“Thank you,” Hollis said. She looked down at the gorgeous, cream-colored silk gown. The skirt was sewn with tiny crystal beads that caught the light when she moved. This was the dress Caroline had worn at her debut many years ago, but had been refashioned for modern times and Hollis’s “bubbled up” body. It had a row of sprightly bows cascading down the front. The bodice was awfully low—Hollis had pointed this out to Caroline, and Caroline had sniffed indignantly and said that was the fashion of the day, which clearly it was not. If Hollis bent over, half of her would pop out of the gown altogether.
Hollis glanced up from her study of the gown and saw that one of the attendants was fitting a tiara on Eliza’s head. “You mean to wear that to Beck’s?” she asked with great amusement. Beck would groan and roll his eyes. Eliza was destined to be queen, but in Beck’s eyes, they were all still pesky children.
“Of course,” Eliza said, and leaned forward to look at herself in the mirror. “It will vex him terribly.” She winked at Hollis in the mirror. “I’m still Eliza, darling, and he’s still Beck, and I shall delight in tormenting him.”
Hollis laughed. “Thank God for it. I’ve had to do it all on my own in the last year.”
Eliza smiled, and Hollis thought she’d never looked lovelier. In fact, every time she saw her sister, she was astonished all over again how love could transform a person so completely. Eliza had always been lovely, but she’d never glowed with happiness. Hollis wondered if she’d looked so content with Percy? She could scarcely remember that version of herself any longer.
Cecelia babbled at her mother’s feet, drawing all their attention. She was holding up the horse, slick with baby drool.
“Oh, my little rose, listen to you,” Eliza cooed to her. “You’ll be a great orator, like your grandfather.” She looked at Hollis. “Speaking of Pappa, I went round to see him yesterday. He was packing for a trip to the country.”
“Was he?”
“He didn’t tell you?” Eliza asked. “The entire household is set to tour Sussex this weekend, and they are all very keen to go. I think even Jack and John will make the trip.”
“Is it a holiday?” Hollis said, confused as to what that meant. She sat next to Eliza.
“A holiday—no, darling. Pappa means to move to the country, remember?”
“Yes, butnow?” How had Hollis missed this? Why hadn’t anyone told her? No one had ever said it would be soon.
“I don’t know when, exactly, but Poppy said Ben’s been having a look around when he’s able.”
So that was that? They wereallgoing to leave her? Just desert her here in the middle of London? Surely Poppy would stay behind. Hollis couldn’t imagine her in the country.
“I went round to see him earlier this week. Caro tried to convince Poppy she ought not to go, that her prospects for marriage were better in London than in the country.”
“What? Caro was with you?”
Eliza looked curiously at Hollis. “Well... Leopold and Bas were meeting with the ministers, and she wanted a diversion.”
Hollis wondered why they hadn’t come to fetch her, or at least sent a messenger. This wasn’t at all as it used to be.
Eliza suddenly laughed. “Caro even advised Poppy that she ought to marry Donovan and keep it in the family.”
Hollis snorted. “Caro should keep to her own patch of country and leave well enough alone.”
Eliza leaned down to pick up the baby. “You mustn’t worry, darling. Poppy proclaimed Donovan much too handsome to marry...but he’s not too handsome for you, is he?”
Hollis nearly choked. “Don’t be absurd, Eliza.”
“Why is it absurd? Everyone suspects what I think must be true. Isn’t it true?” she asked with a sly look at her sister.
Hollis could feel the heat rising in her. “No, it’s not true. That’s not...” She paused to draw a breath to steady herself. These were the moments she hated keeping Donovan’s secret. “Donovan esteems someone else.”
“Oh.”Eliza sounded very surprised. “I didn’t... But that... I mean, he seems so devoted to you.”
“He is devoted to me because he is a very loyal man. But he’s not in love with me.”
Eliza buried her face in Cecelia’s neck, kissed her cheek, and put her on the floor again. “Then he’s a fool.”
That was the sort of remark any loyal sister would make. But she almost sounded disappointed. “Ohdear,” Hollis murmured.
“What?” Eliza asked.
“I’ve become the relation everyone frets about, haven’t I?”
