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The ladies bid farewell and looked at the dresses on the mannequins on the other side of the shop before leaving.

“Of course that is your intention,” her mother told her once the two women had left. “You needn’t be modest when there is so much competition in London. If you say things like that, they will spread the word that you don’t wish to wed a duke or an earl, and gossip spreads like wildfire around here. You don’t want dukes and earls avoiding you, do you?”

Eleanor would rather not argue with her mother. “No, of course not, Mother.”

“No, you don’t,” her mother confirmed. “This will be your greatest accomplishment in life, and the bigger the accomplishment, the better. Do not sell yourself short. You deserve an earl or a duke. You could marry a prince if you wished to.”

Eleanor laughed dismissively.

“You are a wonderful person, Eleanor.” Her mother kissed her on the head. “Don’t ever forget that.”

“I won’t,” Eleanor grumbled.

The dress fitting took time as the dressmaker took numerous measurements, grunting each time she noted a measurement in the book as if the number had never been recorded before. When they were done, her mother ordered two dresses for both of them in matching ivory and lavender.

They left the dressmakers before exploring more of Bond Street on the way to their afternoon musicale at Lady Broadhurst’s London house, where they were to meet Charlotte.

They had only just entered the residence when a gentleman approached Eleanor, who had visited her at Blackridge House with an ordinary bouquet of flowers. Not that Eleanor had expected anything more than that or even the flowers in the first place.

“Ah, Lady Eleanor,” he said. “What a wonderful surprise to see you here.”

“And you, Mr. Ghent. I must find my friend.”

“Yes, yes, of course.” He took her arm so there was no escape. “Yes, the music is about to start, and I very much want to hear it. I could save you a seat if you like.”

“I shall find my friend first,” Eleanor said.

“Oh yes,” Ghent said theatrically. “Yes, please do. I only wanted a moment of your time. I know you have been inundated with suitors, and I am sure many of them have already told you what you must be when you are married. I want to assure you that I don’t have any expectations other than that you know when to speak in my favor, and that you should always remain by my side when we are at events together. No matter what.”

“Mmmhmm,” Eleanor said through tight lips.

“I don’t wish to trap you as other men do,” he said. “If you know your place, then that is good enough for me.”

“That’s…” Eleanor said, pausing a moment, “very generous of you?”

“Of course, of course,” Ghent continued, waving a hand in the air. “I want a wife, not a maid like the others do. I know you will make the right choice.”

“I hope that I will,” Eleanor sighed.

“I shall save you a seat,” Ghent said before disappearing toward the living room.

Eleanor didn’t have a moment to think before her mother was by her side again.

“The trick is to always smile,” Margaret said. “No matter what they say to you, always receive it with a smile. And don’t ever prove that you are smarter than them, even though you are. Don’t talk about any books you have read, but always listen when they talk of such things. Let them believe they are the ones in charge.”

“Yes, but if I do all that, they will be the ones in charge,” Eleanor complained.

“Take my advice how you want to,” Margaret told her.

Eleanor followed her mother through into the large living room where two flutists and two violinists were set up, ready to play.

She made the mistake of looking around the room too much, and she caught the gaze of Mr. Ghent, who made sure to gesture toward the empty chair beside him. Eleanor kept her expression as neutral as possible as she pretended not to see him, and kept looking until she found Charlotte, who had two saved chairs beside her.

Eleanor had never been more grateful for empty chairs. She and her mother made their way over and sat with Charlotte.

Eleanor embraced her friend, but she could feel the piercing gaze of Mr. Ghent on the back of her head. She dared not look around.

There was some relief in her heart, but in the pit of her stomach, a blackness grew that she couldn’t control. She sat between her mother and her friend, but she might as well have been sitting between a rock and a hard place.