“Of course,” Esther said. “I spoke to everyone who spoke to me. Eugenia did the same.”
“Well, this is a disaster,” her father said.
“It’s a good thing we came to town,” her mother said. “We really believed we could rely on you, Esther!”
Esther couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Of course you didn’t!” she said. “If you had really believed you could rely on me, you wouldn’t be here! You would be back home with Caroline, letting me get on with things. Who is with Caroline, by the way?”
“The staff is seeing to her,” her father said. “She isn’t your problem, Esther.”
“She’s the only reason I’m doing any of this,” Esther said. “You don’t believe I’m trying to marry well out of concern for your gambling debts, do you? It’s all about Caroline’s future. And she would benefit more from having her parents at home with her than I would from having you here. She’s very young, and I have Aunt Tabitha to help me.”
“Perhaps Esther is right,” Aunt Tabitha said, hope in her eyes.
“No, she isn’t,” her father said. “You heard what she just told us. She and Eugenia have been completely shirking their responsibilities.” He shook his head. “I should never have allowed Esther to attend balls in the company of her cousin. That’s the problem. She will travel to the next one on her own.”
“What do you mean?” Esther demanded. “Why can’t I go with Eugenia?”
“She’s obviously been a bad influence on you,” her father said. “We all know how awkward Eugenia is around gentlemen. You left home determined to do your part to save our family, but it’s clear that from the minute you got here, you’ve set aside your responsibilities. I can only assume that your cousin is the reason for that.”
“How dare you?” Aunt Tabitha demanded. “If anything, it’s the other way around. Eugenia has always been well behaved. She may be a bit plain and unappealing, but she does as she’s told. Your Esther is the willful one. She’s the one who’s willing to break the rules her parents have laid out for her and to go her own way instead.”
“I don’t understand what the big problem is,” Eugenia said meekly. “There will be plenty more balls this Season. Is it so awful if we spent one of them having a good time?”
“Of course you don’t understand, you simple girl,” Esther’s father said.
“Don’t speak to my daughter that way,” said Aunt Tabitha, whom Esther was sure would have had no hesitation in speaking to Eugenia that way herself.
“Perhaps the situation can be salvaged,” Esther’s mother said. “After all, Esther told us she did speak to some gentlemen last night. Esther, give us their names.”
“What?” Esther blinked. “Why?”
“Oh, yes,” her father agreed. “A wonderful idea, Anastasia.”
“What’s the idea?” Esther pressed.
“Your father and I will send calling cards out to the gentlemen,” Esther’s mother explained. “We’ll extend invitations for them to visit you here at Harcourt Manor. Perhaps we can encourage a courtship by the night of the next ball.”
“Why are you in such a hurry?” Esther asked. “We have the whole Season, don’t we?”
“You’re being foolish,” her father said. “You must know that the most eligible gentlemen will quickly be claimed. If you continue to take your time the way you have been, you’ll find yourself adrift in a sea of viscounts and barons.” He sighed. “I thought we made clear to you how important this was, Esther. I thought you understood.”
“Idounderstand,” Esther said. “But you expect too much. I’ve had only one night.”
“And you return home and tell us that you haven’t even been trying,” her mother snapped.
Esther was quiet. She didn’t know what to say. How could she explain that she had been trying to help her cousin feel at ease, that that had been the reason for her more casual approach to the Bolton Ball? Her parents didn’t care if Eugenia felt at ease. They would probably prefer that she didn’t.
Next to her, Eugenia looked positively miserable. Esther knew she would have to take her aside later and explain that none of this was her fault.
“Give us the names,” her father said.
Esther bit her lip. What to do? She certainly didn’t want her parents getting in touch with the Duke on her behalf. Perhaps she could give them Lord Oxbridge and Lord Kensington? But she didn’t want calling cards sent to either ofthem.
I suppose I’ll have to lie and say I made it up, and that I didn’t really talk to anyone last night!
She opened her mouth to deliver the lie, but before she could, a knock came at the dining room door.
“Yes?” Aunt Tabitha said irritably.
