Behind the Mask (House of Lords) by Brooke Meg

Author:Brooke, Meg [Brooke, Meg]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-05-24T22:00:00+00:00

SIXTEEN

“Mother, are you sure this is a good idea?” Eleanor asked as the carriage rolled down the drive towards Havenhall. She wrung her hands and stared out the window as the red brick facade drew nearer.

“Bess Hollier and I have been friends for thirty years, Eleanor. She has known you since you were born. She would be deeply hurt not to see you married,” her mother said, her tone implying that any further argument would prove fruitless.

Still, Eleanor could not resist adding, “Even if it is not to her son?”

Lady Sidney sighed. “I made the right choice then, Eleanor, much though it hurt me to do so. Toby Hollier was in no position to support a wife and family, and it would have been irresponsible of me to allow you to enter an engagement that might carry on for years with a man five years older than you.”

Eleanor did not bother to argue that there was more than a five year age difference between her and Colin. She did not wish her mother to think that she was unhappy to be marrying him tomorrow. It would only make an already fraught situation more stressful, and there was still the princess’s visit to be survived, both literally and figuratively.

The carriage slowed and then stopped outside the front door. A footman came to show them in, and then the Holliers’ housekeeper led them into the drawing room, where Mrs. Hollier was waiting. The woman stood eagerly and smiled warmly at her guests, and Eleanor felt a sudden twinge of regret for what her mother was about to do. There was no way to stop it, of course—despite the fact that she detested parties and balls and the other trappings of society, Lady Sidney was not above subscribing to social conventions, and Eleanor knew that it had rankled to see Mrs. Hollier’s two daughters married before her own, for all that Grace and Anna were six and three years older than Eleanor. Still, Eleanor was also aware that Mrs. Hollier’s chief ambitions had not been for her daughters but for her son, whom she had hoped to see married to one of the daughters of her old friend. Five years ago it had been his lack of fortune that had thwarted those dreams. Now they would never come true.

“Lydia,” Mrs. Hollier said, holding out her hand. Eleanor’s mother took it. “And Eleanor. How good it is to see you both so soon. But I hope your visit does not interrupt the preparations?”

“No, indeed,” Lady Sidney said. “In fact, we came with some exciting news.”

“Oh?” Mrs. Hollier said, gesturing gracefully to the sofa. Eleanor sat beside her mother. Tea was called for.

“There is to be a wedding at Sidney Park at last,” Eleanor’s mother said after everything had been settled.

“Lord Sidney?” Mrs. Hollier asked.

“No, dear: Eleanor! Lord Pierce has asked for her hand!”

To Mrs. Hollier’s credit, she only lost her composure for the barest second. Then her face broke into a beatific smile. “Oh, Eleanor! How lovely.

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