Earl of Halsburg (Make Mine An Earl Series Book 4) by Anna St. Claire

Author:Anna St. Claire [St. Claire, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sassy Romances
Published: 2023-06-10T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

“This color goes fabulously with your unusual eyes, Miss Elizabeth,” Lady Hardin said, fingering the azure satin. “Madame Trousseau has a wonderful selection of fabrics.”

“I have always gravitated towards the blues and deep rose pinks, but don’t recall ever having a dress made from this color,” Elizabeth added approvingly.

“Oh, oui! I love ze color on you, Miss Rollins. It is lovely. You and your sister are so lovely,” Madame Trousseau said, walking up behind them. “If you don’t mind, I would like to help ze little sister select some fabrics.”

“Oh yes! Thank you.” Elizabeth watched the modiste take Penny aside and show her fabrics. “Thank you, Lady Hardin,” she said, facing her benefactor. “This is most generous of you and your son.”

“Pish!” She waved her hand dismissively. “Think nothing of it! Your father was my husband’s brother’s dearest friend. Edward would have insisted, Miss Rollins.”

“Please call me Elizabeth or even Liz. My friends called me Liz.”

“I have always loved the name Elizabeth, so I shall call you that,” Lady Hardin said. Her eyes narrowed slightly. “What do you mean called?”

Elizabeth sucked in her breath, feeling suddenly squeamish. She had not meant to call attention to her and Penny’s virtual isolation from their friends. “Since Papa’s death, my stepmother prefers that my friends not visit.”

“Really, Elizabeth? She said that?” Lady Hardin’s shock was clear. “But why?”

“Yes. She asked that we not have guests in the house.” Lady Hardin’s features hardened.

“Elizabeth, what about you visiting your friends?” His mother persisted. “Surely, she did not forbid that.”

Elizabeth found she liked Lady Hardin. The woman was a force—a supportive force. It was nice to have someone she could talk to again. It had been so long since she’d had someone who cared about her innermost thoughts. Father had loved her, but their relationship had been different than her mother’s relationship with her. Elizabeth had been fourteen when Mama died. Except for Jane, there had been few other females in her life. “I used to visit my friends, but when I returned, I would find my room disturbed. Things were moved. And worse, pieces of jewelry my father had given me went missing . . . little by little. They were special pieces that my mother wore every day—including Mama’s sapphire wedding ring and a gold necklace with a locket that had a small painting of her and my father on their wedding day. I suppose they were more sentimental than valuable.”

“That’s terrible. I recall seeing the locket around your mother’s neck when she visited,” Lady Hardin replied.

“Of course, I could not point fingers. When I realized it happened only when I left the house, I resolved to stay home. When her . . . irritation . . . extended to Penny, I was glad I was home to buffer Penny. Lady Rollins and I occasionally have appointments together, but when they occur, nothing is disturbed.”

Lady Hardin pursed her lips. “The intrusion into your room happened before your stepbrother moved to the household?”

“Yes, but please do not worry.

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