“Hate you? Of course not! What gave you that silly notion?”
The girl shrugged dejectedly. “He has said only two words to me since I arrived. And he looks so... forbidding. As if he is always angry.”
Colin, forbidding? With surprise she had to concede that yes, with his towering figure and stern face, he would appear so to an impressionable girl. Especially if he was rarely around her and always short and unsmiling on the few occasions they mingled. Abigail had gotten so used to him that his size didn’t seem intimidating, but protective. His face didn’t look scowling, but pensive.
She would talk to Colin about Elizabeth. Get him to spend more time around his sister and let her in. The girl had been so looking forward to meeting her older brother! The previous earl had not been the most affectionate of fathers, and she was yearning for a male figure in her life.
“He is not angry, dear. Much less at you. I’ve spent quite a bit of time with him and I assure you he is very kind and patient. Maybe he is just preoccupied. He has a lot on his mind with the estate issues. But I’ll talk to him.”
“Don’t tell him I find him forbidding!” Elizabeth said, horrified.
Abigail smiled. “I won’t, don’t worry. I’ll just tell him to spend more time with you. That way you will get to see the real him.”
“Sounds as if you like him.” Elizabeth said with an impish smile.
Which, of course, made Abigail get all flustered. Had she revealed too much? Oh, my goodness. Had her inappropriate attraction to the earl become clear to all?
“I... no, of course not.” She laughed lightly. “Not in that way. I just think he is a congenial gentleman. That’s all.”
“Well, when you talk to him, try to convince him to take us to London soon.” Elizabeth was persistent about what she wanted.
“The season is already underway. Don’t you think it would be better to wait until next year?”
The girl pouted. “No, I don’t. I want to be presented to the Queen, and the Debutante’s Ball is in May. If we hurry, we will have just enough time to get an invitation and order a proper wardrobe.”
“Elizabeth, you already have plenty of beautiful dresses. I don’t think–”
“But of course I’ll need to buy more dresses. At the very least, I’ll need a presentation dress. And one must not wear the same dress twice during the season, did you not know?” Elizabeth regarded her now with a speculative expression. “You will need a new wardrobe too. You can’t be my chaperone in those dreadful sacks you wear.”
“Elizabeth! I certainly won’t be buying new gowns.” She said with a frown, hurt by the girl’s assessment of her style. “I have a few ball gowns from before. Those will do.”
“Bah, those would be hopelessly out of style,” the girl insisted, brushing the mare’s flanks.
“They will do, particularly with a few minor alterations.”
“Well, I certainly need a few new gowns. If I’m to be presented and have a successful season, I need to look my best.” Elizabeth persevered with a stubborn frown.
It reminded Abigail that for all the girl’s good nature and kind disposition; she was still young and immature and, as such, interested in frivolous things. Even to the point of sometimes being oblivious to other people's problems and preferences.
“I’ll talk to the earl. But I honestly don’t know if we will be able to adjourn to London soon. There’s plenty to do at the estate.”
Elizabeth finished brushing her mare and threw down the brush. Linking her arm with Abigail, she guided her out of the stall with a beguiling smile.
“Well, see if you can convince my brother, please.” Elizabeth cajoled. “There’s always stuff to do at the estate, but I shall perish from boredom buried here in the country with nothing to do for the entire summer and fall.”
Arm in arm, they exited the stables in the home's direction. But the high spirits brought on by the ride had definitely dampened.
Elizabeth wanted to go to London as soon as possible. Abigail would have to present her and act as her chaperone. She had known this, of course. But she had thought she would have another year in which to prepare for that.
The fact was, she was dreading the season with the same intensity Elizabeth was anticipating it. When she came to live with the countess almost five years ago, she had found a refuge here. The reclusive life the countess led suited her perfectly. She had no interest in the glittering ballrooms, in the false smiles and the artificial friendships.
But now she would need to rejoin society if she was to help the girl with her debut. The countess was in no condition to do it, so they expected it from her. Elizabeth would be so disappointed if she had to delay her season. An idea popped into her head as if inspired.
What about hiring a professional chaperone? Maybe that was the best idea. There were ladies of good birth that had fallen on hard times and supported themselves that way. They could present and chaperone the girl around town, while she stayed behind with the countess and the earl. They had plenty of work to do at the estate. She would talk to him about that tomorrow. Surely he would support the idea.
It was the perfect solution, really.
***
