Chapter 15
There's only one word to describe what it's like to sit with Lady Elizabeth in the mountain solar while her mother sits with Mama and Veronica at a separate table.
Awkward.
The other woman is sitting as if she has something down the back of her dress, and has barely touched her tea, neither of which seem to be good signs about how this is going.
"Would you like some tart?" I ask her, gesturing to the beautiful-looking frangipane that Nate and I made.
She looks it over. "What is it?"
"It's a frangipane tart," I say. "It's a sweet pastry case with..."
"I don't care for pastry," Lady Elizabeth responds.
"I can ask for some cake instead, I'm sure that there are some delicious options in the kitchen." I'm not sure what, but I know that Nate will have something.
"No, thank you. I don't like sweet things."
"Oh." I look around the room as if hoping to find something that can save me from the increased awkwardness now building.
Mama gives me a look that I think is supposed to be encouraging, but doesn't feel like it is.
"I can ask the servants to bring something savoury, if you prefer?
Our pastry chef makes delicious cheese scones. "
"No, thank you," Lady Elizabeth responds. "I prefer not to eat between meals."
I blink a couple of times. "Aren't you hungry before dinner?" Even as I ask the question, I know that it's the wrong thing to say, but it's already out of my mouth by the time I realise it.
It's hard to read the other woman's expression, but she doesn't seem particularly impressed by my question. "I'm afraid that my dresses wouldn't be as comfortable if I did that."
I frown, not really understanding what she means. If Mama is to be believed, her family has plenty of money and are perfectly capable of having her dresses fitted to her.
"I don't mind," she continues as if she hasn't just said something ludicrous. "Some things are worth it. Surely you know what I mean, Your Highness. Don't you want to look your best in the latest fashions?"
"I'd rather have the cake," I mutter under my breath.
"Hmm."
I clear my throat, reminding myself of the list of questions Veronica helped me come up with. "What do you enjoy doing, Lady Elizabeth?"
"I play the violin," she responds.
I grimace even at the thought of the screechy sound, though perhaps I'm being unfair thanks to my ineptitude on the instrument.
"And I enjoy watching the birds," she continues without acknowledging my reaction. Which is probably for the best, I think it's probably on the list of things Mama specifically doesn't want me to do when interacting with people.
"Do you have a favourite bird?" I ask, even though I'm not particularly interested, it just seems like the right thing to ask.
"Native to Falhaven, I would say that it has to be the sparrow. There's a nest outside my bedroom window, though I suppose if I were to move to the castle, that would no longer be the case."
I clear my throat. There's no doubt in my mind that Lady Elizabeth will not be moving to the castle. Even if I weren't in love with Nate, I don't think I could be with someone who has no interest in cake. "I'm sure we have a nest here somewhere."
"You don't know?" she asks, potentially seeming a little disappointed.
"I don't even know what a sparrow looks like," I admit.
"Then perhaps we should go bird watching for our next engagement," she responds. "Her Majesty has assured me that your social calendar has room for me."
"I wasn't aware of that." I resist the urge to look at Mama. "I'm sure she's correct." Mostly because she's making sure that she is.
Lady Elizabeth smiles at me, and for the first time, it feels like it's genuine. "I also enjoy swimming. In the summer that is."
I nod. "It would be a bit cold to enjoy it in the winter."
"I've heard that cold water can be invigorating for the system," she responds. "So perhaps it wouldn't be so bad."
"I'm not in a rush to try." I look out of the window, trying to gauge how much time there is left in this failed attempt at courtship.
I'm sure other people would find Lady Elizabeth charming, and from the way this is going, I'm sure she feels the same about me.
I can't say that I'm providing a huge amount of entertaining conversation either.
All in all, I'm relieved when the entire thing comes to an end, and Lady Elizabeth leaves the mountain solar with her mother. It's not over for me, but at least I can now be awkward with my own family instead of with a guest.
"So, how was it?" Mama asks. "Do you think Lady Elizabeth has potential?"
"She doesn't like cake," I respond.
Veronica smothers a laugh, while Mama lets out a deep sigh.
"There's more to a partner than whether she likes cake or not," Mama responds. "Her family is incredibly wealthy, and her father is a decorated admiral in Falhaven's navy..."
"Those are reasons you want me to marry her, not reasons for me to find her interesting," I point out. "She wanted to talk about birds and doesn't like cake."
Veronica clears her throat. "Perhaps it's best if Lady Elizabeth finds another match," she says to Mama.
I flash her a grateful smile, though I know this is far from over.
Mama pinches the bridge of her nose. "Very well. You can go." She waves me away.
Veronica slips her arm through mine and pulls me out of the room. "She really didn't like cake?" she asks as we leave the room.
"She said that she didn't like sweet things at all. I offered to get some cheese scones from the kitchens sent up, and she didn't want those either."
"Even I'm surprised by that. Chef Matthews' cheese scones are delicious," Veronica says.
"She said she doesn't eat between meals."
"Ah. So it's not that she doesn't like them, it's that she doesn't want to eat them." My sister nods as if it all makes sense to her, while it makes no sense to me at all.
"Why would she not eat them if she likes them?" I ask.
"Perhaps her parents have made a lot of comments about her weight," Veronica says.
I frown. "She looked nice."
"I know. But some people don't have a good relationship with food, usually because someone close to them has said things that have made them uncomfortable about their eating or how they look," Veronica explains.
"That's sad."
"It is," she agrees. "And I'm glad that Mama isn't like that. Now, if you offered Lady Elizabeth cheese scones, does that mean there are some in the kitchens?"
I nod. "Nate said he was making some today."
"Then perhaps we might send one of the servants for some tea and scones.
I could definitely use something before dinner.
" She smiles at me in a way that I think is meant to reassure me, and it actually does.
If there's one thing I can count on, it's that Veronica will help me through this situation.
I'm lucky to have her as my sister, even if it would be better if life just made more sense.