Page 22 of Oddity of the Ton
Eleanor opened her eyes to see her sister’s elegant form through the foliage.
“Aren’t you coming out? I’m not crawling through the undergrowth.”
“Hardly undergrowth, Juliette,” Eleanor said. “It’s a rosebush.”
“There’s no need to be uncivil. The carriage leaves in an hour.”
“I won’t need an hour to get ready.”
“You would if you tried harder, Eleanor. You could be attractive if you made an effort.”
Eleanor sighed. Her respite was over. She uncurled her legs and pushed her way through the rosebush. A thorn caught on her skirts, and she brushed it aside, pulling a loose thread in the muslin.
“You’ve torn your gown,” Juliette said.
“I can see that.”
“It’ll need to be mended.”
“I know that.”
“I’m justsaying,” Juliette retorted. “What’s wrong with you? You’ve been out of sorts all day.”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“I don’t want you being your usual miserable self tonight. Mother worked hard to secure our invitation.”
“Oh?”
“It’s not justanyparty. It’s the duke’s grandmother’s hundredth birthday. Can you imagine what it feels like to have lived for a hundred years?”
“Yes,” Eleanor said. “I can.”
Juliette frowned, then glanced at Eleanor’s sketchbook. “Have you been drawing again? Show me.”
Eleanor opened the sketchbook. Her sister stared at the page, and Eleanor caught a flicker of admiration in her expression.
“Would you like it?” she asked. Juliette didn’t respond, and Eleanor tore the page out and handed it over. “I drew it this morning. I thought the shape was interesting.”
Juliette sighed, then, before Eleanor could stop her, she crumpled the page in her fist.
“Why can’t you draw something pretty? Nobody wants to seethat. You should draw a flower, or a portrait—that’s what people like.”
“It’s not whatIlike,” Eleanor said.
“You’ll never attract a suitor if you draw dead trees.”
“It’s not dead!” Eleanor cried. “It’s—”
“Oh, spare me!” Juliette huffed, tossing the paper aside.
“I don’t want a suitor,” Eleanor said.
“You’re only saying that because nobody would have you.”
“Better that than leading a man to believe I’d accept his suit before tossing him aside for another.”
Juliette’s eyes flashed with fury. “Whatdid you say?”
