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Mary looked up, saw her, and put a hand to her mouth before holding out both hands. ‘Oh, Eliza, how lovely you look. Doesn’t she look charming, Charles?’

Eliza took Mary’s hands and squeezed them as Charles turned, and his eyes widened. For a moment, he blinked and looked truly shocked, but he gathered himself quickly and gave her a fond smile. ‘She looks magnificent,’ he declared, holding out a hand. She took it, and he bowed over her hand. ‘Simply stunning, my dear.’

Eliza flushed at the compliments and held them close to her heart.

‘By the way,’ Mary said, glancing at Eliza, ‘Lady Harriet Cavendish left a card today. We must pay them a call tomorrow. Are you acquainted?’

Eliza’s heart fluttered a little as she wondered if things could get any better. ‘I am indeed. I knew Lady Harriet, Lady Morpeth, and the Marquess of Harrington when we were children. They often visited when we were all in London. They came to see us with their mama, the duchess, until she passed a few years ago. Charles and I bumped into them in Berkley Square.’

‘They visited when you were young?’ Mary said. ‘I hadn’t realised you were acquainted.’

‘Well, not terribly often. We didn’t go to London that frequently, but when we did, they usually called.’ She smiled at the memory. ‘The duchess was always incredibly kind to me. She brought me little gifts sometimes. Poems too. I have a lovely locket that she gave me.’ Eliza sighed at the memory. ‘I used to think she was my fairy godmother when she sat me on her lap and read stories to me.’

‘How terribly kind of her,’ Mary said. Charles looked as though he might say something, but Hannah joined them and guests began arriving.

‘We brush up well, don’t we,’ Eliza said quietly to her sister, who looked lovely in a dark blue dress.

‘We do, rather,’ Hannah said after they curtseyed to the next arrivals, Mr and Mrs Tierney and their very charming daughter, who looked terribly high in the instep.

Eliza’s heart was thumping. ‘I never dreamed in a million years that I would be here in London. Thank you so much for not being cross when I arrived with Charles.’

Hannah gave her a look. ‘Why would I be cross?’

Eliza shrugged awkwardly. ‘Well, all the attention should be on you.’

‘I don’t think it will be that way,’ she murmured, shaking her head. ‘I had a season, had a truly marvellous time, and fell in love. This is more… practical,’ she said.

‘Perhaps we will both find wonderfully practical husbands.’

Hannah glanced at her and smiled.

They greeted Lord Grenville, and Eliza felt a little tongue-tied when she recalled that he had been Prime Minister only a few years ago. He bowed gallantly over her hand and enquired after Hannah’s health.

‘Oh, my…’ Eliza said, staring over Hannah’s shoulder at the next arrivals. ‘Who on earth are they?’

Hannah’s smile increased as she glanced over, then turned back to Eliza. ‘Those, my dear sister, are the brothers Ellice.’

Chapter 11

ELIZA

London

‘Good grief,’ Eliza murmured as she stared at the two men.

‘Close your mouth,’ Hannah whispered, and Eliza snapped her jaws tight shut.

The two men shook hands with Charles and bowed over Mary’s hand. The taller and broader of the two, in evening dress, was very handsome. Dark chestnut curls, a warm, charming smile, and quick to laughter. But it was the other brother that made Eliza’s breath catch. A military man in dress uniform who scowled at the room.

Hannah nudged her. ‘I feel I should tell you that I think I could grow rather fond of Edward Ellice.’

‘Oh,’ murmured Eliza, a touch disappointed, but still watching. ‘Is he the military man?’

‘No, the other.’

Something suspiciously like relief whispered through Eliza. ‘He’s very lovely,’ she murmured.

Hannah nudged her back. ‘Which one?’