You’ll need to twice be clever
To claim your promised treasure.
The first is small, the second tall
And yet they belong together.
Carved, art echoes life
With all its pleasures and strife.
Once you look beside a book
You’ll find her there marked by a feather.
Scandal etched in sharp relief
To hide its gains just like a thief,
And when you lift the lady’s skirt
You’ll find far more than just a flirt.
“Your Grandfather seems to me to have been far more clever and crafty a man than any one person has a right to be.”
Matilda chuckled, nodding her agreement. She set the letter aside and sighed.
“He was, and mischievous, too. Sometimes, I think his sense of humour was quite the most twisted I’ve ever encountered in my life. Eugenia far prefers books to art, and what did he leave her? An art collection. It’s almost perverse.”
Eliza laughed.
“Well, perhaps he intended it as a lesson, a way to broaden Eugenia’s horizons and give her a more rounded appreciation of the world that is not limited only to the things she likes best.”
“How disgustingly logical of you.”
Matilda grinned at Eliza, obviously teasing, but Eliza’s laugh was half-hearted at best, and her gaze drifted to the townhouse’s window, as if perhaps she hoped to see a certain someone passing by.
Matilda narrowed her eyes and gently elbowed Eliza in the ribs.
“You are uncommonly distracted today. What is wrong?”
Eliza chewed on her bottom lip for a long moment, not meeting Matilda’s gaze.
“It is probably nothing.”
“Come now, Eliza. Out with it.” Matilda looped her arm through Eliza’s and tugged her to her feet, pulling her into a thoughtful turn about the room. “You cannot be this morose and distracted without telling me, as your friend, what has upset you.”
“Very well.” Eliza grumbled, then proceeded to explain everything that had transpired in the past couple of days. From the runaway horse in the Park and the Duke of Elkington rescuing her -- not to mention his kindness and warmth when he had insisted on walking her home -- to the complete about face the entire family had made since their initial meeting at the Elkington Hall Midsummer Ball. “I do not know what I have done to offend them, but I am sure it is something. The only consolation I have in any of this is that Lady Catherine still spoke to me, at least, and was friendly and warm until a Lord Edward Melthorn was introduced to me in her presence. And I am not at all certain what to make of that. They were not introduced to each other, for some reason, and it was all quite awkward for me. Catherine grew quiet and taciturn, as if seeing him upset her somehow, or perhaps it was something else. I do not know. I just know that it upsets me to think that I may have offended them somehow. I cannot stand the thought of being disliked by anyone, much less the Duchess of Elkington and her kin.”
Matilda stared at Eliza, her mouth hanging open in shock at everything that had transpired. After a moment which seemed to stretch on forever, Matilda shook her head and shrugged.
“Do not fret about whatever it is, dearest. We all retire to the country next week, and will not be back in London until late autumn, so there is simply nothing to be done about anything social until then. There is no sense in fretting yourself to death about it. Now... I think we should take a turn about the garden and get some fresh air, don’t you?”
Eliza frowned, her stomach knotting uncomfortably, even as she nodded and allowed Lady Matilda to steer her out into the garden.
“What are you scowling about?” Matilda sighed.
“I do not like the idea that I have no choice but to retire to the country like a dog with its tail between its legs. And to have to wait months before I know whether or not there is anything I can do to put this situation to rights... it is simply intolerable.”
