Chapter 5
Chapter Five
“See, I am curious about what tired Elinor out so greatly that she did not even hear us come home,” Belinda’s voice filled the breakfast hall the following morning.
Already, that mocking tone was present.
Elinor had slept deeply but briefly, always wanting to be awake before the others, so she had some time in the day to herself before they made themselves present.
Now, she sat with them for breakfast, trying to prepare herself for the boasting ahead.
“I entered your rooms,” Belinda continued. “But you were not responsive.”
Elinor stiffened. “You came into my room?”
“Yes.” Her stepsister blinked as if it was obvious and normal. “I wanted to tell you about my interaction with somebody most special. I simply could not wait.” Although excitement made her voice jumpy, Elinor knew it was just to try to make her more jealous.
One day, she will realize that her attempts are futile, Elinor thought, amused but weary at the never-ending attempts.
“Ah.” Elinor shrugged. “I read a great deal, so I was rather tired—”
“Anyway,” Belinda interrupted. “Mama, do tell Elinor about our very positive interaction.”
“I am getting there, Belinda,” Elinor’s stepmother chuckled, patting her daughter’s hand.
Meanwhile, Joanna looked between Belinda and Elinor, her mouth downturned. Opposite the girls, Gilbert watched the whole ordeal, a permanent sneer to his mouth.
“I had many advantageous conversations with many lords regarding their interest in my daughters,” Lady Morland drawled, lazily sipping at her morning tea, as if Elinor cared. As if Elinor was a fellow mother who she needed to compete with. “But then we spotted one man in particular—”
“The Duke of Fairmont,” Belinda cut in, clearly too excited to wait.
Elinor knew it was coming, especially with the duke himself telling her the night before, but her stomach still dropped. That doubt rose in her mind once more as Belinda dropped three sugar cubes into her tea.
How can he ask me to pretend to be his betrothed when somebody like Belinda is right there, more his type, if his roguish personality is anything to go on?
“He was most taken with me,” Belinda triumphantly told her. “He could scarcely keep his eyes off me, could he, Mama?”
At her boast, Elinor recalled something the duke had told her.
“Indeed, he could not,” Elinor’s stepmother answered demurely.
Elinor sipped her own drink to hide her amusement as she recalled the duke’s words.
It is refreshing from the women who dress in gaudy things to distract a man from their bland personalities.
“You are jealous, no doubt,” Belinda said, watching Elinor’s face. “After all, it is not as though you would have captured the attention of a duke had you been present.”
Elinor only hummed. No, she certainly wouldn’t have, but somehow she still had, just not at a ballroom. She had been seen for her value in teaching, and that was far greater than wooing any man, far greater than being noticed in a ballroom.
“Whatever you think, Belinda,” she mused, emboldened by her meeting with the duke.
She tried to focus on her food, but she only pushed it around, finding herself with no appetite. Whether it was worrying over her new arrangement and her family finding out, or if it was her exhaustion, she did not know.
She couldn’t fight back a yawn as she set down her utensils.
“Are we boring you, Elinor?” Gilbert asked. “I know I do not visit often, but one would think my presence is exciting enough to enjoy.”
“No, that is not it,” she quickly muttered. “I am merely tired.”
“I really did hope you could rest last night,” Joanna said kindly. “Or tonight, perhaps. Maybe even a short, afternoon nap?”
“Joanna.” Elinor’s stepmother’s snap silenced the table, even Belinda’s continued tirade about how she could meet the duke again. “Elinor deserved her punishment. It was her choice not to sleep when she could have, but she deserved to stay home. She must learn to watch her behavior.”
Elinor’s shoulders drew together as the misery built in her mind. Last night, she had felt elated, belonging, back there in that classroom. She wished she was back there, not here, listening to Belinda’s boastful lies, and her stepmother’s scheming, and Joanna attempting to pitch in.
Even Gilbert’s eyes remained heavily on her, and she cringed, wondering if he knew something was amiss about her. Elinor quickly pushed her chair back, suddenly under the scrutiny of four pairs of eyes.
“I must be excused,” she said. “Forgive me. I am not hungry.”
“And where must you be instead?” Belinda asked. “You have no friends, no commitments to attend.”
“I just wish—” Elinor looked pleadingly at her stepmother. “Please, I just wish to be excused. After all, I do not want you to think I am bored. I am not, but I am rather tired.”
“Just go.” Her stepmother shook her head, dismissing her with a flick of her hand.
“Are you certain?”
“Go, then, ungrateful girl, after I have prepared such a luxurious spread for breakfast.”
Elinor shrunk even though she had been granted her request, and she hurried from the table. Yes, indeed, such a luxurious spread, and such beautiful hallways and rooms filled with endless, expensive antiques and decorations.
It was all opulent, but it wasn’t where Elinor felt comfortable or safe.
Instead, she slumped against the hallway, far down from the breakfast hall, closing her eyes, thinking of that crumbling workhouse. She wanted the children to be comfortable, but she could only hope that the building wouldn’t start to resemble a lavish townhouse.
She wanted out of this.
She wanted to simply remain there. She wanted to be a tutor, and escape the eyes of her family, the ton, and expectations.
Elinor pushed off the wall, misery bringing tears to her eyes, as she returned to her chamber. To distract herself, she began planning her next lesson.
Perhaps I can run it by His Grace tomorrow upon our promenade.
And even just the thought of that had her mood lifting.
“I thought you did not like gentleman’s clubs,” Dominic said, amusement dancing at the corner of his mouth, as he looked across their table in Greenhall’s.
Lucien merely rolled his eyes. “I am not the biggest fan of them, true, but you know I only turned down that rejection because I could not endure Lady Morland’s insistence. For goodness’ sake, she was simply throwing all of her children after me.”
And yet I found the one child she did not want me to know.
“She was rather … intense,” Dominic chuckled, adjusting his cravat. “I don’t think I have ever seen a mother work so hard to parade her daughters before a man who was already halfway out the door.”
“I was not halfway out the door.”
“You were three-quarters, at least.” Dominic titled his head, studying him. “Although I confess, I am more curious about the stepdaughter. Lady Elinor. The one Lady Morland seemed so eager to keep hidden.”
Lucien kept his expression neutral, though the name prickled at him. “What of her?”
“Only that when I mentioned her, you did not dismiss it. a. Specifically.” Dominic’s mouth curved. “You, who cannot recall the names of women who are actually present, but then your jaw tightened at the name of the one who was not.” .
“Dominic.”
“I find it fascinating, that is all. And none of my business, I know.” He raised his glass. “For now.”
“I was being polite. Lady Morland mentioned her family. I asked a reasonable question.” Lucien picked up his brandy tumbler. “Do not make it something it isn’t.”
“I would never.” Dominic’s grin said otherwise. “Besides, I am surprised you noticed anything at all, given that you made such a quick exit. Why did you, by the way?”
“I had business matters,” Lucien answered curtly, picking up his brandy tumbler.
“Does that business matter happen to have a female’s name?”
Lucien’s mind went, unbidden to Lady Elinor Caverleigh. To the nervous way she had fiddled with things on the desk when he had told her that please would sound pretty on her mouth. To how she had pulled the curtain over the carriage window, thinking he would not see her blush.
He caught himself. “No, it did not.”
“Then may I ask—”
“I must see to other matters,” Lucien said, finishing his drink. “Forgive the quick visit, but I have more lords to see regarding my late uncle’s debts. Forward our tab to me, if you want to.”
“Please,” Dominic scoffed. “Do not insult my own wealth.”
Lucien flashed him a grin, hoping it covered enough of his nerves, and made a swift exit from Greenhall’s.