Chapter 4
Four
Esther had got herself a poor bargain by following Minnie to Brighton. She’d swapped her controlled and restricted life in London for a controlled and restricted life in Brighton. Not very bright on her part.
But when Mother had convinced her to come by telling her that going to Brighton would be a wonderful holiday by the sea, she’d imagined an adventure full of excitement and surprises. Instead, she spent the days playing whist with Minnie, Mother, and the dowager.
She almost missed the propriety classes Mother ordered her to attend every week.
Mother and the dowager were two fierce players. They played every round as if the future of the kingdom depended on which cards they chose.
What was worse was that the weather, usually grey and cloudy all over England, was shiny and unseasonably warm. She would love to take a walk on the Chain Pier or visit the Royal Pavilion. The worst thing was that Alexander was nowhere to be seen.
Esther had arrived four days ago, and he wasn’t there.
“Your turn, darling,” Mother said.
“Oh, of course.” Another problem was that Esther was a terrible whist player, and when she played as the dowager’s partner, a fierce wave of anxiety bothered her.
From the other side of the table, the dowager shot her a poisonous glare that would kill a cobra. Not that Esther could blame her. So far, she hadn’t shone in the game.
Minnie arched a dark eyebrow, likely encouraging her to drop the right card. She was always so poised and prim that Esther felt small and inadequate.
She straightened her back and closed her elbows. She might be a poor whist player, but at least she would have grace.
“Remember what I told you,” the dowager said, lowering her glasses down her straight nose.
“Of course.” If only Esther knew what the dowager was referring to.
The old matron had given her more pieces of advice in a few days than her parents, grandparents, and tutors combined in nearly twenty-five years.
She lowered the two of diamonds; a safe card to play, surely.
“Esther!” the dowager said as Minnie said, “Are you sure, Esther?”
Mother pressed a finger to her temple. “Dear, dear.”
What had she done now?
“You played a lower honour,” the dowager answered her silent question, seemingly reading her mind. “I’m sure you have a higher card than that!”
Oh, bother. She had, but she hadn’t noticed it.
“May I?” Minnie tilted her head to take a peek at her cards. “Yes, she has.”
“Oh, enough!” The dowager dropped her cards on the table and stood up. “You’re doing it on purpose.”
She suppressed a shiver. “No, I promise. I’m genuine.”
“I meant that as a compliment because at least your card choices would be a deliberate attempt at sabotaging my game, instead of plain daftness. I’m not surprised you’re still unmarried.”
Mother put down the cards as well. “That’s unfair.”
“I’m starting to think your parents are related.” Scoffing, the dowager walked out of the sitting room.
“Excuse me!” Mother scraped her chair backwards and chased the dowager. “Josephine, we need to discuss what you’ve just said.”
The moment she was alone with Minnie, she sagged on the table, resting her forehead on the cold surface. “You can say it.”
Minnie gathered the cards. “What?”
“I can’t even play the most popular card game in the kingdom without causing a disaster.”
“There, there.” Minnie patted her shoulder. “It’s a matter of practice, and you excel in playing cricket, which is even more popular than whist.”
“I don’t think the dowager cares about cricket.” She sat upright. “I’m not like you. You enjoy the rules and always obey your parents. I can’t memorise rules I don’t care about, like whist’s rules.”
“Well, I have my moments of…wildness.” Minnie fiddled with the king of hearts and made it spin, balancing it on a corner.
“You? I don’t believe you. The wildest thing I’ve ever seen you doing is adding three sugars to your tea instead of one.”
She held back a comment on Minnie’s gowns. They covered her from chin to ankle and were always so dull they made her look older than she was. Minnie’s gown could use a touch of wildness.
Minnie straightened the cards, letting out a nervous chuckle. “Why don’t we take a walk in the garden?”
Esther couldn’t leave the sitting room faster. Her spirits lifted a little when she walked outside. Golden and brown leaves littered the ground, reminding her that autumn was advancing, and no suitor came forwards.
Not even Alexander. Although he’d sent her a message to thank her for the lovely time they’d shared in the garden. He’d mentioned he was busy, so perhaps he might not come to Brighton, which was a pity.
Not because she wanted to pursue him and become his duchess, but because she genuinely liked his company.
“Don’t be upset about what Grandmama said.” Minnie hooked her arm through Esther’s. “She’s bitter when it comes to whist. She takes it very seriously.”
“It’s not just that.” She exhaled. “Mother keeps comparing me with you. She says you have a secret to charm men, and she wants me to discover it.”
Minnie stiffened. “Excuse me?”
“She wants me to understand how and why you have so many suitors.”
Minnie’s chuckle sounded forced. “There’s no secret. I guess I truly enjoy being the way I am. Instead, you don’t behave naturally because you disapprove of the rules, and that makes you tense when you meet someone new.”
“You’re probably right. But then, I’m doomed to be a spinster.”
“Don’t be so pessimistic. You only need one husband, after all.” Minnie stopped at the low fence separating her garden from Alexander’s house. “Are you and the Duke of Richmond good friends?”
Her first instinct was to say yes, but maybe he didn’t consider her anything more than a passing acquaintance. “Just ordinary friends.”
“Grandmama hopes he’ll come for dinner when he’s here in Brighton. If he comes.” Annoyance crept into Minnie’s voice.
“You don’t approve?”
“I’m not particularly fond of him, that’s all. We have nothing in common.”
She fought a smile. “So you aren’t interested in him as a suitor.”
Minnie gave one last disdainful look at Alexander’s house. “He’s a duke. If he proposes, my parents will want me to accept, but if it were up to me, I wouldn’t even play whist with him.”
Esther couldn’t say she was sad to hear that.