“Humph.”
Luckily, Aunt Frieda kept any further comments to herself. Now Eliza really wished she could turn to look at Philip to see if she could tell if his aunt said such things to him.
After the performance finally ended, Eliza turned to her aunt. “Why don’t I fetch us a glass of lemonade?”
“Very well. I hope it’s not overly tart.”
Eliza rose and moved to the queue at the refreshment table only to feel a shiver of awareness run along her spine.
Philip. There could be no other reason for it.
She turned to see him a short distance away, his gaze holding on her.
He lifted a brow as if to ask if all was well.
Eliza sent a pointed look at her aunt, hoping her expression shared some of her frustration.
He grinned in response as if he understood completely.
She lifted her brow in turn and had to smother a laugh when he briefly closed his eyes, feigning sleep. Then he touched his ear as if it pained him, which only made her laugh harder.
Her attention was diverted when she reached the refreshment table and selected two glasses.
Philip was now conversing with some of the other guests. Three ladies, to be specific. They were clearly sisters based on their similar looks. It took a moment for her to realize she’d seen him speaking with at least one of them at the garden party.
Disappointed not to share another smile with him, she returned to where her aunt was sitting to find her conversing with two other ladies near her age. Eliza took a seat and her aunt reached for the lemonade while still listening to the conversation.
“It was a tragedy for certain,” one lady said, her voice low.
“But His Grace has clearly kept the reputation of the family in mind based on the changes in his behavior during the past year,” the second lady added.
Eliza frowned, realizing they spoke of Philip since he was the only duke in attendance. She’d known him a long while and though she couldn’t claim a close relationship, she’d always thought him an honorable person. More than that, he was kind. What changes had he made that caught the attention of these ladies and others who liked to gossip?
“So many thought he would make a terrible duke.”
“Because he is nothing like his father or brother,” the other one added with a shake of her head.
Eliza stiffened at the insult, and it was all she could do not to protest. He might have acted much like other men his age and done more than his share of carousing, along with her brother, but that didn’t make him a bad person.
“I do hope he continues his efforts to follow in his father’s footsteps.” The two shared a pointed look.
The other lady sighed. “His brother would’ve been the perfect duke. As is so often the case with the spare, the younger brothers don’t quite come up to snuff.”
The first lady glanced to where Philip was standing. “It would be so romantic if he married one of the Graham sisters. That would silence any who questioned his behavior.”
Eliza’s heart leapt to her throat. “Who are the Graham sisters?” she asked before she could stop herself.
Aunt Frieda frowned at her, no doubt thinking it inappropriate of her to encourage gossip, but Eliza wanted to know who they were talking about.
“He’s visiting with the three sisters now. The eldest, Lady Charlotte, was betrothed to his brother. If all had gone as planned, she might be the duchess now.”
The other lady touched her friend’s arm. “Of course, it would be understandable if he chose one of her sisters instead. It is well and good to follow in your brother’s footsteps, but not too closely.”
The two shared a smile, clearly of one opinion on the matter.
Eliza looked to where Philip continued speaking with the three ladies, who were all quite beautiful with their pale hair and fine features. The idea of his future already being set was terrible. Horrible. Disheartening. Did he truly intend to marry one of them?
If so, why hadn’t Winston mentioned it? Then again, her brother wasn’t the most reliable source of information when it came to such things.
