Then, with unbearable audacity, he winked.
She froze. She couldn’t tell whether it was from shock, indignation… or the traitorous flutter beneath her ribs that had no place in polite company.
“Why is the Scot winking at you?” Wilhelmina whispered, leaning close to her.
Of course, her sister would notice it. Nothing could escape the girl.
“Because he’s a scoundrel, obviously. Look at him. He’d wink at any woman who looks his way,” Elizabeth said.
To her ears, she sounded convincing. Perhaps, she was internalizing their first lesson.
“I suppose that’s true,” Wilhelmina whispered back. “Though you blushed.”
“No, I didn’t,” she protested.
“Oh, yes, you did, sister. No need to hide that from me.”
Elizabeth took a deep breath and folded her hands in her lap, trying her best to school her features into a prim, proper, and perfectly serene expression.
“The duke is hardly my concern, Mina,” she said.
“Ah. Well, pity. I rather like him,” Wilhelmina rejoined, and Elizabeth suspected that she was merely arguing for the sake of doing so.
“Then you like scoundrels.”
“Only because they are more interesting and less prone to agree with just about everything society says. See Blue-Breeches from earlier? He panders to the idea that Byron is such a genius that his writing needs no improvement. Imagine that!”
Elizabeth sneaked another glance at the Duke, who seemed oblivious to her, leaning back and apparently reading the show’s program. Somehow, she knew that he was not focused on the printed text before him.
For a moment, he glanced back at her. This time, he gave her a small smile.
Not acting the scoundrel this time, she thought.
It was just enough for her to know that he was much aware of her as she was of him.
It felt oddly comforting.
Then, the long-delayed music began. She let herself be swept by the violins, harps, and pianoforte.
She sighed, but this time, it was not because of anxiety or exasperation.
Chapter Eleven
“Again, Mother?” Wilhelmina complained.
Of course, there would be no reprieve.
After the performance, Lady Grisham immediately dragged Elizabeth and Wilhelmina to a group of lords.
This time, though, Elizabeth was determined to show her what she’d learned.
“There is no time to lose, especially for Elizabeth,” Lady Grisham responded.
And for some reason, it felt easier. There was a part of her that truly believed she could do it. While she wasn’t interested in any of the lords, she could at least show them what she could now. Even though she didn’t have the opportunity to change into the type of gowns the Duke of Redmoor recommended.
“It’s getting tiring.” That was Wilhelmina again.
“What? Trying to be useful?” her mother asked harshly.