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“You are not going?” he asked.
“I had originally declined because of the upheaval in the house. Now that everything is settling down, I suppose I could attend.”
He had a strange suspicion that there was another reason she had declined. “I insist you go with me.”
“As you wish.” She glanced down at the next invitation before adding, “If you think you are ready to face them.”
“Them?” he asked.
“Society. They can be a vicious bunch.”
Will was certain her lack of enthusiasm had something to do with this. “Is that the voice of experience speaking?”
“Yes. Two of my dearest friends have had to deal with the gossipmongers of the ton. Avis made one small mistake and they cut her—”
“What exactly did she do?”
Elizabeth pressed her lips together but the movement of her shoulders proved she was trying to suppress a laugh. She covered her mouth with her hand and coughed delicately. “She had a bit of bad timing.”
“Oh?” He had a feeling he knew exactly what had happened.
“She chose the wrong time to announce that she and her now husband, Banning, had gone away together to his summer cottage.”
“She said this in front of others?”
“She was attempting to save Banning from being compromised by a foolish woman. Avis thought it was just the three of them on the terrace.” Elizabeth did let a small giggle out.
“And I take it there were a few more people out on the terrace?”
Elizabeth nodded. “About twenty people, including Banning’s mother and sister.”
“Are they happily married now?” Now that he and Abigail were finished, he wondered if he would ever feel like marrying another woman again. His father loved both his wives deeply. Will wanted that same type of love from a wife.
“Yes. She is with child, and should give birth in a few months.”
“And your other friend?” he asked, relaxing against the chair. This was one of the first true conversations they’d had without a lesson in protocol or rank being thrown in.
“Banning’s sister, Jennette. But honestly, it was her husband who had to deal with the whims of Society. He accidentally killed Jennette’s former betrothed. Society rejected him, even when he inherited his father’s title. No one wanted a poor earl with the reputation of a murderer for their daughter.”
“Yet, Jennette ended up married to him?”
“They fell in love when she was trying to help him find a wife,” she said with a sigh.
“Elizabeth,” he started softly, “why haven’t you married?”
She blinked and stared at him. “What?”
“You don’t seem like the type of woman who would want to remain a spinster. You’re beautiful—”
“No, I am not.”
“You are, and don’t interrupt me when I’m complimenting you. You appear to be everything a man would want in a wife—beauty, family, money.”
Her face paled.
Damn. He must have hit a sore spot. Perhaps she had been betrothed and something happened. “I’m sorry. That is rather personal.”
Elizabeth looked away. “I just never found the right man. When I first came out, the men courted me because of my family connection and my inheritance.”
