Chapter 3

"I adore this China porcelain set," Aunt Helen commented the following day during their afternoon tea time. "The pattern is so unique. Most have roses or some other flower, but this one has this delightful woody-looking plant. I think it's native to China."

"Papa always had a good eye for gifts," said Eleanor. "He bought that on my fourteenth birthday."

It was also the last year she spent her birthday with them. Her parents had passed away several months later while on their way home from the Theater Royal after their carriage lost balance on a dark and rainy night. No one had seen it coming. Eleanor's parents had loved going to the theater and passed that love down to her. That tragic night had been like any other night, except the sudden downpour of rain caused a lot of mud and unsafe roads that claimed the lives of three other couples besides her parents.

"My brother was a fashionable man," Aunt Helen said affectionately. "Our father was always worried he would turn into a dandy, but my brother knew just the right balance between being fashionable and manly."

Eleanor laughed. "I recall how Mama used to have a little show where she would parade all her new dresses before him. She would do her hair, wear jewelry as though she were going somewhere, and change her accessories according to the gown. Papa was not only patient, but he loved it."

"He loved it because he loved her," said Aunt Helen. "They truly had a special bond. I was always rather envious of them. I certainly loved my husband, but your parents had something so unique that not many people see it in their lifetime."

"What was that?" Eleanor asked.

"Twin souls," Aunt Helen replied. "Sometimes, a special soul is divided into two parts. The people who get them are destined to be great friends or lovers. When these twin souls meet and acknowledge their unmistakable bond, they meld together and become one."

Eleanor imagined two distinct wisps of energy combining to create a pulsing, vibrating, and beautiful ball of life. The thought warmed her heart and made her yearn for a soulmate. Unfortunately, such things were unattainable for people like her. The world wasn't very kind to plain-looking people.

"Can those souls have full lives without ever finding each other?" she asked.

Aunt Helen shook her head. "They are always destined to find each other in every life."

"That doesn't sound fair for the rest of the regular souls," Eleanor said, frowning. "I suppose all these souls are beautiful."

"Not necessarily, but they are beautiful to each other," said Aunt Helen.

"Did I perhaps build up some debt in my previous lives?" Eleanor asked.

"We're Christian, dear," her aunt reminded her. "We do not have past lives. Once we die, we go to heaven or hell."

"That doesn't sound fair for those who are not Christian," said Eleanor. "So, everyone else goes to hell?"

Aunt Helen laughed. "Dear, have you forgotten all your Bible lessons? Some have the law written upon their hearts without ever having heard of our Lord. Do you think God is so terrible that He would send people to hell simply because they had never heard the Gospel? He is a merciful God."

Eleanor snorted. "So merciful that my parents died, I was born unfortunate-looking, and I'm a woman in a society that licks the boots of men."

"What is that about licking the boots of men?" her brother asked as he walked into the parlor. "I always seem to walk into your interesting conversations. The last conversation I walked into was about using pineapples to soften meat."

"It makes sense, doesn't it?" said Eleanor. "I always feel like the pineapple is eating the inside of my mouth, making the tip of my tongue tender. If we can cut down the cooking process of some meat while giving it an exotic flavor, I do not see the problem with using the pineapple in this manner."

Grant took a seat in the armchair Aunt Helen had vacated moments earlier. He was about to put his feet on the table when he caught their aunt's stern glare. He sheepishly lowered his legs and reached for a biscuit instead.

"Good luck with convincing our chefs to use pineapple in a capacity beyond dessert," he said. "They're not open to suggestions. It's what one gets for hiring French chefs. I heard them arguing the other day about parmesan ice and the right amount of sugar and cream."

Eleanor grimaced. "I've told them to stop making it," she said. "They should stick to fruit-based ices."

"I wholeheartedly agree," said Aunt Helen. "I think we've been too lenient with them. It's one thing to give them creative allowance, but quite another to make things we do not like. Eleanor dear, this is your matter to address. Prove I have taught you well by handling the chefs. You will have to handle your own household one day."

Eleanor's face fell. She lowered her head and drank her tea to hide her expression. While she loved her aunt's optimism, it was also chipping away at her resolve to accept she would never find the right suitor. She would either be forced to marry someone who would abuse her dowry and spirit or become a spinster. Spinsterhood didn't seem so terrible, but her aunt and brother would not hear of it. To them, it was a leprous relative wanted to see.

"Eleanor would first have to attract suitors, Aunt Helen," said Grant around a mouthful of biscuit.

"Chew and swallow," Aunt Helen chided. "You're twenty-eight, dear, not five. You should know better."

Two spots of color appeared on his high cheekbones. "How is it that you can make me feel like a little boy within seconds?"

Aunt Helen smirked. "Experience, dear boy. Experience." She sipped her tea, a knowing glint appearing in her eyes. "Tell me, why did I see a new horse in the stables despite your promise not to buy another until next year? We're running out of space to house all our horses. You could set up your own residence at one of your properties and house your horses there instead."

Eleanor smiled. Her aunt had been trying for months to get Grant to move into his own residence. She felt that since he was a bachelor who kept all sorts of hours, he needed a home to suit his current life. Eleanor disagreed. Balfour Manor was their family home; she couldn't imagine having her brother anywhere else. However, she would likely have to move once Grant was married. She couldn't imagine a woman who would want her sister-in-law under the same roof.

Aunt Helen would likely return to her home and ask Eleanor to live with her until she was married. Their aunt had been living with them since their parents' deaths and running both households relatively smoothly.

"I prefer living with the two most important women in my life," said Grant. "You know that, Aunt Helen."

"Yes, but you must hanker after your own space without women sometimes," Aunt Helen insisted.

"No, not particularly," he replied. "Besides, who would protect you? And I can hardly leave before Eleanor is married." He glanced at the clock on the wall behind Eleanor and frowned. "Is it that time already? I have somewhere to be in half an hour, but I can squeeze in a cup of tea before I leave."

Grant was always busy. Being the Marquess of Egerton carried many responsibilities he managed well, but it kept him running around to ensure their family's legacy remained strong. They had estates all over the country with many tenants and servants and even investments in several businesses.

"I'll pour you some tea," said Eleanor, rising to her feet.

She did a little kick as she stood up, which raised her dress a little. It was enough to reveal she wasn't wearing shoes and stockings. Eleanor groaned with a heavy sigh. She had forgotten her naked feet and legs and would surely never hear the end of it. Aunt Helen hadn't noticed between wanting to comfort Eleanor and getting a fresh tea tray, so she thought she had gotten away with it.

"Eleanor!" her aunt cried. "Your legs are bare! And in the middle of the day, too!"

"What if I'd brought a gentleman with me?" Grant asked, shaking his head. "What would people say if they saw my sister's ankles? Are you trying to never walk down the aisle in this lifetime?"

Eleanor shrugged her shoulders. "I was feeling hot, and the stockings made me sweat," she explained. "I took my shoes off to be more comfortable while reading."

"This reading nonsense again," said Grant. "Yesterday, you spent at least half of the day reading when you could have gone walking, perhaps met with Lady Julia, or met new people. How do you expect to find a husband if you spend your days in the house? It's frustrating enough that you avoid social engagements like the plague, but I really must put my foot down at some point."

Eleanor's shoulders hunched as she poured her brother's tea. Grant didn't understand that she didn't feel comfortable with the kind of people he believed she should befriend. The only exception was Lady Julia Huxley, her best friend. Julia was everything Eleanor wasn't—beautiful, tall, slender, and the perfect lady. Everyone loved her and probably questioned why a woman like her was friends with Eleanor.

"Grant, dear, Eleanor and I already had a discussion about marriage," said Aunt Helen. "Let's not trouble her any further about it today."

"Did she listen or give excuses about why she cannot get married?" Grant asked. "You're twenty-three now, Eleanor. You have to do more. You cannot expect a gentleman to suddenly come calling when you keep to the house."

"She knows this, Grant," their aunt said soothingly.

Grant's voice had risen slightly, and his hands were moving. He was sincerely terrified his sister would end up alone, but Eleanor wished he would understand that being a spinster was so terrible. If he could just accept the fact that no one wanted to marry her, and she wasn't willing to marry someone who just wanted her dowry, then they could be happy.

"There is a difference between knowing and doing," said Grant. "Knowing is useless without action, which is why both of you should get ready for this evening."

Eleanor's back straightened. "Why?"

"Obviously, we are going out for the evening," he said.

If she barely left the house during the day, then she rarely left it during the evening unless there was a social engagement she couldn't miss. Since she couldn't recall receiving an invitation to go anywhere, she didn't understand why she needed to get ready. Unless he had prepared something. A knot immediately appeared in her belly, twisting and coiling almost painfully. Eleanor hated last-minute plans.

"Yes, I understand that bit," said Aunt Helen. "But I need to know where we're going if we are to dress appropriately."

"The Theater Royal," Grant revealed. "I secured our box for this evening. I thought Eleanor might enjoy that."

Their family had a box at the theater and often rented it to others when they didn't need it. Eleanor heard they were showing A Midsummer Night's Dream and mentioned wanting to go. She had loved the theater from the moment her parents took her to watch a play when she was much younger. Watching a play at least once a month became a family tradition, but that fizzled after her parents' deaths.

"I should ask Ashley to prepare my attire," said Eleanor.

"Perhaps leave that to me, dear," her aunt said, patting her hand. "Who knows what wonderful man you might meet?"

Eleanor was tempted to roll her eyes. Wonderful men didn't exist—not for her. However, she had no patience for arguing with her aunt about attire.

"Very well," Eleanor replied. "You can select my gown for the evening."

It wasn't like anyone was going to look at her, anyway.