“You must realize that everyone’s talking about you,” her mother said.
“No,” said Eugenia, startled. “Why should they be?”
“Your cousin isbeing courted by the Duke,” her mother said, as if the connection were the most obvious thing in the world.
“That’s plenty of reason for them to talk about Esther,” Eugenia allowed. “But why should it mean anyone is talking about me?”
“They see the success Esther is having this Season, and they can’t help but draw a comparison,” her mother said. “They say, ‘Lady Eugenia’s cousin is so lovely, so charming. She turns the head of every gentleman who lays eyes upon her. And her poor cousin, the ugly duckling, likely never to marry at all.’”
“Who says these things?” Eugenia asked, feeling tears prick at the back of her eyes. Were people really so cruel? She knew that Esther had been upset at the Bolton Ball to see the way some of the gentlemen treated Eugenia. But she had assumed her cousin was being sensitive, overprotective. She hadn’t thought it was something other people noticed, too.
Perhaps she had been wrong.
Perhaps her awkwardness, her plain appearance, and the fact that she hadn’t yet found a gentleman interested in courting her—perhaps these were things other people talked about. Maybe she would never live up to Esther.
“Everyone is saying it,” her mother said coldly, either not noticing or not caring that Eugenia was near tears. “Everyone. I’ve just been forced to listen to a group of gossipinghenstell me all about what a failure my daughter is, and how disappointed I must be.” She shook her head. “You have no idea how embarrassing that was.”
Don’t I? I’m the one they were talking about!
“This is what you need to do,” her mother said. “Go and find Esther. No doubt she’s with His Grace. You should be spending as much time as possible in their company. We want the Duke to noticeyou.”
Eugenia sighed. “Mother. You just said it yourself. No one will notice me while Esther is around.”
“You’ll just have to make him notice you,” her mother said. “Figure out a way.”
“No,” Eugenia said.
Her mother stared at her. “I beg your pardon?”
“No,” Eugenia repeated. “I’m not going to do that. I’m not going to steal my own cousin’s suitor, Mother.”
“Are youtryingto shame me?” her mother demanded. “Is that what you want? You want to see me become the laughingstock of London?”
“Of course not!” Eugenia said. “But I love Esther, Mother. I don’t want to do anything to hurt her.”
“She has no problem with hurtingyou,” Eugenia’s mother pointed out.
“That isn’t true at all,” Eugenia said. “She’s never been anything but kind to me. And she’s defended me when gentlemen have been rude.” She thought again of the way Esther had yelled at the Duke, potentially jeopardizing her own chances with him.
“She’s our guest here,” Eugenia’s mother snapped. “She can’t be permitted to simply swoop in and lay claim to the most eligible gentleman of the Season.Youhave the better claim, Eugenia. London is your home. If not for our generosity, Esther wouldn’t be here at all!”
“Mother,” Eugenia said, “you are the only one who views this as a competition. Esther doesn’t, and I certainly don’t.”
“You naïve girl,” her mother said, with a laugh that was almost cruel. “Of course Esther knows this is a competition. Do you think she found herself being courted by the best gentleman through sheer chance? No, she set her sights on him, and she ensnared him. Whatever else one might say about her, she is cunning.”
“She cares for him, Mother,” Eugenia objected. “They both care for one another.”
“Ridiculous.”
“You haven’t seen them together,” Eugenia said. “Not the way I have. If you had been there the day they walked in the park, you would know that His Grace is more to Esther than a simple conquest. She genuinely admires him.”
“She’s more clever than I thought, if she has you believing that,” Eugenia’s mother said. “And there is even less hope for you than I ever imagined. Of course Esther is only interested in a quality match. What else could she possibly want? You’ve seen the way your aunt and uncle harangue her about finding someoneworthy.” She sneered. “You would think they believed Esther was a duchess herself, instead of an Earl’s daughter.”
“What I think, actually,” Eugenia said, “is that the best and kindest thing you and I can do is to allow my cousin to enjoy her courtship. I’m not going to try to steal her suitor from her, Mother. That’s final.”
“That’sfinal?” Eugenia’s mother stared at her. “You don’t tell me what’s final, Eugenia. I tellyouwhat’s final. And I am telling you that this matter is not over. Youwillfind your cousin and the Duke, and youwillgain his attention. Before this is all over, I will see him courting my daughter instead of her flighty cousin.”
“I’m sorry, Mother,” Eugenia said. “I’m afraid I can’t be a part of these machinations. I care too much for Esther. I won’t do anything to destroy her happiness.”
