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“Yes.”
“I certainly hope you refused,” Jennette said.
“Of course, I did no such thing, Jennette,” Elizabeth replied. “It’s his home now. I have no right to stay.”
“But you need to stay,” Sophie whispered.
Avis looked at them both and narrowed her eyes. “All right, what is going on between you two? There is no reason Elizabeth should have to stay in her father’s home.”
“But there’s no reason she should have to leave either,” Jennette pressed. She inhaled sharply and rubbed a spot on her belly. She and Avis would both be delivered of their children in about two months. Considering the infants would be first cousins, Elizabeth thought it sweet that they would be so close in age.
“Why do you need to stay, Elizabeth?” Victoria asked before taking a sip of tea.
Elizabeth sighed. She probably should have told her friends about her problem months ago. Maybe they might have helped her. “I need to find a diary I believe my mother hid in one of the houses. I have thoroughly checked the estates and found nothing. The townhome is my last chance.”
“What is so important about this diary?” Avis asked.
Even knowing that her friends would never speak of the matter, Elizabeth hesitated. If word ever got out, she might be ruined.
“You can tell us, Elizabeth,” Victoria said. “We won’t speak of the matter outside of this room.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I believe the diary will tell me who my real father was.”
She watched the reactions of the women. Avis and Jennette both stared at her and nodded slowly as if confirming their suspicions. Victoria looked down at the Aubusson rug as if memorizing the patterns in it, while Sophie sent Elizabeth a sympathetic look. Of all the women, Sophie would understand the most. She was the daughter of an actress and an earl who wished to remain anonymous.
“Well, then,” Jennette started, “you must do what you have to in order to stay in the house until you find the diary.”
“But how? The man has seven siblings. I’m just an unwanted piece of baggage to them.”
Sophie smiled. “Then you must prove to him that you are not an unwanted piece of baggage.”
Jennette laughed. “Seduce the man.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at Jennette and Avis, who both nodded at the suggestion. “I cannot do that.”
“Not very handsome, is that it?” Avis asked before breaking into giggles.
Too handsome, Elizabeth thought. Far too handsome. And obviously in love with another woman. “He’s practically engaged.”
“Engaged, not married,” Sophie added, stifling a chuckle.
Only Victoria didn’t seem to find anything amusing about her predicament. “You most certainly will do nothing of the sort.”
“Of course I won’t,” Elizabeth replied. “But what am I t
o do?”
Sophie tilted her head and stared at Elizabeth. “You need to use your wiles to get your way. You wish to stay in the house. Make him understand that he needs you there. You can organize the children, you can assist him with the paperwork and invitations, and only you can completely understand his needs.”
“Exactly what needs are we discussing?” Elizabeth asked as heat crossed her cheeks.
“He must learn how to go about in Society even if he only plans to stay here for a few months. If the children are old enough, they will also need your assistance,” Sophie replied.
“The older girls desperately need my assistance. They actually wanted to come with me today, dressed in some distressingly worn-out cotton dresses.” Elizabeth finally reached for the tea on the table next to her. She could do this.
How hard could it be to smile and be flirtatious to gain his acceptance?
Sophie tapped her foot against the rug with impatience. She glanced up at the clock on the mantel and fisted her hands. He was doing this deliberately. It had been over five hours since she sent that missive to him. He wanted to make her wait just as he had waited so long for his request.
