Page 10 of Oddity of the Ton
“You didn’t enjoy the ball last night?”
“No,” Eleanor said. “But, nevertheless, I’ll be required to relive the experience over the next few days while Mother and Juliette talk about how successful it was. Did you know Colonel Reid danced with Juliette twice? He asked a third time, but Mother forbade it.”
The maid shook her head. “Poor colonel. He can’t have appreciated the rejection.”
“Poor colonel, indeed,” Eleanor said. “Juliette has no intention of marrying him. She’s set her sights above the younger son of an earl. Buthethinks she’s the most delightful creature in the world—I overheard him say as much.”
Harriet finished brushing Eleanor’s hair, then styled it into a plain chignon. “Did you dance last night, miss?”
Heat bloomed in Eleanor’s cheeks, and understanding shone in her maid’s eyes.
“Mother was furious,” Eleanor said. “But what was I supposed to do—askthemto dance?”
She winced at the memory of the carriage ride home last night, when Mother told Papa how much of a burden Eleanor was, while Juliette looked on.
“There’s plenty of other parties where you’ll find partners, miss.”
“No man would look twice at me when Juliette’s around,” Eleanor said. “Not that I’d want the attention of the whole room. But…”
She hesitated, unwilling to divulge her obsession—for obsession it was. Instead, she picked up her teacup and took a sip.
“Did someone catch your eye?” Harriet asked. “I’m sure there’d be some disposed to pay you attention.”
Perhaps—buthewouldn’t.
“Who’she?”
Oh, heavens!She’d spoken that aloud.
“Nobody of consequence,” Eleanor said. “At least, I’m of no consequence tohim.”
“Then that’s his loss, miss. What man wants a vain wife who’ll plague him morning, noon, and night?”
Harriet lowered her voice, and a wicked gleam shone in her eyes. “What man could withstand your sister’s temper?” Then she blushed. “Forgive me—I meant no disrespect.”
“But you’re right,” Eleanor said. “Papa always says that if you want to look at a woman’s true nature, you only need observe how she treats her servants—and her husband—behind closed doors. But from what I’ve seen, Lady Arabella is the worst culprit. She’s reduced many young women to tears with her put-downs, not to mention how she treats the servants.”
“The orphaned heiress?”
“How do you know that?”
“Gossip travels below stairs as well,” Harriet said. “We know more about the upstairs folk thantheydo. Your friend LadyMarlow’s maid once said Lady Arabella was taking advantage of everyone’s sympathy over her orphaned state, to behave like a harpy.”
Eleanor smiled at the mention of her friend. Dear Lavinia was returning from her honeymoon tomorrow. Which meant there’d soon be one person in London who didn’t look down on her.
“Now,” Harriet said crisply. “What will you do today? Some sketching before breakfast? Lady Howard won’t be up for an hour, at least, so you’ll not be disturbed.”
“I could drawyouagain,” Eleanor said.
“Don’t bother yourself with the likes of me, miss. You’ve already drawn a beautiful likeness—I don’t need another.”
“I didn’t get the shape of your nose right.”
“It’s the best likenessI’mever likely to be given,” Harriet said. “It’s like looking in the mirror.”
“Not quite,” Eleanor said. “Your reflection isn’t how youreallylook.”
“Don’t we see ourselves in the mirror?”
