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“Nothing,” Elizabeth mumbled.
“I arrived an hour after you, and the fight was not over when we left,” Stella contended. “Something must have pushed you to leave.”
“It was Rhys,” Elizabeth sighed.
“Rhys?” Stella’s mouth curved and her brows rose. “If you are calling him by his Christian name, then this matter has progressed further than I thought.”
Elizabeth bit her lip. Stella was right. “I did not intend for what happened today to occur.”
“So, he kissed you again?”
“Yes,” she admitted, blinking rapidly in shame as the anger she had felt earlier at herself began to return.
“That is quite unfortunate. ” Stella reached to squeeze Elizabeth’s hand that lay on the vanity, and Elizabeth smiled gratefully at her.
Her father had traveled frequently on business when Elizabeth was a child, and her mother had ignored her most of the time. Although she played with Irene when her mother was not teaching her how to be a proper lady, their interests differed, and Elizabeth had often found herself alone.
When Stella became a maid in the house, Elizabeth quickly became friends with her, and through their little adventures and shared interests, their bond had grown. Elizabeth’s inclination toward academics, and an unfortunate incident years ago, ensured she had no friends, thus, Stella was her only friend.
When Elizabeth’s hair had been styled into an elegant coiffure, she stood and took the cane that Stella had procured for her earlier. Her trip to the fight house had caused her some discomfort, and now she regretted it.
Her family was on their way to the dining room when she arrived downstairs. She had not seen them since they visited her in her bedchamber after breakfast that morning when she had told them that she wished to rest throughout the day. They did not know that she could walk by herself.
Stella had informed her that Irene had received many callers that afternoon, and Elizabeth was glad. The more gentlemen courted her, the higher her chances of finding her true love would be.
“Elizabeth, you are better!” Irene exclaimed with a wide grin and hurried to meet her. “I am so glad.” Elizabeth smiled, but she felt more guilt than she had before.
“This is wonderful,” her father said, coming to take her arm while her mother smiled. “I shall walk you to dinner then.” Elizabeth laughed. They sat down to eat, and Elizabeth used the opportunity to ask Irene about her callers and also study her expression as she spoke about them to guess her sentiments. This also ensured that Elizabeth did not think of anything else.
“Lord Mayton called,” Irene said, “but I do not believe he called upon me.”
“Why not, my dear?” Clarice asked the question Elizabeth had been about to ask.
Irene looked up at her and smiled. “He asked about you.”
“Well,” Clarice laughed, “that is not enough to have you believe he called to see Elizabeth.”
Her mother’s words pricked her sensibilities, and Elizabeth took a sip of wine to hide her hurt. Her father understood that her decision to embrace spinsterhood was a result of her lack of prospects, but her mother did not. The things she said often—such as what she had just said—made Elizabeth feel inferior.
“My Lord,” the butler said from the dining room doorway, bowing, “My Ladies, Lord Guildford is here for Lady Elizabeth.”
Her heart immediately began to beat faster, and she took another sip of wine.
