Eugenia watchedLord D’Asti slip out of the performance room, even as the Austrian pianist still played. Her lips twisted into a frown, and she blew out a frustrated sigh through her nose. She hadn’t meant to offend the Count. She had simply been distracted from the performance at the front of the room and making an observation, though she knew that her mother would have called it an inappropriate topic of conversation.
And what on Earth had made the poor Count frown so fiercely?
Eugenia bit her lip, even as she turned her attention back to the pianist. She was not certain what could possibly have made the Count so upset, but she hoped it was not her behaviour, and she silently resolved to find out what had made him frown so.
* * *
The next evening,as her lady’s maid and a housemaid viciously tugged on the laces of Lady Henrietta’s stays, she levelled a piercing glance at her mother through their respective reflections in the full-length mirror in her bedchamber.
“Father mentioned something about Lord Stratham again, Mother. I cannot believe that he seriously expects me to marry someone so hideously old and boring.”
Lady Middlebrook returned her daughter’s stare in the mirror.
“What do you expect me to do, dearest? Surely you do not expect me to argue with your father about it, outright? He is the head of this household, and his word is law here.”
Lady Henrietta let out an undignified snort, tossing her strawberry blonde hair in a way which made the lady’s maid who would have to tend to dressing her hair for the Ball groan under her breath.
“Tonight is Lord Page’s Ball, the last Ball before the St. Valentine’s Day Ball. Father has already mentioned that my time is running short to find an alternative match.”
“And?”
Lady Middlebrook arched a dark brow at her daughter and pursed her lips, obviously running thin on patience already.
“And this evening, at the Page Ball, will provide the best chance for me to take... drastic action before time runs out. However, I will need your assistance, Mother, if I am to successfully execute the plan I have devised. I am determined to save myself, and if you love me as a mother should love her only daughter, you will help me.”
“Although we do not always agree with one another, daughter, never question whether I love you. Of course I do.”