“More’s the pity.” Patricia sighed.
“I’m quite thankful it’s not the social season.” Elizabeth gave a soft shudder. “I know, in theory, how to act and what to do, but I’ve exercised the skill very little recently.”
“You’d do well. I wouldn’t worry. You have quite the social grace when you wish to use it.”
“I find that laughable.”
“You do! You just choose to disregard it most days.” Patricia gave a wink. “Shoes! You’ll need to bring slippers and boots—”
“Molly already packed those,” Elizabeth explained.
“Good, good. Now that we’ve got that settled…” She took a seat in the chair beside the low-burning fire. “Why are you going to London in the first place?”
Elizabeth had debated about what to tell her friend. She didn’t want to raise alarm, but she also didn’t want to be dishonest. “Well, for several reasons,” she hedged.
Patricia gestured to the chair across from her. “You appear nervous. Sit and tell me everything!” She clapped her hands.
Elizabeth shook her head with amusement. “Very well. Last night I accepted Lord Penderdale’s proposal.” She bit her lip, her smile almost painful, it was so wide.
“What? And you didn’t tell me that the moment I walked into the room? Shame! I’m so thrilled for you! I knew it the moment you two were bickeringand fighting like mad. An emotional response like that…” She wiggled her eyebrows. “I’m very happy for you, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth glanced at her hands. “Truly? Though you had other plans…” She regarded her friend.
Patricia waved the words away. “I did have other plans. However, these are better! Now I get to visit you in London, and you can introduce me to all your husband’s interesting unmarried friends…” She grinned.
Elizabeth frowned for a moment. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. She’d be leaving Cambridge behind. Not until they were married, but afterward. His home was in London. Not Cambridge.
“I… If you’d rather I not visit…” Patricia started, a cloud of hurt flickering across her features.
“No! It’s not that! Of course, you’ll be welcome, and I’ll likely beg you to stay longer than you’d like,” Elizabeth answered, earning a relieved smile from her friend. “It’s just that, well, it shouldn’t come as a shock, except it sort of does…the fact that I’ll be moving to London.”
“Ah, I understand that.”
“Yes, but I’m not opposed to it. Rather, the more I think of it, the more it sounds like an adventure. And there will be museums and ways to study that Cambridge doesn’t offer.”
“I’m sure you’ll be quite busy.” Patricia blushed and studied the fire, hiding her smile.
“Stop that.” Heat rushed to Elizabeth’s face. “I am nervous to meet his sister though,” she confessed.
“She’ll love you. Don’t worry.”
“I certainly hope so. If not, that won’t bode well.”
“Lord Penderdale isn’t the sort to let his sister dictate anything in his life,” Patricia observed.
Elizabeth sighed. “Yes, but I’d hate to cause a conflict.”
“You won’t,” Patricia said calmly. “So don’t borrow a worry that isn’t a real one.”
“Wise words. Thank you.”
“I had an excellent teacher.” She winked.
At the mention of teaching, Elizabeth’s chest tightened. “About that…”
“You’ll have to quit. You’re going to be married. It’s only logical.” Patricia waved off the explanation and turned back to the bed, as if studying the dresses laid out.
Elizabeth took a breath and was about to tell her the whole story, then stopped. Why? What benefit would it have to Patricia to know? Let the events take their natural course. The fewer people who knew, the better, right? She released a breath and stood. “How do you think I should wear my hair?”
