Page 114 of Oddity of the Ton
“I’m happy for her. Your sister was born to be a duchess, whereas…”
This time, it was his turn to blush.
“Forgive me. I didn’t mean to cause you pain.”
“And you haven’t, I assure you,” Eleanor said. “When one suffers disappointment, there’s little merit in yearning for what might have been. Some battles are not meant to be fought—instead, one must surrender the ground to another, and seek victory elsewhere.”
“As a soldier, I would disagree,” he said. “But as a man, I see the merit in your argument.” He raised his wineglass. “In which case, shall we drink a toast to future victories?”
They touched glasses before taking a sip.
“Gentlemen!” Papa announced. “Care to join me for a brandy?”
“I must away,” Colonel Reid said. “But I shall claim you for the first dance when I return.”
“Then you’re either a brave soldier or a fool,” Eleanor said. “I have a reputation for tripping over and crushing toes.”
“Then I’ll be thankful for the sturdiness of my regimental boots in shielding my feet while engaging with hostilities on the dance floor.”
Eleanor let out a giggle. Then she startled at a clatter from across the table. Juliette stared at her, clutching her wineglass, her knuckles whitening.
The gentlemen trooped out, then Mother rose. “Ladies, would you follow me to the drawing room?” With a murmur of assent, the ladies stood and followed her out. Juliette rose and teetered to one side, before placing her hand on the table and righting herself. Eleanor waited until the dining room was empty, save for the servants clearing the plates, before she approached her sister.
“Juliette, what’s wrong?” she asked, touching her sister’s arm.
Juliette slapped her hand away. “Nothing!” she snapped. “Do you have to make such a show of yourself?”
“I don’t understand. I—”
Juliette scoffed. “It’s all ‘me, me, me’ with you, isn’t it? First you parade about the place with a duke on your arm, basking in everybody’s attention, then tonight, you lap up their sympathy. And now…” She pitched forward, then drew in a deep breath. “Now, you’re all over the colonel like a twopenny whore!”
“I’m not a—”
“Yes, you are!” Juliette cried. “How else could an unremarkable little thing likeyoutrick a duke into offering for you? But you failed, didn’t you? A duke’s a difficult prize to snare. He’ll promise the world to get what he wants—then abandon you when he’s taken it.”
“Juliette, you’re unwell. Let me take you to your chamber. I could bring you some hot cocoa like I used to when we were children?”
“I don’t want cocoa!”
The despair in Juliette’s voice stabbed at Eleanor’s heart.
Something was wrong—verywrong.
“Juliette—it pains me to see you distressed. Can you not tell me what ails you? Perhaps I can help.”
“Nobody can help me,” Juliette snarled, “least of allyou! Do you think I don’t know what you’re doing? Taunting me with the colonel?”
“The man you rejected in favor of the Duke of Dunton?” Eleanor shook her head. “In what way am I taunting you?”
Juliette winced, then her expression hardened. “Don’t take me for a fool, Eleanor! You have everything you want, whereas I…”
Tears glistened on Juliette’s cheeks, and she raised her hands to wipe them. Her heart aching for her sister’s pain, Eleanor approached her, arms outstretched. This time, Juliette made no move to resist.
“Dearest Juliette, I’m far from having what I want, believe me,” Eleanor said. “But you’ve much to look forward to. Despite our differences, you’re my sister, and I want you to be happy. Can’t we return to how we were when we were younger? Sisters should unite against adversity, not foster adversity between themselves.”
For a moment, Juliette looked as if she might burst into tears, and Eleanor glimpsed a deep yearning in her eyes.
Then the moment was gone. Juliette pulled herself free and curled her lip into a sneer.
