Page 14 of The Earl and Miss Muffet
She dropped her hand with frustration. It wasn’t right for Bianca to ruin the last of her freedom. Even if she were to be a hermit in her room, Bianca was going to make her life miserable when she returned. Elena should continue to act as she pleased and not fret about Bianca’s concealed threats. The decision would come with consequences, but she might never have the same opportunities again. When the inevitable time came to return home, she would have ample chance to worry then.
With a deep breath, Elena pushed her anxiety to the back of her mind. Leaving the privacy of her room, she went down the corridor to search for Mary. Mary had promised to teach Elena to sketch Banbury Castle so she might take home a small likeness of it. She walked toward the staircase when Mary turned a corner.
“I was just coming to fetch you,” Mary said with her familiar wide smile. “Did you remember our drawing lesson?”
Elena nodded. “Am I late? I would dearly like to learn.”
“Not at all. I have never taught anyone before, but I am eager to try.”
Elena smiled too. “Shall we then?”
Mary linked arms with her. “I have everything ready beyond the gatehouse where we can have the best view of the castle.”
Elena had never had another girl take her by the arm in such ready friendship, and the gesture suppressed the anxiety building inside of her. Miss Bliss would be arriving in a fewhours, and Elena would surely be pushed to the shadows again, but right now it felt wonderful to be cared for.
Just as Mary had said, the servants placed a bench a short walking distance from the house, giving them the perfect angle to sketch. Golden sunlight peeked through the clouds, warming her face.
Mary handed Elena one of the two sketchbooks. “You seem to have grown more at ease with us, Miss Muffet. I’m so glad.”
Elena ran her finger down the spine of her sketchbook. “It is kind of you to spare time for me when I know you could be with Mr. Gunther.”
“I cannot be with him all the time. We would drive each other mad.” Mary flipped her sketchbook open. “A man is wonderful for many reasons, but a woman needs the comfort and friendship of another woman. It is in our nature. We crave the companionship found in sisterhood.”
Elena felt the same longing for companionship but had never realized how much until she’d been given a taste of it. “I’ve never really had a friend,” she admitted. Her governesses had been genuinely kind, but they were still paid to be there for her.
Mary turned her knees toward Elena. “You and your sister must be close.”
“Everyone assumes as much, but it isn’t so. We are very different.” Elena was not used to revealing so much of herself. Between all the information she shared with Mary and Anton, Elena suddenly felt very vulnerable.
Mary set the sketchbook on her lap with a firm plop. “Well,weare friends, are we not?”
The corner of Elena’s lips pulled upward. “Yes, I’d like to think so.”
“Perhaps we should drop formalities then. Will you just call me Mary?”
Elena could not hold back her smile. “Really? Then you must call me Elena.”
“Elena is a beautiful name. I can already see your signature on your first sketch—Miss Elena Muffet.” Mary made a flourish in the air with her hand. “What do you think?”
Elena giggled. “What a splendid idea—as long as the picture is worth claiming.”
“Well said. We had better not waste any time then.”
Mary spent the next hour walking Elena through the various lines of drawing the house, instructing where to shade and where to use less pressure. Elena’s sketch was not as precise as Mary’s, but it at least resembled Banbury.
A dog barked, and she turned to see Patches bounding toward them. Not far behind him was Anton. The dog raced straight to her and nuzzled against her leg. She rubbed his ears and looked up to see Anton’s amusement. He glanced at their sketchbooks. “One would think I was in France, joining the artists painting Versailles.”
“Hardly,” Mary scoffed.
Anton looked over Elena’s shoulder. “I didn’t know you could draw, Miss Muffet.”
“I can,” Elena said, “as of today.”
“You must have some ready talent then.”
Mary leaned over to see better. “I was just about to say the same. I should ask Blake if he could offer any better advice. You are quite the natural.”
Elena shook her head. “If you are both attempting to put me at ease here, I assure you, it is working. I promise to keep practicing my drawing, but only if you both cease complimenting me at once.”
