In answer, Elise smiled. She’d learned long ago that most people just wanted to talkather. It didn’t make any difference what she said because they didn’t listen anyway. “Thank you for the invitation, my lady.”
A mischievous expression crossed Lady Woolfolk’s face. “We are glad you are with us. Of course, it is a pity you will not capture your duke this Season. At least, not the young one. Poor hunting for the Lanscarr sisters, eh? My friend Lady Pinwood said her daughter Alice has captured Winderton’s attention. He may soon be off the market. Perhaps you will have better luck next Season. All the young women who didn’t make a match the first time around usually do better the second time. They set their sights lower.”
Elise realized she’d been insulted. She could inform their hostess she didn’t want a duke. And how would that rumor sound?
Instead, Elise murmured something noncommittal and kept moving.
They all settled Tweedie with the other matrons and gave her a glass of orgeat. Tweedie frowned at the sweet drink but did not complain, although her gaze met Elise’s in a meaningful way. Meaningful meant she expected Elise to purloin a forbidden glass of punch, or two.
Michael turned to his wife. “Do you mind if I speak to a few people?”
“Not at all,” Dara said. “We shall be right here.”
“Here” was beside one of the room’s columns wrapped in peach-colored fabric, where they had an excellent view of the dance floor. The same fabric hung from the walls and covered chairs, although Elise doubted anyone noticed because the room was too crowded and everyone was busy trying to call attention to themselves.
Over the chatter of hundreds of guests, Lady Byrne’s voice trilled out, “Good evening, Mrs. Brogan.” She was gliding about with her daughters, Helen and Sophie, in her wake. Alongside them were two other mothers and their daughters, who Elise did not recognize.
“I see we have Miss Elise with us this evening,” Lady Byrne announced loudly. “I’m so relieved. We feared you had come down with something fatal.”
“If that was your hope, I am sorry to disappoint,” Elise said with a little smile.
Gwendolyn and Dara had to look away quickly to stifle their laughter.
Lady Byrne did not take teasing well, and shehated anyone who was a threat to her daughters’ chances of making advantageous matches. She lifted her lorgnette, a new affectation for her, and eyed Elise from top to bottom. “You are dressed like some penitent.”
Elise wanted to laugh. Her ladyship said this as if it was a bad thing to not wear jewelry. She slipped her hand around Dara’s arm and then through Gwendolyn’s. They stood as a united front. “Thank you, my lady,” Elise responded pleasantly.
Her ladyship shook her head as if Elise hadn’t known she was being insulted. And then, one of the other mothers, a woman who held her head in such a disapproving way it formed two extra chins against her neck, said to the daughters, “There is nothing like the promise of a duke’s attendance to bring out the Lanscarr sisters.”
Elise drew her sisters closer and said in the same sotto voce the woman had used, “I understand that this new duke is already promised to Lady Alice.”
“What?”Any facade of politeness vanished from Lady Byrne’s face. “I’ve heard nothing of the sort.”
“I have this intelligence from Lady Woolfolk,” Elise offered. “Perhaps you should ask her.”
Lady Byrne rounded on her friends. She whispered furiously at them and they just as furiously replied. Without a word of farewell, the lot of them dove into the crowd.
“I detest that woman,” Gwendolyn said. Dara nodded.
“She just wants to see her daughters launched,” Elise explained.
Dara looked at her. “Hello, is this Elise? You could never abide her either.”
“That was before,” Elise admitted.
“Before what?”
“I realized how silly it all is.” Her sisters looked puzzled. “We are all just trying to do the best we can,” Elise explained. “Fortunately, I have the two of you in my life and not a mother like Lady Byrne. You will love me no matter who I am.”
A looked passed between Gwendolyn and Dara. Dara said, “You’ve changed.”
“In what way?”
“You used to be overly passionate about everything.”
That was true. Elise now realized she’d been shrill and condemning, and then Kit had come along. Kit, who had listened to her. She didn’t feel so invisible with him. Consequently, she no longer strived to be understood.
“We know it wasn’t learning of Father’s deception that brought this thoughtfulness out in you,” Gwendolyn said.
