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Marion looked at Eleanor in disbelief until her innocent expression caved.
“Alright, more than a little,” Eleanor admitted.
Marion knew that Eleanor was trying to be kind, but the moments after Simon had announced his intention to marry her were some of the most difficult of her life. Closing her eyes beside Eleanor, Marion let her mind wander back to those terrible moments:
The Dowager Countess of Reading had been unable to speak following her son’s announcement, simply staring at her as if she had suddenly grown an extra head. Marion, who was still dizzy from the wine and reeling from the sudden change in circumstances, had tried to focus on standing up straight and not looking as if she was the most shocked she had ever been.
Simon, to his credit, had maintained a level of sanguine calmness worthy of any gentlemen, as he had quietly suggested that Eleanor accompany Marion up to her bedchamber and gently bowed to them both saying quietly, “I must see my mother to her carriage, but I shall come to call tomorrow. If that is permissible, Miss Laurie?”
Marion had nodded numbly and then, taking Eleanor’s arm, had let herself be guided back through the ballroom. It had been torturous to step back into that grand room and feel all the eyes swivel around to find her. Eleanor was graciously batting people away with cold stares and guarded smiles as they walked, but she couldn’t stop people from whispering, or from Marion hearing them as they passed.
“I heard they were caught on the patio—”
“Quite a compromising position—”
“Practically one of the staff here and he’s the Earl of Reading and they’re secretly engaged—”
“But he just danced with Lady Henrietta—”
“So scandalous, did you ever hear of such presumption—”
Marion had wished she could have closed her eyes and run away from them all, but she knew that would be impossible. She was connected with Simon now; anything she did would reflect on him, and she had to behave as if she deserved to be the next Countess of Reading. So she held her head up high and looked at no one, feeling a flush burn across her cheeks.
The worst part had been when she thought it was nearly over, when they had just made it to the door out of the ballroom. Marion could see the stairs and the relieving emptiness of the upstairs landing, and she had even felt the beginning of relief in her body, when Lady Henrietta had appeared.
“My dear Lady Eleanor,” Lady Henrietta smiled snidely at Marion. “I just wanted to say what a lovely event this has been.”
“Thank you, Lady Henrietta.” Eleanor gripped Marion tightly to hold her upright. “Now, if you might excuse me—”
“Yes, it has beenquitethe event.” Lady Henrietta’s eyes glittered with malice. “I am sure by tomorrow everyone shall be talking of nothing else!”
“Thank you, my dear Lady Henrietta,” Eleanor said softly, “it is so kind of you to speak so kindly of us.”
“Well, of course I would,” Lady Henrietta said. “And of your particular friend here, engaged to the Earl of Reading! Why, congratulations must be given to Lady Laurie! Oh - hh, I’m sorry.” Lady Henrietta smirked. “It’s not Lady Laurie, is it? It’s … Miss Laurie. How quaint.”
“Yes, it is Miss Laurie,” Eleanor snapped. “Though soon to be the Countess of Reading.”
“Well, indeed.” Lady Henrietta could not be deterred from her cruelties. Marion could see it in her eyes. She was enraged that Marion had taken away her chance to become a countess, and she would make her pay.
“Everyone shall remember this extraordinary occurrence—the governess who became a countess. Why, it’s - it’s extraordinary. People shall only wonder how such a romance came about. What…ah, scandalous circumstances…”
Lady Henrietta trailed off, tossing her golden curls. Eleanor held Marion tightly, as if to tell her not to cry. Marion tried to stare her down, knowing that as soon as she could get away, she would collapse into tears, but Lady Henrietta was not done.
“I know you shall be the talk of town.”
It was the last parting shots that landed the deepest. Marion bristled but said nothing, biting her lip.
“People can speculate if they wish,” Eleanor said haughtily, “but they are wasting their time trying to sully the honour of these two respectable people and their upcoming union.”
“Upcoming union?” Henrietta raised her eyebrows to the sky. “Does Miss Laurie really imagine that a man like the Earl of Reading would seriously take her to be his bride? Does she really imagine that the countess, or the Ton,would accept her? Oh, I understand gentlemen need to have their fun...” Henrietta’s eyes glittered maliciously, knowing she was twisting the knife, “but one does not marry...fun. Does one? Why, a lady would be a fool to imagine it!”
“One would imagine that any gentleman of good standing would honour his word,” Eleanor snapped, holding Marion up with a tight grip. “Good night, Lady Henrietta.”
Henrietta tossed her curls again and drifted off, continuing to giggle. Eleanor and Marion stood completely still, listening to the giggles moving around the room behind them.
“Don’t look back,” Eleanor said quietly. “Don’t break down. Let’s just go upstairs slowly, and ignore her.”
As Marion had climbed the stairs, she had tried to keep Eleanor’s words in mind, but as soon as the door to her bedchamber had closed behind her she had collapsed in tears on her bed, unable to stop seeing Lady Henrietta’s sneering face and hearing her cruel words.
