugenia said. “Do you meanyou’reinterested him?”
“He sounds like exactly the sort of gentleman I’m looking for,” Esther said. “If my focus is on him, that leaves you free to take your pick of all the other gentlemen present. There need be no conflict between you and I.”
Eugenia laughed. “My mother won’t like that at all,” she said. “You with the Duke, when all this time she’s been determined to make him notice me!”
“But you already said yourself that your mother won’t like anything we do,” Esther pointed out. “Would this makeyouhappy?”
“Very happy,” Eugenia enthused. “Just think—my cousin, married to a Duke! I’d be happy to do all I can to help you gain his notice, Esther.”
Esther nodded. “And in return, I’d like to do what I can to make your Season a successful one,” she said. “I don’t think you ought to dismiss the possibility of finding a suitable match, Eugenia.”
“My mother’s not likely to approve of anyone, I find,” Eugenia said. “She had her heart set on the Duke.”
“There are other gentlemen of good standing,” Esther said. “I’m sure there will be plenty of earls, including the Earl of Oxbridge—I know you don’t admire him—and perhaps a marquess or two as well! Surely your mother would be satisfied with any of them.”
“I think she would,” Eugenia admitted. “But would those gentlemen be satisfied with me? That’s more difficult to believe.”
“Well, you wait,” Esther said. “I'll help you, Eugenia. I’ll help you with your hair and your face, and by the time you and I are done, you’ll be one of the loveliest young ladies at the ball.”
“Oh, Esther,” Eugenia laughed. “You’re very kind. But you can’t perform miracles. I will always be plain. I’ll always be the kind of lady a gentleman walks right by without noticing her.”
Esther knew that there was an unfortunate truth to what her cousin was saying. Eugenia was by no meansugly, but there was simply nothing exceptional in her features. And when that was combined with her unfortunate lack of confidence and awkward demeanor, it made for someone who was likely to be overlooked.
Perhaps it’s best to focus on simply making her comfortable at the first ball.
If Eugenia relaxed a little bit, it would be easier for her to gain a gentleman’s attention.
“I’ll tell you what,” she said. “Let’s just have fun at the first ball. Just the two of us. No one is expecting us to secure suitors for ourselves on the very first evening of the Season.”
That probably isn’t strictly true. I’m sure my parents are holding out hope that a rich gentleman will come knocking the morning after the ball.
But Eugenia was smiling so brightly that Esther knew she had made the right move. “Really?” she asked. "That would be so lovely, Esther. I’ve been looking forward to this ball, of course, but I’ve also been very anxious about what it will be like to be out among society.”
Esther nodded. “I think it will make things easier for us if we don’t expect too much of ourselves,” she said. “We’ll meet some people, and afterward, we can discuss what we thought of them. But let’s not worry about what anybody thinks ofusyet.”
“I always thought this was what it would be like to have a sister,” Eugenia said. She flung her arms around Esther. "I'm so glad you’re here, Esther. I'm so happy we can do this together.”
“I'm happy, too," Esther said.
She was surprised by how true it was. She had always anticipated that her first Season would feel more like work than anything else, that she would spend the whole time dedicated to doing what would make her parents happy.
But with Eugenia by her side…she would have a friend to go through it all with. That would make things much more pleasant than they might otherwise have been.
“All right,” she said, taking a seat beside her cousin on the bed. “Tell me all about this Duke of Hallowbinder. I want to know everything.”
Chapter 6
Esther gazed around, excited and stunned. “I’ve never seen such a beautiful space,” she said. “Have you ever seen anything like it, Eugenia?”
“Never,” her cousin said. “I've been to Bolton Manor before, but never for a ball. Only for social calls. They’ve done a wonderful job decorating.”
Esther nodded. “And all the gowns! Can you believe how lovely everyone looks?”
“I can’t even believe how lovelyyoulook,” Eugenia said. She was smiling, but she still sounded a bit sad as she said, “I shouldn’t stand next to you. I can’t help but invite unfavorable comparisons.”
