Page 1 of The Earl and Miss Muffet
Chapter 1
Elenacoweredunderhertwin sister’s icy glare. Bianca pointed her sharp fingernail at Elena’s chest, her lips pulled into a sneer. “How dare you solicit attention from any man before I am married. You know the rules.”
A step backward put Elena against the far wall of her bedchamber. Elena knew the rules and had made many concessions to follow them. She searched for words to explain herself. Could she be blamed when a man spoke to her? Elena never met his eyes or answered his questions, but Bianca would not care. The tip of Bianca’s fingernail jabbed Elena just under her collarbone, and she winced. “Please, Bianca. You know I did not betray you.”
“Do I?”
If looks could kill, Elena would have died already. “I promise. I never said a word to him!”
Bianca released her pressure and stepped back. “Fine, I believe you.” Then she reached forward and grabbed a lock ofElena’s hair and snipped it off with a pair of scissors Elena had not even seen hiding in Bianca’s other hand.
Elena whimpered. “Stop, please, no more!”
Bianca laughed and tossed the toffee-brown curl at Elena’s feet. She stalked from the room like she was the Queen of England—perhaps Bloody Mary herself.
Elena shuttered. Being twins with a competitive sister had been hard as a child, but it was far worse now. She picked up the lifeless curl and dropped it on her dressing table. With a sigh, she pinned the shorter hair back so the damage was no longer noticeable. Bianca had always bullied her, but this fixation with marrying first had led to more extreme behavior.
Elena grabbed her penknife off her writing desk and went to a panel on the wall by her bed, prying it open with the small blade. It popped out easily since it had been done so many times over the years. Elena slipped her journal out and carried it to her desk. After Bianca made her point, she generally left Elena to herself. This was when Elena scribbled down her thoughts, desperate to purge her emotions. No one else could hear her complaints.
Father did not even love his own wife—so why care for his daughter? Mother . . . Elena sighed. Mother could not control Bianca any more than Elena could. Elena had long felt that Mother favored Bianca too, which did not help the situation. Bianca twisted everything to construe Elena as the villain. Kind governesses had often intervened, but now that they had outgrown them, life for Elena had become miserable. Every time Mother sided with Bianca, Elena lost the desire to defend herself—eventually, giving up on it completely. It was better to keep the peace and suffer with a degree of patience, knowing Bianca would capture an innocent young man’s attention soon enough, and then Elena would be free.
She finished recording Bianca’s latest cruelty and slipped the lock of hair in between the pages as evidence. She slipped the book inside the wall and replaced the panel. Not that it mattered if she kept a record, but Elena knew she could not keep her emotions bottled up without some reprieve. Her heart had begun to flutter from the constant anxiety, and writing helped in a small way.
A knock sounded on her door. Not wanting to draw attention to her secret, Elena moved away from the wall just as Mother stepped inside the room.
“Elena, Bianca said you threatened her with the scissors. Please tell me it isn’t true.”
Bianca might be insufferable, but she was smart. Why punish Elena once when she could do it twice? “No, Mother. I meant to snip a loose thread from her dress is all. I hope she did not think . . .”
“Yes, she did.” Mother pinched her lips tight. “I am at my wits’ end. I gave you one last chance at the house party at Rosewood Park a few months ago, but you did not even try to converse with anyone. I cannot justify paying for another Season for you. It would be better if you stayed at home while your sister and I go to London next year.”
Elena wanted to rejoice at the news, but she bowed her head instead. “I will stay behind and do penance.” To be parted from Bianca for however many months parliament was in session would be sheer heaven!
Mother rubbed a spot above her brow. “How am I blessed with two beautiful daughters who don’t appreciate each other?”
“See to Bianca’s needs,” Elena said simply.
Mother dropped her hand and eyed Elena with uncertainty. “I can never understand how such a sweet, meek child could bully her sister. And always when I am not around.” Her mother often remarked on the unusual nature Elena possessed, but Elena didher best to earn her mother’s respect in whatever way she could—even if it meant humbly accepting her punishments.
She sighed. “Missing London is not enough. You have forced my hand. I am sending you to stay with a friend of mine. Bianca will be punished unnecessarily, as she dotes on social opportunities, and you shall be punished by being forced into one. I will not be there for you to hide behind.”
Elena’s heart raced. She put her hand over it to still the pressure in her chest. She wanted to plead for a chance to leave Bianca, but she needed to show remorse, not enthusiasm. She lowered her eyes and softly said, “If you wish it, Mother.”
Mother clasped her hands together. “You are to leave right away to visit Lady Crawford.”
Elena’s eyes widened at the name. She blinked rapidly. No, no, no. This could not be right. “Lady Crawford? The mother of…?”
“You have guessed the connection. You met her sons at the house party you attended at Rosewood Park, but she has a daughter about your age too—Lady Mary.”
Elena had spent the entire party avoiding the family, so she could barely claim an acquaintance. Mr. Hadley, the younger son, had attempted to speak to her, but the older son, Lord Crawford, had been far too distinguished to waste his breath on her. “Surely, it would inconvenience such an important family.”
Mother sighed. “I would never presume to intrude on the late earl’s wife, but my friend has an unusually soft disposition and agreed to have you as her guest for one month. She is nothing but discreet.”
Elena dipped her head in defeat, and this time, it was not an act. “I will go if it is what you wish.” It seemed vastly unfair for her chance at freedom to be at the house of Lord Crawford. He’d been in hot pursuit of Miss Bliss at their house party, spouting poetry at every opportunity, only to be disappointed when Miss Bliss fell for his brother. He was handsome, but that and his titlewould serve as a constant reminder of her inferiority. What if he thought she had come to pursue him? She wrung her hands together. It would be humiliating for them both.
“I am desperate for you two girls to get along,” Mother said, interrupting Elena’s panicky thoughts. “Time apart will help you appreciate your sister more. I daresay, I will regret sending you at all once Bianca hears of this. She would love a chance to spend more time with such an influential family and will be very put out, but it is you who needs the exposure and guidance. For this reason, I must ask you to keep this trip to yourself.”
Elena blinked back the tears threatening to spill over. “Yes, Mother.”
