Page 85 of Honor Requires

The nurse guided them gently away, a maid following closely behind. The house, though settling once more into order, felt altered.

The Count of Vendicarsi had come into their lives—suddenly, unexpectedly—and already, he had changed something that could not be undone.

Elizabeth said nothing. But as she returned to her chambers, more exhausted than before, one thought remained, clear and inescapable. She would meet him that afternoon.

Elizabeth stood before her dressing glass longer than she intended, the silence of her chamber pressing upon her as she fastened the clasp of her necklace. The small shell rested just above the neckline of her gown, visible where she did not usually permit it to be seen. She hesitated, her fingers lingering there, uncertain whether to conceal it as she so often did.

The chamber itself was warm with the continuous glow of the fire, the late afternoon light filtering through the tall windows and catching upon the pale silk curtains. A faint scent of lavender lingered in the air, left from the sachets tucked neatly into her drawers, though it did little to calm the restless stir of her thoughts. Everything about the room was composed, orderly, as her life had become—she felt, in that moment, entirely unsettled within it.

Then, with a small, almost imperceptible breath, she let her hand fall.

Let it remain. She studied her reflection.

The woman who looked back at her was not the girl who had once walked the shores of Ramsgate, her thoughts light, her future unformed. Time had altered her—subtly, perhaps, but undeniably. There was a steadiness now in her expression, a composure that had not always been there. The brightness of her eyes had changed into something deeper, more reflective; the animation that once came so easily was now tempered by restraint.

When had that change occurred? She tilted her head, considering. She did not feel old but she was no longer young in the way she had once been. She was nearly seven-and-twenty. The number itself carried little weight. Elizabeth gave a faint, self-conscious smile and shook her head.

“How foolish,” she murmured.

She did not immediately turn away. Her gaze lingered once more upon the shell at her throat, her fingers brushing it lightly—to assure herself of its presence.

You are all I have left of him.

She drew in a breath, steadying herself. She turned from the glass before she could examine the thought further and made her way downstairs.

The drawing room bore every mark of Jane’s careful attention. The tea service had been arranged with exact precision; each cup and plate was placed like the success of the afternoon depended upon it.

The room itself was one of the most agreeable in Matlock House, its proportions elegant without ostentation, its arrangement designed for both comfort and display. Pale winter light filtered through the tall sash windows, filtered by gauze curtains that stirred faintly with the faintest draft. The walls, adorned with landscapes in gentle tones of green and gold, lent the space harmony, while the fire upon the hearth burned steadily, casting a low glow across polished surfaces and fine fabrics alike.

The tea table had been set near the center of the room, covered in fine linen so smooth it seemed scarcely touched. The porcelain service—white with delicate gilding—had been arranged with meticulous symmetry. A tiered stand displayed an array of confections: small sponge cakes dusted with sugar, thin slices of seed cake, delicate sandwiches trimmed with precision. Each item spoke not merely of hospitality, but of care—of the desire to offer something worthy of notice without appearing to strive for it.

Jane herself moved about the room, adjusting, straightening, pausing only to reconsider what had already been set in perfect order. She lifted a cup, shifted it half an inch, then stepped back as though to assess the effect. A moment later, she moved it again.

“Lizzy,” she said, turning as Elizabeth entered. “You are ready. How do you feel?”

“Perfectly composed,” Elizabeth replied, though her tone held a trace of amusement. “Though I begin to wonder if the same may be said of you.”

Jane laughed, though she persisted in fussing with the placement of the teapot. “I only wish everything to be as it ought.”

“It is already so,” Bramley said from his place near the mantel. He had returned briefly, learned of what had occurred, and promptly canceled the rest of his appointments that afternoon. “If you adjust that tray again, I shall begin to suspect it is intentionally misplaced.”

He stood with easy elegance, one arm resting lightly against the mantel, his expression one of affectionate patience as he watched his wife’s efforts.

Jane glanced at him with a smile. “You are very droll.”

“And you are very anxious,” he returned. “Pray, sit down and allow the house to perform its function.”

Jane hesitated, her gaze sweeping the table once more, seemingly disinclined to relinquish control. Then, with a small sigh, she allowed herself to be guided to a chair.

“Do you think I ought to have invited Richard and Anne?” she asked suddenly. “It would have been agreeable to include them.”

Bramley shook his head. “Not at such short notice. Anne has not been well, and Richard would not leave her.”

“That is true,” Jane said, though she looked faintly regretful. “I should not wish to fatigue her.”

Elizabeth seated herself, her gaze moving thoughtfully about the room, taking in the careful arrangement, the eager anticipation that seemed to settle over everything.

“You have done very well as it is,” she said lightly. “Though I begin to suspect you wish to impress our new neighbor rather more than you admit.”