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A slow smile curved Elizabeth’s lips. She could easily discourage Irene from allowing Guildford to court her now that she was sure her father would be lenient. However, she would not be able to interfere if Irene believed herself charmed and in love with him.
“I understand that I was a little forceful in the carriage, and I apologize.” He smiled gently. “I will speak to Irene before she sleeps, so she understands that I will not force her.”
“I am happy you said that, Father.” She stood and walked around the desk to wrap her arms around his shoulders. “I want Irene to be happy.”
“Yes, and I can see all of your claws out.” He laughed and looked up at her. “I can never win a fight with you, can I?”
“No. You have taught me too well.” She kissed his forehead and straightened. “Good night, Father.”
“Sleep well, my dear.” When Elizabeth entered her bedchamber, she found her lady’s maid and dear friend, Stella, waiting for her.
“You left for the masquerade without preparing for tomorrow,” Stella said with a smile.
“Oh, my goodness!” Elizabeth rushed to her escritoire and quickly pulled out a sheet of parchment from a stack. “I forgot.”
“Do not worry, My Lady.” Stella placed a hand on her shoulder. “You have me to remind you.” Elizabeth wrote quickly then folded and sealed the sheet before handing it to Stella, who smiled and tucked it into the pocket in front of her dress. Elizabeth rose and walked into her dressing room.
“How was the ball?” Stella asked, following her. Elizabeth had managed to push all thought of what had occurred at the ball from her mind, but everything returned like a flood. Her skin still tingled from his touch, and she wished she had not allowed him to kiss her because it made her face the unfortunate fact that she desired a man she disliked.
“I hated it,” she told Stella, “and I lost my reticule.” She sat in front of the vanity, and Stella began to remove the pins holding Elizabeth’s chestnut brown hair up.
“How did you lose it?”
“I forgot it in the library where I had been reading…I returned to look for it, but it was no longer there. Someone must have taken it,” she concluded, avoiding her friend’s eyes. Elizabeth could keep secrets from everyone in her life but Stella, and Elizabeth feared Stella would see what her lady had done tonight if their eyes met.
“Elizabeth,” Stella said slowly, but Elizabeth still did not look at her, “what happened at the ball?”
Elizabeth removed one of her pearl earrings and reached for the other. “Why would you think something happened?”
“You never lose your things, and if you do, you will not leave that place until you found it or at least had a clue.” Stella gently lifted Elizabeth’s chin with her hand, so their gaze met through the mirror. “I think you know where your reticule is.”
It was true that her reticule had not been in the library when she returned to look for it much later, and she suspected it was with Guildford. She sighed and blinked slowly. “I have done something unthinkable, Stella.”
“What is it?” Stella moved to kneel by her chair and took her hand.
“I kissed a man,” Elizabeth confessed.
Stella smiled. “That is a good thing.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “Not when that man is the one intended for Irene. It was Guildford.”
“Oh.” Stella blinked. “That does present us with a problem.”
“Yes. He is not the right man for Irene. He kissed me without any consideration for her position in his life. I was stupid.”
“Did you—”
Stella did not need to finish that question, and Elizabeth looked away with a grimace. “Yes, I enjoyed it, and I am ashamed of it.”
“You should not be.” Stella squeezed her hand.
“Why should I not?” she asked with disbelief. “I allowed myself to be seduced by a man like him. You know him, Stella. You helped me learn all I can about him.”
“He is the worst of rakes,” Stella nodded, “but I think what happened between you was natural. Perhaps you should allow him to court you instead of Irene.”
“I cannot believe you are saying this. You know how I feel about him.”
“Yet you kissed him.” Stella sucked in her lips to keep from smiling.
