“What a bleak view,” Aunt Florence laughed. “It can be true, certainly. It was not for me. My dear Mr Everett and I lived a rich and full life. I wanted for nothing, certainly not companionship and excitement. I regret nothing. Your own dear mother was very happy.”
Eleanor flushed. “I… I didn’t mean to suggest that…”
“I know you didn’t,” Aunt Florence leaned across, taking her hand. “I’ve long worried about you, my dear. Women in this world do not have a great deal of time to establish themselves. Unmarried ladies – especially those of a certain age – are not treated well. Some women do have callings, but I will be frank – most women marry and have children. Often, this is what they want.”
“It’s not what I want.”
“Don’t you want to be in love?”
“I would, if I believed it existed.”
There was a little silence after that. Eleanor stared down at her empty plate, biting her lip. Glancing up, she saw her father and aunt exchange quick, worried glances.
“I will not live forever, Eleanor,” Charles said, voice low and heavy. “Some men… some men will not accept the rule of a woman when it comes to business matters. Investors drop out, customers go elsewhere, and any disasters are blamed on the woman rather than on uncontrollable circumstances. I shall leave it at that, and hope that you understand what I mean. I want to see you settled and happy before I die, Eleanor, and for the most part, that involves marriage.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “And there’s no other path to happiness?”
Aunt Florence’s hand tightened on hers.
“Nobody is going to force you to do anything,” she said firmly, shooting a warning look at her brother. “But let’s start with you attending my birthday ball, shall we?”
Eleanor bit her lip harder. “Of course, Aunt.”
Chapter Five
“The dark green, I think,” Henry said firmly. His new valet’s hand hovered hesitantly over a fabulous blue-and-pink waistcoat, which was naturally a present from Alexander, commissioned from some tailor or other.
“Are you sure, your lordship?” the valet asked dubiously. “The blue-and-pink would suit your lordship’s colouring perfectly.”
Henry eyed his own reflection sourly. The tan he’d gotten in France hadn’t quite faded, and he didn’t intend to lose his newfound Parisian tastes by wearing one of Alexander’s weird creations. He’d chosen a deep brown suit, properly informal for a dinner with his family, and the green would be fine for his purposes.
“The green, please,” he said sternly, and the valet sighed.
“Very well, your lordship.”
The valet in question was a fair-haired dandy of a young man by the name of Edward, hired by William, who was insistent that his younger brother should present himself properly in Society. Henry didn’t particularly enjoy sharing his already cramped bachelor’s apartments with a servant, but he did enjoy having his breakfast served to him and his clothes pressed on his behalf, so that was that.
Mostly, the clothes he wore were the ones left at home when he’d gone off on his travels. If William had been surprised to learn that Henry intended to move out, he’d been careful not to show it.
Having his own apartments wasn’t the joyful freedom Henry had expected, not like when he lived on his own abroad.
Not for much longer,he reminded himself. If he could partner with Charles Fairfax in the porcelain business, then he might soon become a self-made man, with no need to hang upon his dead father’s ridiculous will.
“That will do, thank you, Edward,” he said shortly, forestalling more fiddling with his cravat. Edward looked disappointed.
“Would his lordship not prefer a more complex cravat style? I can do the newestwaterfallstyle, or even… I have magazines, if you’d like to see.”
“No, thank you. A simple knot is more than enough.”
Edward looked as though Henry had just casually blasphemed.
“As you wish, your lordship,” he said, sighing deeply. “Will there be anything else?”
“I don’t think so, no. I’ll be staying at my family home tonight. Good night, Edward.”
The valet took the hint, melting away.
Henry’s apartments were fairly basic. He was not going to be hosting any balls here anytime soon. The largest room was the main one, with a large fireplace and a couple of armchairs, and a dining table pushed into the corner. His room was a small square, the bed taken from his childhood room. There was a kitchen and scullery, of course, and a small servants’ room where Edward slept.
