"That all sounds very structured," Eleanor said.
"It is necessary," he replied.
"It is dull," Lily said.
Julian exhaled, though there was no real irritation in it, only restraint.
"You have already had time outside this morning," he said. "You will not spend the entire day here."
"I will," she replied.
"You will not."
"I will if Eleanor stays."
There was a brief silence. Julian looked at his sister, then at Eleanor, as though the situation required a calculation he had not anticipated. Eleanor remained where she was, though she did wonder why Lily knew who she was. She knewhow, now that she had placed the identity of her mysterious brother, but she did not understand why he had spoken of her.
"You need not alter your plans on my account," she said. "I should not wish to disrupt your routine."
Lily turned to her at once.
"You are not a disruption."
"It appears that I am," Eleanor said gently. "Your brother seems very certain of how your day ought to proceed."
"He is always certain," Lily said.
"That is a useful quality," Eleanor replied, unsure of why she was helping such an infuriating man.
"It is not," Lily insisted. "It is very tiresome."
Eleanor’s gaze flickered briefly toward Lord Harrowby again. She did not know him well, and frankly speaking she did not particularly enjoy his company, but he was not cruel. He had not scolded Lily upon seeing her, nor had he even mentioned that she should not have been there. Perhaps they had a routine, and if that was the case then it was unfortunate but Eleanor did not want to trouble them.
Lord Harrowby regarded her steadily.
"You find this amusing, yes?"
"I find it familiar," she said. "My brother and I have had this conversation before."
He held her gaze for a moment longer, then looked back at his sister. He clearly did not want to say what he was about to, and so Eleanor knew in an instant what he was about to say. As, it appeared, did his sister.
"You have lessons this morning," he said.
"I will have them later."
"Lily, you knew that this was a part of the arrangement. You would accompany me here, and then you would continue as normal."
"But you are enjoying yourself. I should too."
There was a pause, not long, but enough to make the tension between them clear. Eleanor shifted slightly, though she did not step away.
"A small delay would do no harm," she said. "I am more than happy to accompany her, if you wish to be elsewhere."
"She requires consistency."
"And she has it," Eleanor replied. "One morning’s adjustment will not undo it."
"It is not a question of undoing it."