Chapter 7 #2
“Well, Mrs. Ellen and Lady Hester, we are delighted that you are here. And that gown looks absolutely marvelous upon you, Lady Hester,” Phoebe gushed. “I had it made, and I was eager to wear it, but it was deemed that the fabric was the wrong color for my complexion.”
Hester frowned. Surprised. “It is a mourning gown, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s not,” Phoebe said with a wag of her head. “I was meant to look splendid in lavender, but it ended up being a bit more mauve than it should have been. And Mama said that if I was to wear it, everyone would think that someone had died. And that would not be good luck for my first Season.”
“No.” Hester laughed at the onslaught. “That’s quite true.”
She didn’t want to add that it was good fortune that she was indeed a widow. “Thank you for allowing me to have it.”
“Of course,” Phoebe enthused. “You look far better in it than I ever could have done.” Phoebe’s brows shot up and she gave Perseus a terrified look. “Oh dear. I’ve put my foot in it. I hope that’s not a terrible thing to say. I know you are in mourning.”
Hester smiled, trying to reassure the young lady. “My husband has been gone for a few years now.”
“Does that make it any better?” Phoebe asked.
“Phoebe,” Perseus said, elbowing her.
“Perseus,” Phoebe countered. “It’s an honest question. I don’t know anything about grief. No one I know has died.”
Hester was rather amazed by the cousins and found herself liking them immensely. They were so youthful, bubbly, happy. She could not remember ever feeling so light.
“Phoebe,” she ventured, “I can tell you that it is no easy thing to lose someone that you love. But over time, it does become bearable.”
Phoebe gave her a kind look. “I’m glad you are with us now, and we shall do everything that we can to cheer you while you are here. Now, Mrs. Ellen,” Phoebe said, taking her by the elbow, “you must tell me everything about yourself.”
Ellen flinched. “Well, I’m—”
“You’re Lady Hester’s dearest friend, aren’t you?” marveled Phoebe with great diplomacy. “And I’ve heard that you are quite loyal and the very best sort of woman.”
Ellen blushed. “Well, whoever told you that is—”
“Well, my grandmama told me that,” Phoebe said. “The dowager duchess, you know. She said that there was no better lady in the house than you.”
And with that, Phoebe began maneuvering Ellen into the breakfast room. “I do hope you like to eat. I do.”
Ellen laughed, clearly amazed by it all. “Oh, yes, I do.”
Phoebe considered her most seriously. “Are you very good at it? Because I think that ladies should be excellent at eating. Too many young ladies don’t eat enough, trying to have little dove-like figures. Who wants to look like a dove, I ask you?” Phoebe snorted. “I’d rather be a hawk.”
On that note, the two of them entered the breakfast room.
Perseus gazed down at Hester and grinned. “Phoebe’s a force.”
“I see that,” she replied before she licked her lips nervously. “Do you think Ellen will—?”
“Oh, Phoebe will take excellent care of your friend. No worries there. She won’t let her feel awkward at all.”
Hester cleared her throat. “You understand that there is reason for Ellen to feel awkward.”
“Of course I do,” Perseus said simply, as if wiser than his years, which seemed to be around twenty. “It would be foolish not to, but our house is different than all others, you know. Our grandmother doesn’t come from the aristocracy. She was born in a situation far below Ellen’s.”
She gaped at Perseus. “Are all Briarwoods so honest and blunt?”
“Yes,” Perseus replied easily. “You know, so many people ask that. Don’t you think it far better than being cagey or lying?”
“I suppose so.”
He was an incredibly handsome young man, not that much older than herself. And yet the world was laid before him with love and possibility.
She lifted her chin and asked, “Are you enjoying Phoebe’s Season?”
“No,” he said, again quite honestly. “I have to dance all of the time and make sure no rotten fellows put their mitts on her.”
“Surely her father does that.”
“Oh no. No. You don’t understand,” Perseus rushed, offering her his arm and taking her into the breakfast room.
“Of course, her father could handle it, or the swath of uncles. But that’s not how we Briarwoods do things.
We all show up to intimidate the blokes.
It’s great, good fun,” Perseus said, waggling his brows.
She could only imagine.
And as soon as she stepped into the breakfast room, she found herself quite daunted. She had thought it would be some sort of small nook. It was not.
The table was as long as any table for grand dinners. It stretched on and on and on. And at the end sat Captain Briarwood, a cup of tea in his hand, speaking merrily to Ellen. Phoebe sat at Ellen’s side, piling food upon her plate.
Captain Briarwood kept pointing at items on the plate, encouraging Ellen to eat.
Hester’s heart swelled because Ellen looked happy. So very happy being given loving attention by Phoebe and Captain Briarwood. He lifted his gaze to her and, for a moment, their eyes met, and it was the warmest she had felt in a very long time.