Page 46 of The Secret Sister

‘Or it could be that she is not happy about your plans to extend the buildings at Howick,’ Mary offered, clearly clutching at straws. ‘I suspect she will find that terribly inconvenient. Have they begun yet?’ she asked Charles.

He shrugged and shook his head.

Hannah closed her eyes and drew in a breath, as though praying for patience. ‘If,’ she said with emphasis, and opened her eyes, ‘if it pleased Mama to hear that Eliza might marry the marquess, or she was distressed at the building work, why did she write to Eliza and I at Chiswick, at Chiswick, and ask for us to return to London immediately?’ Her voice was steadily rising.

Charles groaned. ‘For heaven’s sake, stop. We will simply have to wait until she tells us. There is no point in the speculation, all you are doing is upsetting yourselves.’ He stood and straightened his cuffs. ‘Now, if you will excuse me, I have business to attend to.’

Hannah flounced out of the room before he could leave as though she were sixteen again. He closed his eyes, shook his head, and left Eliza with Mary.

‘I’m sorry,’ Eliza whispered, looking at her fingers.

‘Try not to worry,’ Mary said, reaching over to pat her hand. ‘It will all be something and nothing. You’ll see.’ Mary didn’t sound entirely convinced, and neither was Eliza.

Chapter 22

ELIZA

London

Eliza liked the Grey London house. As Charles was a politician, there always seemed to be something happening, or someone visiting. She had to admit; it was quieter than it had been when he’d been awfully important as the Foreign Secretary in the Ministry of All Talents. She smiled to herself. What a wonderful title. If she could be in government, she’d want to be called something fabulous like that. Sadly, it hadn’t lasted, and now the Whigs, and Charles, were back in opposition to the new government. For a little while, it had seemed possible that he might go back into the government when Mr Spencer Percival became Prime Minister. She’d heard her brother talking about how the Prince Regent had encouraged him to take up a position in the new administration, and how they hoped he might accept the offer Mr Percival made, but Charles had steadfastly refused, even though he said that, on a personal level, he liked the Prime Minister.

She couldn’t help but wonder if she had been a little older, perhaps when Charles was in government, and so terribly fashionable and popular, if he mightn’t have been more eager to let her have a come out.

She sighed and looked out of the window. There was still no sign of Mama. She had remained in her room all afternoon and all evening. Eliza had barely slept. The breakfast dishes had long since been cleared, and Millie reported Mama had eaten all meals in her room, including breakfast.

When she could sit alone no longer, she headed for the drawing room. Perhaps she could write a letter to Haryo. Apologise again for their abrupt departure.

She opened the door to find Mary and Charles talking quietly with Hannah. They stopped when she entered.

Eliza managed a smile. ‘I have some letters to write. Do you mind if I…’ She gestured to the small writing desk by the window.

‘Of course not,’ Mary said. ‘Be my guest.’

Eliza sat down and found some paper. She smoothed it out. Once, twice. She had been so thrilled to come to London, and only a little saddened about not having a season. Now she had a feeling that by not having a season, she really was missing out on many opportunities to find a husband. She had to remind herself that being in London, even if she was on the edges of society, was better than being at home at Howick with Mama. She sighed. She seemed doomed to spend her life forever watching from the edges.

She picked up a pen and dipped it cautiously into the ink, her mind wandering back over the conversation of the previous evening. It was entirely possible that Mama had heard that Hart might be interested in a match with her. If that was the case, she would want to manage any courtship carefully. Make sure that there could be no scandalous gossip.

Eliza began her letter to Haryo and spent a long moment trying to find the right words for her apology.

She paused and looked up again. Perhaps Mama needed to talk about a dowry for her. She presumed Charles would settle a portion on her, but she had no idea what it might be. A large portion would probably not be an issue for Hart, but it might be for others. Her mind drifted back to Robert Ellice in his fabulous military uniform. To those dark eyes and elegant hands. Would a lack of a dowry matter to him?

She cleared her throat, chased the thought away and concentrated on her letter. She was pleased when she managed a few words, but then the door to the drawing room opened, and her mother came in. Immaculately dressed as always, and chin held high. Face unreadable.

‘Mama,’ Charles said, standing to greet her. ‘Do come and join us. How lovely that you are so quickly recovered after your long journey. Would you like some tea?’

The dowager sniffed and offered her cheek. Charles replied with a dutiful kiss. She sat on a hardbacked chair, rigidly upright, and lifted her chin.

Charles sat back down with a warm smile. ‘We were just discussing what might have brought you down from Howick.’

‘Were you.’ It was a statement, not a question. ‘You imagined I would not hear?’ She looked directly at Eliza, and everyone else’s gaze followed.

Eliza withered under the weight of their combined scrutiny. ‘Mama?’ she said uncertainly.

‘Perhaps you would like to tell us exactly what you have been up to whilst you were gallivanting at Chiswick.’

Eliza flinched at the tone. She looked at Mary and Charles, but they were clearly waiting for her to reply. Hannah looked furious.

‘Forgive me, Mama, but I’m not sure what you mean. It was terribly kind of Lady Harriet to invite us…’ She jumped when her mother cut in over her.