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“A passing acquaintanceship?” Harriet enquired. “I had no idea, Simon. When did you meet a member of the Boltons?”
Simon waved the question away, returning to his coffee cup and draining it. “It is of no consequence. We are invited and I shall put to Edward Bolton my business plans, and pray that he is willing to invest. It could be the making of us.”
CHAPTER 2
“Oh, so you also received an invitation, did you?” Eleanor Worthingham said with barely concealed disappointment.
Eleanor was Harriet’s cousin and Simon’s sister. For reasons Harriet did not fully understand, there had always been a rivalry between them. Not on her own part, but from Eleanor towards her. She considered Eleanor to be far prettier than herself and with a more refined and fashionable wardrobe. She was also now a member of the family that owned Erdington.
The entailment that had resulted in the estate falling to Simon as the nearest male heir, instead of Harriet, also meant that Eleanor herself could not inherit. But, she was sister to the new Lord, while Harriet was merely a cousin. In Harriet’s mind, that should have meant that Eleanor would be content but the younger woman never seemed to be. Harriet and Rose had left Simon to his ledgers and his worries. They had ascended to the house’s second floor and the sitting room that Harriet now shared with Eleanor. The small room had once been Eleanor’s alone but she had been forced to share when the room adjoining Harriet’s quarters sprang a leak in the ceiling.
Simon could not afford to have it repaired, though this had been concealed from Eleanor. It meant that she was full of resentment, feeling that Harriet was receiving favorable treatment over herself. It did not make for pleasant company. Eleanor had Simon’s fair hair and blue eyes. But while her older brother had a pleasant, amiable disposition, Eleanor was anything but.
“Good morning, Eleanor,” Harriet said brightly, determined that she would not mirror Eleanor’s hostility.
“Good morning, cousin,” Eleanor replied frostily. “And to you, Miss Mantell.”
Rose gave a bow of her head and then looked to Harriet for permission to sit. Harriet suppressed a smile. Such slights were beyond her to think of but Rose was an adept politician. The moment was not missed by Eleanor, who smiled fixedly as her jaw clenched in irritation.
“And in answer to your question, cousin,” Harriet said, composing her skirts calmly. “Yes, I did receive an invitation of my own. So, I will be joining you and Simon on this occasion.”
And I hope you choke on that fact. You thought that because I have shunned these invitations in the past, I would do so again? I do not have that luxury anymore, though god knows I would rather not be at such an affair.
She actually felt somewhat guilty at the tightly controlled look of chagrin on Eleanor’s face. It simply was not in her nature to enjoy indulging in spiteful behavior. She would much prefer ignoring Eleanor and avoiding these sparring sessions. Sometimes, Eleanor made that difficult.
“I was rather under the impression that you did not care for such…what was it you called it once?” Eleanor feigned a moment of deep thought. “Ah yes,indulgences. I did not think you cared for such frivolousindulgences.”
“A person can change their mind on a subject,” Rose said.
And that is just what I have had to do, Rose dear. For the good of the family, though Eleanor does not know it.
“Indeed, I find that sometimes these social occasions are quite the thing. I find myself quite excited,” Harriet said.
Rose looked at her briefly. Harriet knew her well enough to recognize a thoughtful look of consideration.
She knows that I’m lying but doesn’t know the reason. I must keep my promise to Simon. Oh Rose, don’t you realize, one cannot find a husband without mixing with society. And I cannot help Simon without a husband.
Thankfully, Rose said nothing but merely nodded as though in complete agreement. Eleanor’s face had reddened and she stood abruptly. Harriet raised a cool eyebrow as Eleanor made a visible effort to control her rising anger.
“I will leave the two of you, I have business to attend to if you will excuse me.”
Both Harriet and Rose gave gracious nods of acquiescence and Eleanor left the room. As the door closed behind her and Eleanor’s footsteps withdrew along the bare boards of the hallway, Rose let out a long-suppressed laugh. Harriet made to shush her.
“Oh Harry, however do you put up with such a spoiled brat?” Rose protested.
“By the simple fact that I try to look for the best in everyone,” Harriet replied.
She and Rose looked at each other for a moment, then Harriet laughed. “Everyone, even spoiled brats. No, no, I will not be drawn into laughing at my family behind their backs. Eleanor may be a little childish still, but that is because she is young. Do you remember being eighteen, Rose?”
“I do. Heaven forgive me if I was ever such a little…decorum prevents me from finishing that sentence. More importantly, since when did Harriet Worthingham care about a ball? I expected that you would end up married to a writer or a penniless artist. Are you seeking the approval of the county set?”
Her tone was light but her eyes were sharp. Harriet considered her response. The financial situation of her family was not her secret to tell. Simon was struggling to keep the household afloat and it was visibly aging him on an almost daily basis.
“On the subject of maturity. Perhaps I have finally grown up? One cannot spend all of one’s life, say, dreaming of adventure. The world is a difficult place for women with no resources behind them…and no husband.”
Forgive me, dear Rose for the lies I must tell. If Simon gives his consent I will tell you all, I swear it.
“Hmmm, a sentiment that just seems out of character but the proof is before me, I suppose. You really are going to attend?”
