Chapter 27 - Claire
The following morning, Claire checked her reflection several times before heading down to breakfast. She was determined that her sisters not be able to see the nerves that continuously fluttered in her stomach, or the radiant happiness that made her feel as if she were swooping through the air.
After all, though she and Michael had an understanding, nothing was official yet. And though William had previously told Claire of his approval of Michael, she could not be certain that he’d give his blessing to the match. Not until permission was asked.
She needn’t have been so concerned that her sisters would observe that she was quite aflutter with all her nerves and excitement. The breakfast table was an oddly silent tableau, though all of the resident siblings were in attendance.
Margaret’s sole focus was on buttering and adding precise amounts of syrup to her pancakes. Lily stared at the low floral arrangement as if it held precious secrets. Even William seemed distracted, only stopping in the room long enough to grab some bacon and a cup of tea before striding out again.
“What on earth is going on?” Beatrice finally asked.
“Too much champagne,” Margaret said, violently shoving back from the table.
“Yes, me too.” Lily said, fairly fleeing after her.
Beatrice stared at Claire with round eyes. “What’s the matter with them, do you think?”
“Perhaps it’s just as they say, that they overindulged last night.” Claire calmly sipped her scalding tea.
“I’d believe it of Margaret, perhaps, but not Lily.”
Claire shrugged and returned her cool attention to her plate.
“Well, in any case, I suppose that’s that,” Beatrice said, unfazed by Claire’s silence.
“What do you mean?”
“The Season. It’s over. And I’m certainly no closer to marriage than when I started.” She shook a hearty sprinkling of pepper over her eggs. “Though I do have a plan not to finish the Season completely empty-handed.”
“How so?”
“Never you mind, Claire. Some things are best left a surprise.”
When Michael arrived late that morning, Claire led him to the parlor closest to William’s study.
“He’s meeting with the Duke of Devonshire for some reason,” Claire murmured, casting another glance down the hallway.
She noted Margaret doing the same from a different door. Claire ducked back into her respective room before her sister could spot her.
“Business, probably,” Michael said.
“Perhaps.” Claire suddenly felt the childish urge to nibble at her fingernails.
“Claire, it’s going to be all right.” Michael caught her hand and gave a comforting press to her fingers. “I’m quite sure he’ll give his blessing.”
“But what if he doesn’t?” she said.
“We will still marry, blessing or no. St Paul’s or the anvil at Gretna Green—it matters little to me—”
Claire made an indignant tsking noise and swatted at his elbow. Michael just laughed. Just then, the Duke of Devonshire passed their open doorway.
Claire pushed Michael—who was still laughing—out into the hallway. “Here’s your chance! Hurry before William leaves for the docks or one of his warehouses.”
Several minutes later, Claire’s nervous pacing was interrupted by the appearance of Lily, who blinked in surprise when she saw that Claire already occupied the room.
“What are you doing here?” Claire asked.
Lily jerked to a stop just inside the doorway, her eyes wide. Claire could have sworn her sister looked almost guilty.
“I can go somewhere else,” Lily said.
Claire’s eyes narrowed as Lily’s gaze slid down the hallway in the direction of William’s study.
“Did you need to speak to William?” Claire asked.
Lily pressed her lips together, her eyes wide, and shook her head too rapidly to ease Claire’s curiosity.
“What—” she began, but was interrupted by the sudden arrival of Margaret, who jerked to a stop and began to blush furiously.
“I’ll just go,” Margaret said, turning for the door.
“You’ll do no such thing. Why are both of you here, and why do you look so guilty?” Claire’s eyes narrowed.
“I hardly think that I need to explain myself to you,” Margaret said. “Why are you here? Do you have some business with William that you don’t want to tell us about?”
“I don’t care to share that with you at the moment,” Claire said pertly.
“Then why should we share our business with you?” Margaret asked, arching her eyebrow.
“A fair point,” Lily said, though she could barely hide the trembling of her fingers.
Claire rounded on her. She had always been the weakest of the lot, and if either of them were going to break, it would be Lily.
But just as she worked at formulating a question to aim at her sister, Beatrice burst in the room, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Where’s William?” she gasped. “I must speak to him immediately.”
“Whatever is the matter?” Lily cried.
“Onion juice, and it’s going to wear off at any moment. Where’s our brother?”
Wordlessly, Claire pointed at the closed door to William’s study. Beatrice made a run for it. Her sisters watched her wrench the doorknob and fling herself in, slamming the door behind her.
Margaret grimaced. “Perhaps we should have mentioned he was already occupied?”