The girls laughed from where they were sprawled on their bellies on the carpet, playing cards and outrageously gambling with their pin money.
Ester smiled. “We should take Julia with us. It would not be fair to our youngest sister to remain in town alone to endure these endless etiquette lessons. Even if we are only going for a week, she should come. I am certain I can convince mama of it.”
“Oh, there is a God, and he is wonderful,” Julia cried dramatically from where she hovered in the doorway.
She’d only recently turned fifteen years and was already at her wits end with the rules governing conduct and decorum. Still, she was not as wild at heart as Penny or Phoebe, and Julia even seemed to take to the lessons rather well. The old dragon was inordinately proud of her.
“It is a lovely estate set on splendid grounds and a lake teeming with wildlife and fish,” Ellie said smiling. “Lucien tells me Edmond bought it from a marquis a couple of years ago. It is even grander than Colin’s country seat.”
At the sound of Edmond’s name, heat rolled through Ester and to her astonishment, she blushed. It had been almost three days since their night of untamed loving in the gardens, and the effect of it still lingered on her body. Thankfully the soreness had eased yesterday, but there were bright red marks made by his mouth on her breasts and belly.
“Are you well, Ester? You are frightfully red,” Phoebe said with a frown.
She made a sound in her throat that was noncommittal. Their attention did not linger on her, and a sigh of relief left her.
“Will the other siblings be present in Kent?” Emma asked.
Ester’s belly knotted as she anticipated the answer.
“It will only be Lucien,” Ellie said, “however, Vi promised she would visit to keep me company soon.”
The knot in Ester’s belly turned into a pang of disappointment. She had not seen Edmond since that night. The journey home could hardly be recalled, for she had spent most of it sleeping against his chest. Ester did remember laughing as he sneaked her inside and the kiss he had placed on her mouth before he slipped through the windows.
It had been achingly passionate and also tender. Then he had walked away without looking back.Do you think of me, Edmond, and what we shared?Ester silently wondered.
“Ester?”
She wrenched her thoughts from Edmond and directed her attention to Ellie, who watched her with an air of anxiety.
“Do you mind that you’ll be missing Lady Cumberland’s ball?”
Ester reached over and took her sister’s hand between hers. “Do not be silly! I am happy to accompany you for a few days. Perhaps even longer if mama will not mind so much that we are missing the season. We’ll not let you travel down alone. I shall discuss it with mama and Colin.”
Everyone started chatting and making plans for the upcoming week. Ester excused herself and went up to her chamber, where she jumped on the bed and hugged the pillow to her chest. She was barely alone when the door opened, and Penny strolled inside, worrying her bottom lip.
“Penny? Is everything well?”
Her sister hesitated before she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I would like help learning to sneak from a ball discreetly without being caught.”
Ester lurched upright. “Penny!”
She laughed, mischief twinkling her gaze. “I am quite aware each time you sneak out, Ester, and Emma too! I know Edmond Glendevon assisted you home a few nights ago.”
A wave of heat crested over Ester’s body, and her sister’s eyes widened.
“Did something scandalous happen?”
“No,” she muttered, aware of the fiery heat in her cheeks. “I will not be teaching you any such thing.”
“Come,” Penny cajoled, sauntering over to hop on the bed. “Imagine what Colin would do should he discover you came home at almost four in the morning with Edmond Glendevon.”
“You are blackmailing me?”
“Of course!”
She tossed the pillow at her sister, who caught it with a laugh. Ester took a careful breath and sat chatting with Penny long into the afternoon. While she gave her sister advice on being discreet, Ester tempered it with reminders of the lessons they had learned since their arrival in town.
A lady must never be alone with a gentleman.