“Yes. It seems the news Ellie got married finally reached Penporth, and he hied himself to town to confirm the news. And ah…he…well, he asked permission to court you now that Ellie is no longer available. Those were his ghastly words!”
Ester was so astonished she could only stare at her sister. “The gall of that man never ceases to amaze me!”
“Our grandaunt was here when he came by, and she…well, she encouraged Colin to accept Mr. Rundbull’s suit, saying he is a respectable prospect as he is the cousin of the squire.”
A strangled sound escaped Ester. “Of course, grandaunt would think so. Why is she so insistent on marrying us all off?”
Lady Celdon truly believed the path to rendering their family respectable was through marriage to powerful and well-reputed families. But were they not already well-positioned in theton? Ester thumped the pillow in frustration. “If I am to marry, it would not be to a creature who decided to settle for me after losing Ellie. We are bloody identical. What could he be thinking?”
Emma wrinkled her nose. “He is rather arrogant, isn’t he?”
Ester sighed, rolled over, and stared at the ceiling. “I refuse to think about that dratted man, and should he approach me, I will not hesitate to inform him of my opinions.”
“There is more. Grandaunt also informed our brother that Phoebe should come out this season. With Fanny, Ellie and Lizzy married, it is perfectly permissible. Lady Celdon said Penny is still not ready, and she is rather annoyed to be denied fun again this season.”
Ester groaned. Phoebe was one of their naughtiest sisters with her wild spirit and thirst for adventure. Ester did not think it was wise for her to be out yet. “I dare say our younger sisters can be spared our grandaunt’s matchmaking efforts. Lizzy is aduchess! Do we really need any more alliances for the foreseeable future? I dare hope Colin ignores her.”
They chatted for several more minutes before Emma went off to her room. Ester snuggled beneath the sheets, loathing that her thoughts went to Edmond Glendevon. Would he really discover that it was her who had infiltrated his domain? And if he did… what would he do?
* * *
A few hours later,Ester sat before the grand pianoforte in the music room, trying to lose herself in the solace of the music. If only she were a better player. Still, she pushed on, even when Julia lamented the soreness of her ears and fled from the room with a novel clutched to her chest.
“Ester, whatever were you thinking?” Ellie cried as she sailed through the open door of the music room.
Ester lifted her fingers from the pianoforte with a grimace. The question that had haunted her last night and filled her slumber with restlessness had been answered. “How did you discover it?”
Her sister gasped. “Is that all you have to say?”
Ester turned around and faced Eleanor, who stood with her arms folded beneath her breasts. How breathtakingly lovely her sister appeared, dressed in a high-waisted lavender gown. Her tresses were caught in a simple chignon, and many tendrils danced about her forehead and cheeks. There was a rosy glow on her cheeks, and her cobalt blue eyes glittered with secret pleasure. Finally, the ache in Ester’s heart eased, and happiness replaced it. She would soon be an aunt to her siblings’ children.
“It was necessary,” Ester said, quickly relaying the entire affair.
Ellie sat on the sofa with a groan. “You should have come to me. I would have spoken to Lucien and see if he could forgive Samuel’s debt.”
“Would Edmond have allowed it?”
Ellie bit into her bottom lip, appearing very uncertain. “I do not know, but the solution was not for you to steal into their place of business and pilfer the IOU!”
Ester frowned. “I do not regret it! It is callous business to lure gentlemen to their financial doom. Such business should not be allowed.”
“Those gentlemen you are speaking about are not children who need you to save them by stealing. Cousin Samuel should have sorted this matter himself and not risked your reputation. I will blister his ears for this,” Ellie growled. “You were reckless!”
Ester sighed. “Must we argue over spilled milk? What is done is done.”
Ellie scowled, but it did not last long. She looped her hands with Ester’s and dragged her outside into the gardens. “Promise me you will make this right with Edmond.”
“Was he considerably angry?”
“I could not tell. I did get the sense that he was relieved to discover the lady who flirted with him was not me!”
Ester flushed under her sister’s gimlet stare. “It was not intentional,” she muttered, hating the heat rushing to her face. “It…it simply happened.”
“Do you like him?”
“Likehim?” Ester gasped. “Why would you ask such a question?”
“Youareblushing,” Ellie pointed out with a decidedly mischievous smile. “And getting redder by the moment.”