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“Well.”
She glanced at him. “Well, what?” She removed another pin.
“He looks at her exactly as you used to look at me.”
Elinor turned to him. “As I used to look at you?” she exclaimed incredulously. “And how may I ask was that?”
“Like I was all the crack.”
She lifted her hand with her thumb and forefinger moving up and down in a pinching motion.
Edward raised his hands in defence. “My apologies; I misspoke. What I meant to say is as I used to look at you. Still look at you.”
Elinor put down her hand. “Yes, that is better. And more accurate,” she grinned and shook her head, turning back to the glass to continue preparing for bed.
When they finally settled beneath the covers, Elinor reached across to extinguish the lamp.
“Tomorrow,” Edward said, in the darkness, “I shall have to borrow that leather bound first edition of Castle Rackrent from Henry’s library.”
Elinor laughed. “Go to sleep.”
Chapter XLIV.
The first ball of the season was held on a Thursday evening, and by five o’clock Berkeley Square had acquired the peculiar air of a house preparing for battle.
Ribbons lay everywhere, flowers filled three rooms, and two hairdressers and a dressmaker had been employed. A footman had been sent twice to Bond Street for something or other. Marianne had changed her mind about Anne’s necklace so often that Anne finally took it from her hands and calmly stated that she would wear nothing at all if another alteration was suggested.
Sarah bore the preparations with composure. She had been dressed nearly twenty minutes when Elinor found her standing before the mirror, very still.
The gown was green silk, simple enough to suit her, yet elegant enough to make it impossible to mistake her for the girl who had climbed trees in muddy boots and once returned from the stables with a torn sleeve and an expression of complete satisfaction. Her hair had been arranged more softly than usual.
Anne waited in the adjoining room, wearing ivory with a narrow green sash and the composed expression of someone determined not to be nervous.
“You look beautiful,” Sarah said.
“So do you.”
“I feel as though everybody will stare.”
“They will. It is a ball,” replied Anne with a grin. “I am glad we are here together.”
“So am I.” Sarah took her arm. “And if anyone behaves badly, I shall step on their foot.”
“You cannot do that,” Anne declared.
“Why not? I can be charming while doing it,” Sarah said slyly.
“I begin to understand why everyone says you take after my mother. That is definitely something she would say.”
The girls descended the stairs together.
Henry stood speaking with Edward in the large entryway at the bottom of the stairs. When he looked up and saw Sarah, he stopped.
It lasted only a second, but Sarah saw it.
So did Edward. So did Ned.
Ned opened his mouth to say something when Edward put a hand on his son’s shoulder and said, “This is an important night for your sister. Do not say anything to embarrass her.”
