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“May we join you?” Lucy asked, and then received a quick jab from Ellie’s elbow.
“It’s not polite to ask such a thing, Lucy,” Ellie whispered.
“Your sister is right, Lucy.”
Lucy’s face fell with disappointment. “Of course. Ellie is always right.”
Even though Elizabeth had four sisters, she’d only lived with Jane, and that was only for a few years. Elizabeth didn’t understand how to handle the sisters.
“Lucy, you are not ready to face anyone yet,” Elizabeth started softly.
Ellie bristled. “We’re not good enough to meet a friend of yours?”
Oh dear, now both of the sisters were upset. “We need to prepare you for Society. Before you go out, you will need new gowns, shoes, bonnets, undergarments, everything. And you need to learn the rules of Society.”
They both looked at each other and then at Elizabeth. Ellie’s gaze moved toward the floor. “There is no point, then. My brother will only say it’s a waste of money when we won’t be staying.”
“I shall talk to him when I return.” The idea of speaking with that man made her blood boil. She had never met such an insensitive, arrogant, handsome man. Handsome! Dear God, no. She refused to be attracted to such a man.
“What are we to do all day?” Lucy asked. “At home we would be doing chores the majority of the day.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Work on your music or your needle-point while I’m gone. Monday I will have Madame Beaulieu here to fit you for your new clothes.”
Both girls grinned.
“What about Will?” Ellie asked.
She shook her head. “I will take care of your brother. But now, I must go call on my friend.”
Elizabeth walked outside and smiled. The deplorable rain of the past few days had finally stopped, and now the sun shone brightly and the air smelled clean. While she should have waited inside for the carriage to be brought around for her, she couldn’t stand being in that house another moment.
When she finally arrived at Sophie’s home, Elizabeth discovered all her friends were there. While they used to be known as the Spinster Club, even with Avis and Jennette now married, the women remained the closest of friends.
“Elizabeth!” Sophie announced, and then moved to give her friend a hug. “Is everything all right?”
Elizabeth sat in the floral chair by the window and shook her head. “As you predicted, he has arrived.”
“Who?” Avis and Jennette asked at the same time.
“The duke.” Elizabeth glanced outside at the carriage rumbling down the street. “Only it’s not Edward. It’s his son, William.”
“What about all the children, Elizabeth?” Sophie asked. “Does the new duke have a few children?”
She glanced back at her friends and shook her head. “He is unmarried but he did bring his seven siblings with him.”
“Seven?” Victoria said with a smile. “That should bring a little excitement into your home.” Victoria ran a home for orphaned children, so she would know all about the noise children could bring into a home.
“Yes, and I have no idea what I’m doing with them all.”
Victoria reached over and patted Elizabeth’s hand. “I will call on you, and together we will get them organized and settled. You will have to hire a tutor for them. But I can assist with that as well.”
A wave of relief slowly rolled over her. “Thank you, Victoria.”
“Now,” Sophie said, “what about the other issue?”
“What issue?” Avis asked, rubbing her extended belly. With only two more months until her first child was born, she looked more vibrant than Elizabeth had ever seen.
“Has he asked you to leave?” Sophie asked softly.
