“Your mother has been unfairly dismissive of you, too,” Esther protested. “She’s led you to believe that no gentleman could possibly take an interest in you. But that isn’t true. I have no trouble believing that a gentleman might be interested.”
“And perhaps someone will,” Eugenia said. “But when they’re not, it doesn’t come as a surprise. I can see that you’re much more outraged by the behavior of Lord Oxbridge and Lord Kensington than I am.”
Esther felt a little ashamed that her emotions had been so transparent to her cousin. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I hope I didn’t make you feel badly in any way.”
“You didn’t,” Eugenia assured her. “But I don’t understand why you took out your anger on the Duke.Hehadn’t done anything wrong.”
“No, he hadn’t,” Esther agreed. “I shouldn’t have gotten so upset with him. But I just couldn’t help thinking—here was another gentleman who was going to treat my cousin poorly.”
Eugenia took her arm. “I’m sure you must have been prepared for this at some level,” she said. “You knew that you had come here to find yourself a match. You knew that gentlemen would have their eyes on you.”
“I expected that it would be fun,” Esther said. “I had no idea they would be this unkind to you.”
“They won’t all be,” Eugenia said. “The Duke was perfectly kind.”
“He was making fun of us,” Esther said miserably.
“Well, he had every right to, didn’t he?” Eugenia asked. “We made fools of ourselves, the pair of us. You reprimanded him for no reason, and I fell all over myself apologizing for something I hadn’t even done!”
Esther couldn’t help laughing. “You’re right,” she said. “Wewerefoolish.”
Eugenia smiled. “I’m so relieved to see you laughing,” she said. “I thought you would be distraught at having ruined your chances with the Duke. But after all, there are so many gentlemen here. I’m sure we’ll be able to find someone else who’s just as good a fit for you.”
Esther blinked “Ruined my chances?” she said. “What do you mean, Eugenia?”
“Well, I’m sure you don’t think he’s going to seriously consider courting you now,” Eugenia said. “He thinks we’re a pair of fools. I’m sure he’ll spend the rest of the Season avoiding us altogether.”
Esther grinned and shook her head. “Good luck to him,” she said. “I’ve seen him now. I know what he looks like. He can’t hope to evade me forever.”
“You can’t possibly mean to go and speak to him again!” Eugenia sounded aghast.
“Of course I do,” Esther said. “Didn’t I tell you before we set out for Bolton Manor this evening? It’s my intention to marry the Duke of Hallowbinder.”
“Esther, my goodness—”
“Don’t I have your support?” Esther asked.
“Of course you do,” Eugenia said. “You’re my cousin, after all, and you’ve supported me every step of the way when it comes to this Season. I know you’re the only person who is truly on my side. But don’t you think you’re being a bit…”
“A bit what?”
“Unrealistic?”
“I don’t see how,” Esther said. “He has to marry someone, doesn’t he?”
“I’m not sure he does,” Eugenia said. “I told you, I believe, that this isn’t his first Season. He’s been attending balls for years. I can only assume that he’s had ladies throwing themselves at him.”
“I certainly don’t intend to throw myself at him.” Esther was offended by the suggestion.
“I didn’t mean to say that you would,” Eugenia said. “But Esther—he’s the most eligible gentleman at this party. At any of the parties we’ll attend in the coming weeks. He could have any lady he wanted, and he knows that.”
“And you don’t think he’d choose me?” Esther wasn’t offended, but she was a little bit surprised. “When we were getting ready, you believed I had a chance.”
“I did,” Eugenia said. “But after what’s just happened, I don’t see how you can recover! He’ll always remember you as the young lady who spilled his wine on his shirt and yelled at him for it. How can you possibly overcome a first impression as awful as that?”
“He was very handsome, wasn’t he?” Esther wasn’t focusing on her cousin’s reservations. She thought instead of the Duke’s deep blue eyes, the color of an evening sky.I could spend hours staring into those eyes.
“Of course he’s handsome,” Eugenia said. She sounded frustrated. “That’s part of what makes him so desirable, Esther. That’s part of why so many young ladies want him.”
