gallery with a delightful view?” Elizabeth reflected on the charming aspect of the room.
“Good thing you like the place. You’ll live there soon enough.” Aunt Bel consulted her locket watch, then stared out of the window again.
Elizabeth prudently refrained from disputing this statement. If she roused her aunt’s suspicions, her plans could come to naught.
“We shall depart as soon as you have broken your fast. Hurry up, girl. We do not have all day. I fancy my drawing room will be full of callers this afternoon, paying respects after the ball.”
“It was such a lovely affair.”
“What do you know about it? You danced twice, then retired. Eat.” After consulting her locket watch. Aunt Bel rose from her chair and sailed from the room in august dignity.
Elizabeth flashed a look of dismay after her closest relative of the older generation. There really was no one else she could live with, and Aunt Bel had a heart of gold. If only she did not also harbor such strange superstitions.
Having little taste for a meal, Elizabeth shortly left the room. In the entry way, she discovered her aunt attired in an attractive pelisse of dove gray trimmed in deep blue. A confection of blue feathers and gray ribands sat on her head, and made Aunt Bel look years younger.
“I requested that Rose bring down your pretty aquamarine pelisse and bonnet. No sense in going up just to come down again. Wastes time.”
Rose timidly offered the articles, while Elizabeth reflected that it was as well she didn’t care if she made an impression on the people at Penhurst or not. She’d not be given a chance to primp before leaving.
“I trust the household will be astir. Aunt? With a person as ill as the earl, they may be taking things quiet.”
“We shall be ushered in,” replied her aunt.
Of Lady Chloe and Hyacinth, not a speck could be seen. Elizabeth suspected they still slept, relishing that delightful feeling after a ball at which one has been smashing and had masses of partners.
“I am pleased you have agreed to perform this nursing. Purvis declares you have been a fine pupil. You set a good example to the girls not only in this, but your acceptance of your lot. Your marriage to Lord Leighton will turn out quite well, I believe.”
Elizabeth shot her a dismayed look. Why did she have the sensation of being trapped?
Before they could exit, a stir above stairs brought them to a halt. Both ladies paused in their steps as a polished gentleman slowly made his way with the aid of James down the stairs to join them. His wounded arm was cradled in one of Aunt Bel’s less colorful scarves.
“Leighton! What’s the meaning of this?” demanded Aunt Bel of her guest.
“Why, my carriage awaits us, my lady. I intend to go with you.”
Elizabeth detected the faint bulge of his bandage beneath his superbly cut coat that indicated where his arm had been shot. Otherwise, he looked complete to a shade, and not the least in need of pampering. His color looked remarkably well for one who had suffered grievous injury-
“Good. That is, if you are in shape to travel,” Aunt added. “The more you and Elizabeth are seen together, the better.”
“But of course. May I call you Aunt Bel?” He bowed over her hand, smiling lazily down into her soft blue eyes.
Repressing a snort of disgust, Elizabeth eyed him with a jaundiced eye, then said, “Come, David, we had best be going. There is such a lot to be done, and no time to lose.”
“I shall agree to that, my love.” With that, he gestured her before him, and they hurried through the cold to the waiting carriage.
Once in the carriage, her feet on a hot brick, Elizabeth fumed in silence. Did he always have to get the best of her?
Chapter Four
“You ought not have left your bed, sir,” she began. ‘I fear you are not strong enough.” He sat opposite her in the closed carriage, next to her aunt. His wicked flash of a grin ought to have warned her.
“Why, after you
“Good thing you like the place. You’ll live there soon enough.” Aunt Bel consulted her locket watch, then stared out of the window again.
Elizabeth prudently refrained from disputing this statement. If she roused her aunt’s suspicions, her plans could come to naught.
“We shall depart as soon as you have broken your fast. Hurry up, girl. We do not have all day. I fancy my drawing room will be full of callers this afternoon, paying respects after the ball.”
“It was such a lovely affair.”
“What do you know about it? You danced twice, then retired. Eat.” After consulting her locket watch. Aunt Bel rose from her chair and sailed from the room in august dignity.
Elizabeth flashed a look of dismay after her closest relative of the older generation. There really was no one else she could live with, and Aunt Bel had a heart of gold. If only she did not also harbor such strange superstitions.
Having little taste for a meal, Elizabeth shortly left the room. In the entry way, she discovered her aunt attired in an attractive pelisse of dove gray trimmed in deep blue. A confection of blue feathers and gray ribands sat on her head, and made Aunt Bel look years younger.
“I requested that Rose bring down your pretty aquamarine pelisse and bonnet. No sense in going up just to come down again. Wastes time.”
Rose timidly offered the articles, while Elizabeth reflected that it was as well she didn’t care if she made an impression on the people at Penhurst or not. She’d not be given a chance to primp before leaving.
“I trust the household will be astir. Aunt? With a person as ill as the earl, they may be taking things quiet.”
“We shall be ushered in,” replied her aunt.
Of Lady Chloe and Hyacinth, not a speck could be seen. Elizabeth suspected they still slept, relishing that delightful feeling after a ball at which one has been smashing and had masses of partners.
“I am pleased you have agreed to perform this nursing. Purvis declares you have been a fine pupil. You set a good example to the girls not only in this, but your acceptance of your lot. Your marriage to Lord Leighton will turn out quite well, I believe.”
Elizabeth shot her a dismayed look. Why did she have the sensation of being trapped?
Before they could exit, a stir above stairs brought them to a halt. Both ladies paused in their steps as a polished gentleman slowly made his way with the aid of James down the stairs to join them. His wounded arm was cradled in one of Aunt Bel’s less colorful scarves.
“Leighton! What’s the meaning of this?” demanded Aunt Bel of her guest.
“Why, my carriage awaits us, my lady. I intend to go with you.”
Elizabeth detected the faint bulge of his bandage beneath his superbly cut coat that indicated where his arm had been shot. Otherwise, he looked complete to a shade, and not the least in need of pampering. His color looked remarkably well for one who had suffered grievous injury-
“Good. That is, if you are in shape to travel,” Aunt added. “The more you and Elizabeth are seen together, the better.”
“But of course. May I call you Aunt Bel?” He bowed over her hand, smiling lazily down into her soft blue eyes.
Repressing a snort of disgust, Elizabeth eyed him with a jaundiced eye, then said, “Come, David, we had best be going. There is such a lot to be done, and no time to lose.”
“I shall agree to that, my love.” With that, he gestured her before him, and they hurried through the cold to the waiting carriage.
Once in the carriage, her feet on a hot brick, Elizabeth fumed in silence. Did he always have to get the best of her?
Chapter Four
“You ought not have left your bed, sir,” she began. ‘I fear you are not strong enough.” He sat opposite her in the closed carriage, next to her aunt. His wicked flash of a grin ought to have warned her.
“Why, after you
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