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‘But I…’
‘Don’t deny it. Everyone at Chiswick was talking about it all the time. You used this visit as a blatant opportunity to cosy up to the Marquess, and now we will both pay for it.’
Eliza’s insides quailed. ‘Mama will not be angry with you, Hannah. You have done nothing wrong. If she is angry, it will be with me.’
‘Then why did she demand that we both return?’
Eliza glanced at her sister’s icy countenance as the carriage drew to a halt outside the front door of Portman House and swallowed.
Eliza took a breath as the door to the house opened and they went inside. She almost expected Mama to pounce on them the moment they removed their coats. She was relieved when Mary greeted them and ushered them into the drawing room for tea. Charles joined them shortly after and the four sat holding cups and saucers, looking at each other.
‘Will Mama be joining us?’ Hannah asked, voice brittle.
Mary put her cup down with a shake of her head. ‘I’m afraid the journey rather exhausted Mama. She is resting and taking her meals in her room today.’
Eliza couldn’t decide if it was a reprieve, or some peculiar form of torture. Knowing Mama, it was probably the latter.
‘Has she said what made her make the journey down?’ Hannah said, clutching her cup and saucer. ‘Why would she come all this way?’
Charles frowned. ‘No, and she is being rather mysterious.’
‘My love, your mother is never mysterious. She is almost unbearably to the point,’ Mary said.
Charles nodded as he sipped his tea. ‘I daresay we will find out when she emerges from her room.’ He fixed his sisters with a quelling look. ‘Have either of you anything that you need to tell me about your visit to Chiswick? Anything that would inspire mother to make an uncomfortable, week-long journey to London?’
Hannah stiffened as Eliza shook her head.
‘Any unsuitable suitors? Any offers of marriage you have declined to mention?’
Hannah put her cup down in a precise movement. She adjusted the handle to exactly the right angle. ‘Perhaps she has heard of Eliza’s conduct with the Marquess of Hartington.’
Charles and Mary turned to her. ‘Conduct?’ Mary said.
‘There was nothing improper,’ Eliza said. ‘Hart was just being kind. He’s my friend.’
‘Hart?’ Mary’s eyebrows had risen considerably, along with her tone at Eliza’s use of his family nickname.
Eliza put her fingertips to her forehead and tried to think. ‘We were friends as children, and I always called him Hart then. I apologise for my informality.’
Hannah sniffed. ‘Well, Lady Harriet dropped any number of hints that the Marquess is unattached, and you did spend an inordinate amount of time with him.’
Eliza looked at her sister with a frown. Was Hannah jealous? She didn’t know what to say.
Charles paused with his cup halfway to his mouth, then took a sip. ‘Heavens, Eliza. You are aiming high.’
‘I’m not aiming anywhere,’ Eliza said, annoyed at the edge of desperation she heard in her voice. ‘We simply rekindled our friendship from years ago. He’s not much older than me and seems to see me as an honorary sister. I’m sure he has no intentions towards me. He is far too young to be considering marriage.’
‘But you would not refuse an offer should one be forthcoming, particularly as you bored everyone to death with your sorrows at not being presented,’ Hannah snapped, her voice rising.
‘Hannah, I…’ She had no idea what to say. She had not said a word to anyone, and Hannah’s accusations seemed grossly unfair.
A small silence ensued until Mary twitched a shoulder in a small shrug and pulled her shawl closer as she regarded her husband. ‘Well, the prospect of having a daughter marry into the Cavendish family might have been enough to remove your mother from Howick. I imagine a union between our families would be more than welcome. Perhaps she has come to lend her support?’
Charles opened his mouth and shut it again to give the matter some thought. ‘It’s possible,’ he said, inspecting the interior of his teacup.
Mary nodded and shrugged. ‘So, she might be pleased…?’
Charles sipped his tea, wearing his politician’s face.
