Chapter 8
Elena’s hands trembled. She finished reading the letter that had just arrived for her and creased it shut.
While her mother had penned most of the letter, the last few lines were from Bianca.
Take care not to act in any manner you may later regret.
It would be a shame if anyone there was hurt as a consequence of your actions.
Not everyone is as forgiving as I am. Farewell for now. I cannot wait to see you.
No one else would think twice about such empty sentiments. Elena, however, knew Bianca’s hidden meaning. When Elena returned, there would be no end to her punishments. Worse, Bianca might even hurt her new friends to hurt Elena even more.
She put a finger in her mouth and chewed her nail.
Would Bianca really stoop to hurting Lord Crawford—an earl—if she discovered their friendship?
She thought of the scissors Bianca had snipped her hair with, and the blood she had later found dried on her chest from Bianca’s pointed fingernail.
There was no doubt that Bianca had an unpredictable temper.
If Elena were to protect Lord Crawford, spending time together at all would have to be forbidden.
Bianca would know otherwise. Elena would miss Lord Crawford—Anton.
Mary always called her brother Anton, so Elena had begun to think of him that way.
And while she did not have permission to drop Mary’s title, she hoped by the end of her stay they would be good enough friends to do so in person.
She dropped her hand with frustration. It wasn’t right for Bianca to ruin the last of her freedom.
Even if she were to be a hermit in her room, Bianca was going to make her life miserable when she returned.
Elena should continue to act as she pleased and not fret about Bianca’s concealed threats.
The decision would come with consequences, but she might never have the same opportunities again.
When the inevitable time came to return home, she would have ample chance to worry then.
With a deep breath, Elena pushed her anxiety to the back of her mind.
Leaving the privacy of her room, she went down the corridor to search for Mary.
Mary had promised to teach Elena to sketch Banbury Castle so she might take home a small likeness of it.
She walked toward the staircase when Mary turned a corner.
“I was just coming to fetch you,” Mary said with her familiar wide smile. “Did you remember our drawing lesson?”
Elena nodded. “Am I late? I would dearly like to learn.”
“Not at all. I have never taught anyone before, but I am eager to try.”
Elena smiled too. “Shall we then?”
Mary linked arms with her. “I have everything ready beyond the gatehouse where we can have the best view of the castle.”
Elena had never had another girl take her by the arm in such ready friendship, and the gesture suppressed the anxiety building inside of her. Miss Bliss would be arriving in a few hours, and Elena would surely be pushed to the shadows again, but right now it felt wonderful to be cared for.
Just as Mary had said, the servants placed a bench a short walking distance from the house, giving them the perfect angle to sketch. Golden sunlight peeked through the clouds, warming her face.
Mary handed Elena one of the two sketchbooks. “You seem to have grown more at ease with us, Miss Muffet. I’m so glad.”
Elena ran her finger down the spine of her sketchbook. “It is kind of you to spare time for me when I know you could be with Mr. Gunther.”
“I cannot be with him all the time. We would drive each other mad.” Mary flipped her sketchbook open. “A man is wonderful for many reasons, but a woman needs the comfort and friendship of another woman. It is in our nature. We crave the companionship found in sisterhood.”
Elena felt the same longing for companionship but had never realized how much until she’d been given a taste of it. “I’ve never really had a friend,” she admitted. Her governesses had been genuinely kind, but they were still paid to be there for her.
Mary turned her knees toward Elena. “You and your sister must be close.”
“Everyone assumes as much, but it isn’t so. We are very different.” Elena was not used to revealing so much of herself. Between all the information she shared with Mary and Anton, Elena suddenly felt very vulnerable.
Mary set the sketchbook on her lap with a firm plop. “Well, we are friends, are we not?”
The corner of Elena’s lips pulled upward. “Yes, I’d like to think so.”
“Perhaps we should drop formalities then. Will you just call me Mary?”
Elena could not hold back her smile. “Really? Then you must call me Elena.”
“Elena is a beautiful name. I can already see your signature on your first sketch—Miss Elena Muffet.” Mary made a flourish in the air with her hand. “What do you think?”
Elena giggled. “What a splendid idea—as long as the picture is worth claiming.”
“Well said. We had better not waste any time then.”
Mary spent the next hour walking Elena through the various lines of drawing the house, instructing where to shade and where to use less pressure. Elena’s sketch was not as precise as Mary’s, but it at least resembled Banbury.
A dog barked, and she turned to see Patches bounding toward them.
Not far behind him was Anton. The dog raced straight to her and nuzzled against her leg.
She rubbed his ears and looked up to see Anton’s amusement.
He glanced at their sketchbooks. “One would think I was in France, joining the artists painting Versailles.”
“Hardly,” Mary scoffed.
Anton looked over Elena’s shoulder. “I didn’t know you could draw, Miss Muffet.”
“I can,” Elena said, “as of today.”
“You must have some ready talent then.”
Mary leaned over to see better. “I was just about to say the same. I should ask Blake if he could offer any better advice. You are quite the natural.”
Elena shook her head. “If you are both attempting to put me at ease here, I assure you, it is working. I promise to keep practicing my drawing, but only if you both cease complimenting me at once.”
“Being overbearing is a family trait, I’m afraid,” Mary laughed.
“The girls are worse than the boys,” Anton clarified. “Except for Mother. She is an angel. My older sister Jillian is as vexing as Mary.”
Mary sighed. “I cannot even argue with him.”
A carriage turned up the drive, and Anton went rigid next to her.
Elena bent her head to see what had caused such a reaction.
The familiar crest alerted her at once. Miss Bliss was here.
Disappointment balled in her stomach. Receiving attention from Anton had been wonderful, but she knew his intentions were friendly.
It did not matter that he was everything she knew she wanted, for his heart belonged to another.
No one who knew Miss Bliss would question why he felt as he did.
Where she radiated light, Elena was meant for the shadows.
“Who could that be?” Mary set down her drawing things. “Oh! It has to be Miss Bliss! We have been introduced but once, and I am eager to know her better. Come,” Mary reached for Elena’s hand. “You must greet her with me.”
Anton pushed back his jacket and set his hand on his waist, his eyes solemn. Elena could sense him watching the carriage, even after she looked away. As much as she was sad for herself, she hurt for him. He did not deserve to live with a broken heart.
The three of them walked back through the gate and across the courtyard to meet the carriage, which had pulled to a stop in front of the keep. A footman jumped down and opened the carriage door. Miss Bliss stepped out, her golden curls bouncing.
“Miss Muffet! Lady Mary!” Her smile was wide and genuine. She walked toward them and grabbed both of their hands. “It is so good to see you both!” She bent her head back and took in the overbearing, stone structure. “So, this is Banbury Castle.”
“I hope you like it.” Lady Mary glanced over her shoulder at her home. “It’s intimidating on the outside, but I assure you that it feels like home on the inside. Terrance will be so happy to see you.”
“And I him.” Miss Bliss blushed and ducked her head momentarily. “Will you take me to him?”
The castle doors swung open, and Terrance emerged as though he had been heralded with trumpets. Elena had never seen his smile so wide. He skipped down the steps and jogged toward them. Miss Bliss dropped their hands in anticipation, and they stepped to give the couple room.
Terrance reached her, and without care for propriety, pulled Miss Bliss into his arms. “I was certain you were not coming until evening. I just happened to look out the window, and there you were.” He pulled back and stared at his intended. “I’ve missed you, Sophia.”
Miss Bliss sighed with happiness. “You cannot fathom how much I’ve missed you.”
“Oh, but I can.” Terrance pulled her against him again and kissed her.
“I need a fan,” Mary said, waving her hand in front of her face. “I’ve never seen my brother like this.”
Elena did something brave again. She linked arms with Mary. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
Anton came and stood next to Elena. She tensed with concern for him. He cleared his throat loudly, and Terrance and Miss Bliss broke their kiss. Terrance didn’t fully release his future bride, but kept her close as he looked over her head at his brother. “My apologies to everyone but myself.”
Elena stole a glance at Anton, and caught his half-amused, half-annoyed expression. What did it mean?
“Lord Crawford,” Miss Bliss turned in Terrance’s arms, offering an awkward curtsy. “How do you do?”
Anton dipped his head in a quick bow. “I trust your journey was smooth?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Terrance finally released Miss Bliss and scooped up her hand. “Enough of this proper speech. We are going to go find Mama and get you settled into a room. Are you hungry?”
“Famished,” Miss Bliss said.
“Excellent, because as soon as I saw the carriage, I sent for tea and refreshments.”
Mary put her head near Elena’s. “Do you think we are invited?”
“No,” Anton said, overhearing. “Tomorrow perhaps, but I think our love birds could use a few minutes without an audience.”
There was not a hint of malice in his words. He was truly the best of brothers.
“That’s a sweet thought, Anton.” Mary gave Elena a quick smile. “My older brother is wiser than all of us when it comes to romance. I cannot wait to see him fawning over a girl.”
Anton groaned and called for Patches. The pair strode away, and Elena had to force her eyes from following his handsome form. Mary was right. Anton would be the perfect suitor for someone. Was it wrong to wish to be that person?
Chapter 9