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‘How are you feeling?’ she asked, coming to stand behind her and looking at her in the mirror.

‘I’m fine. A little anxious, but I’m sure everything will go well.’

Hannah put a hand on her shoulder. ‘Robert will be back, I’m sure of it.’

‘We are just friends at the moment. I don’t want to…’

Hannah pulled up a chair and sat beside her in the cool morning light. ‘He’s very much a man of his word. If he said he will be back, you can count on his return.’

Eliza nodded. That was her impression of him, too. ‘He likes Scarborough. Do you remember the summer we spent there?’

‘I do. The castle on the cliff had you completely entranced.’

‘Of course it did,’ Eliza protested. ‘Who would not be entranced by a magnificent castle high on a cliff looking out to sea?’

‘Me?’ Hannah laughed and Eliza laughed with her.

‘You have no soul,’ she said, nudging her sister with her shoulder.

She closed her eyes as her mind turned inevitably to Robert. Her beautiful soldier, who was not looking for a match, whose tender heart, battered by life, he kept hidden away. It was her great fear that he might keep it locked away forever. She was not sure what she would do if that happened.

But then he was also the man who had kissed her silly. Wrote her beautiful letters.

She shivered at the memory of being held so tightly, the feel of his lips against hers, the soft warmth of his breath, and how wonderful the scent of him was when she was so close to him.

Another tap on the door announced Millie. Hannah stood, squeezed her shoulders, and left.

‘Heavens, miss,’ Millie said with a laugh, bustling about the room, placing hot water and towels by the ewer, and filling the room full of warmth just with her presence. ‘You look like you slept in a haystack, fighting a weasel!’

Eliza burst out laughing. Millie always had the knack of pulling her from the dismals. ‘I know.’

‘Worry not, we will have you looking perfect in no time. You should only have a couple of morning calls today. You need to rest so you are sparkling and beautiful for your ball.’

Eliza nodded.

Millie paused and looked at her in the mirror. ‘He’ll be back.’

‘You sound very sure.’

Millie just tapped the side of her nose. ‘I know things,’ she said as she picked up the hairbrush and began unbraiding Eliza’s hair. Eliza closed her eyes and enjoyed having her hair brushed. It had all sounded so simple. Go to London and find a husband. Finding husbands, she had discovered, was not like going and buying a hat. Men were exceedingly complicated creatures and needed handling with the utmost care.

Chapter 43

ELIZA

London

By the time evening came around, and the house was filling rapidly with guests, Eliza was wondering if a come-out ball had been a mistake. She had survived the presentation because she was just one of many with but a few moments in front of the Queen. The come-out ball focused on her and her alone. Eliza was simply not used to being the centre of everyone’s attention. She was more familiar with being on the margins of society. She was finding it more than a little disconcerting.

Hannah and Edward’s betrothal had taken some of the attention recently, but as she faced the ever-growing number of people in the house, the interest in her, the scrutiny and sideways looks, she wished she could retreat to the margins. The margins, she was realising, were safer.

Portland House had never looked so gorgeous. So many candles, with garlands and flowers in every room. The house shone, every inch having been polished until it gleamed, and it was now filled with the beautiful people of the Ton.

Charles appeared at her side, and for once, she was enormously grateful for his presence. He took her hand and tucked it into his arm.

‘Worry not,’ he said softly. ‘It will be a stellar night, and you will be every inch the star.’

‘That’s what I’m worried about,’ she whispered, leaning towards him. ‘Everyone is looking at me, and more to the point, discussing me.’