Chapter 1 #2
When she said nothing, Joanna stepped forward, clearing her throat. “It’s a shame Mama has forbidden you from joining us, Elinor. This truly could have been the night a suitor sees you properly.”
There was so much sincerity in her voice that Elinor almost agreed. Joanna was nice enough, certainly not cruel like Belinda or Rebecca, or Rebecca’s horrid son, Gilbert, who mercifully did not live with them.
Belinda cackled, hugging her waist as she bent. “Oh, Joanna, do not make me laugh so hard! This corset is rather tight. But do come to your senses, filling Elinor’s head with cruel hopes. Really, are you so truly cruel?”
Joanna’s eyes widened. “No, no, I meant it—”
“How awful,” Belinda drawled, and Elinor tried to ignore her trying to turn her own cruelty onto her sister. “Honestly, Joanna.”
Joanna’s pretty face pinched, souring where Belinda couldn’t see. Elinor gave her a small smile to let her know she had understood perfectly what Joanna had meant. She had meant it genuinely, and Elinor was grateful for that.
“Elinor, where is Newton?” Joanna asked. “I have not seen him around today.”
At the mention of her three-year-old tabby cat, Elinor’s mood lifted as she looked around her room, before leaning down to poke her head beneath the bed.
She laughed softly, finding him curled up under there.
He often hid there when Belinda’s voice began to raise, and although he wasn’t scared of her, he mewled loudly whenever he heard her, as if her tone grated on him.
“That mangy little thing,” Belinda scoffed. “No doubt it is somewhere in a bin, eating leftovers, and then it will traipse itself back into our lovely home as though it is not riddled with disease.”
“Actually, he is here.” Elinor beckoned Joanna over to look, trying to ignore the horrible comment.
She really ought to expect this from Belinda, but she always found new ways to hurt Elinor with her dagger-like words.
Before Joanna could hurry over, Belinda marched to the other side of the bed and bent over to peer at Newton.
Elinor rose, quickly going to that same side.
Belinda had gotten physical with Newton on more than one occasion, dragging him from a chair, or harshly nudging him with her foot to leave her bedroom doorway.
Elinor lifted her hands in preparation in case she did anything of the sort now.
Belinda just huffed. “At least it is not on the furniture. But why is it on a cloak? Why do you have a cloak beneath your bed?”
“He is not an it,” Elinor tersely told her, ignoring the question about her cloak. “He is my pet.”
“Yes, and he just like his owner. Hiding away in the shadows, never noticed.”
Elinor just forced herself to breathe through the slight. Joanna crouched down, reaching out to Newton. Although Joanna wasn’t cruel like Belinda, Newton was still weary of her, and Elinor tensed, hoping he wouldn’t hiss at her like last time she had tried to pet him.
Joanna’s small coaxing noise had Newton lifting his orange head, his eyes lidded with being woken up from sleep. She laughed, moving to stand back.
“He is very cute, so I will not disturb him.”
“It is just a cat, Joanna, do not be so silly,” Belinda muttered.
“Anyway, Elinor, I cannot help but notice you have not complimented Joanna’s dress.
That is not very sisterly of you. Or are you jealous of her, too?
Is her gown too simple, unlike mine? I did worry about this to Mama.
We cannot give the impression that she has favorites by one of us having a fancier gown. ”
Joanna’s face flushed pink, and she ducked her head.
“I think they are both equally matched in loveliness,” Elinor quickly said. “Joanna, you look very beautiful, and I like how your necklace complements the gown’s shimmer on the skirts.”
At the more extensive compliment than what she had received, Belinda narrowed her eyes, and then composed herself quickly, tossing her waves over her shoulder.
“Yes, well, you can only hope to wear something as lovely as her gown. Perhaps your dreams might sew you something, but I can only promise more misery when you wake up to find yourself dressed simply.”
“I do not mind dressing simply,” Elinor answered. “It is a choice.”
Belinda snorted behind her hand. “Heavens, you are rather backwards.”
“I like your dress, Elinor,” Joanna interjected hastily. “It looks far more comfortable than ours are, at least.”
Belinda’s head shot around to her sister, her eyes slitting into a glare.
Shrinking back, Joanna began toying with her necklace again, and it was only then, closer to them now, that Elinor noticed faint pink lines near the pendant, as if Belinda may have caught her sister’s skin when she stole the other necklace.
Elinor’s heart withered in sympathy, but neither of them ever spoke back to Belinda about her behavior. Joanna tried at times, but she was always cut off and then likely reprimanded herself.
Fists clenched, Elinor cleared her throat and nodded her thanks anyway.
“Come,” Belinda ordered Joanna. “We must finish preparing ourselves.”
But before they could return to their own chambers, a voice came from downstairs, calling out a greeting.
As soon as she heard the deep, male voice, Elinor’s stomach dropped. She thought perhaps her stepbrother would meet his family at the ball directly, but Gilbert swiftly made his way upstairs, appearing in her doorway behind his sisters.
“Good evening, sisters,” he greeted. “You are both looking exquisite, as always. Are you ready to dance your pretty shoes off and let me chase away all your ineligible suitors?”
Belinda giggled, looping her arm through Gilbert’s offered elbow. “I am most ready. Everybody knows that Lady Morrow throws the grandest balls.”
“Indeed, it is a highlight of the Season.” Gilbert flashed her a grin, but his gaze snagged on Elinor, and his smile turned a little sharper. “Oh, Ellie, I did not see you there. You really do blend in with the background, do you not?”
Elinor bristled at the nickname he had been giving her for years and she had long stopped protesting.
“Good evening, Gilbert.”
“Surely you are not attending the ball wearing … whatever that is.”
Before Elinor could answer, Belinda cut in. “She is not joining us tonight, Gilbert.” She turned her nasty, smug look towards Elinor. “She has been misbehaving, so Mother has forbidden her from attending.”
“Ah.” Elinor tried to ignore the satisfied look on Gilbert’s face. “Well, I would say it a shame, but given that you would likely not speak to any suitors, and if you did, it would be about things you do not really know about but enjoy pretending as if you do … it is not a shame in the end, is it?”
Clenching her jaw in frustration, Elinor only forced a polite smile. “I am certain you will all do plenty fine without me.”
“Of course we will.” Belinda gave a pleased hum. “Perhaps we will do even better without you there, if we are being honest.”
Elinor’s stepmother’s words rang through her thoughts.
I will not have your inconsiderate outbursts jeopardize my girls’ prospects. It is bad enough they are associated with you through my marriage to your father.
Before she could force another polite response, biting back anything sharper she wished to say, knowing she no longer had the courage to after years of this treatment, her stepmother appeared behind her children, standing alongside Gilbert.
Like this, they looked like the perfect family: two beautiful daughters, a Marchioness with her chin lifted and not a single hair out of place, and her son, Baron Henleigh, average in his looks with his brown hair the same shade of Joanna’s, but it was clear he had inherited his father’s features, whereas the girls had taken after their mother’s striking features.
It is just a shame those features are mostly marred by their sneering and displeasure.
“My darlings.” Elinor’s stepmother cupped Gilbert’s face before placing her hands on each of Belinda’s and Joanna’s shoulders. “We must leave, or we shall miss the reception drinks.”
Gilbert nodded, already stepping back as he inclined his head towards Elinor. “Good night, Ellie. Do not die of boredom here alone, and I understand those spectacles of yours are rather funny to look at, but you must try to see people.”
Belinda sniggered as she pulled away. “Farewell, Elinor. I shall tell you all about it when we return, and I am certain I will have many dances tonight. It is a shame about your own evening, but perhaps you may dance with the cat.”
“Belinda.” She turned around to look up innocently at her mother. “Do behave. Focus on yourself tonight, and Elinor might join us next time, if she proves herself.”
Gilbert snorted, as Belinda giggled at her mother’s fake consideration. She only ever stopped Belinda’s nasty comments so she could make more herself. It was a terrible game of switching authority, and whenever she got the chance, Belinda loved stepping into her mother’s shoes of cruelty.
“Is it really any use for her even to be considered coming with us? She does nothing except stand there.”
Before anybody could answer, Newton poked his head out, hissing at him. Gilbert laughed until Newton hopped up on the bed, claws extended, and Gilbert startled back, his face going pale for a moment before he composed himself with a hard yank of his lapels.
“I hate that thing,” he muttered, but it was clear he did actually fear Newton’s threats.
He made a quick retreat, Belinda hastily tottering after him, talking about how at least Elinor was one less lady to compete with for suitors’ attention.
Gilbert’s voice was low as he answered, but Elinor didn’t hear his response. She was not entirely sure she wanted to.
Their laughter faded out as they headed downstairs, out of sight, mercifully. Joanna gave her a sympathetic look as her mother guided her away, but Lady Morland glared down at Elinor.
“Control that rat of yours,” she seethed. “You are lucky I have not given it to the local hounds to play with.”