Page 16 of The Lady No One Noticed

Her mother's words did not have the soothing effect she intended and only served to further spurn Esther in resisting.

“I am certain you both failed to notice that the Marquess of Ilenshire asked me for a dance last night. A waltz as it happens. He seemed to enjoy himself greatly and expressed an interest in seeing me again,” Esther informed them with all the haughtiness she could muster.

“Oh, Esther. You must know he only did that out of pity. I would wager that Neil put him up to it. Do not be so foolish as to think it was anything else,” Astrid laughed.

Astrid's words hit their intended mark with deadly accuracy, and Esther almost recoiled as if she had been struck. Esther was about to reply when the butler entered the room. The man must have felt the tension in the air, but he betrayed nothing.

“Excuse me, My Lady," he said, bowing respectfully to Hildred. "Lady Astrid has a caller. Should I send the gentleman in?”

“Who is it?” Astrid’s mother asked impatiently.

“The Duke of Alewood, My Lady.” The butler replied.

Astrid turned around with a huge smile and squealed like a little girl.

“Send him in right away,” Hildred ordered. Then turning to her daughters, she snapped, “I expect you both to behave like the ladies you are. No more bickering. We are being visited by a duke, for heaven's sake.”

Esther returned to her seat. She would not cause a scene in front of the duke. She strongly believed that an outsider should never see what went on in a household, even if servants tended to gossip and news spread like wildfire, which she tried her best to stop from happening too.

The Duke of Alewood entered looking as handsome as he had at the ball. He was dressed in his riding breeches, and Esther saw how Astrid beamed at him. Her mother stood up to greet him.

“Your Grace, we are so delighted to have you at our humble abode,” Hildred said with deference and a curtsey. Her mother was nothing if not gracious.

“The pleasure is mine, Lady Hathershire. Your lovely daughter enchanted me so that I simply had to pay her a visit,” Christian answered charmingly before turning to smile at Astrid, who had also stood when he entered.

“Please have a seat,” Hildred said and motioned towards the chair placed just beside Astrid. Christian sat and elegantly angled his body towards Astrid. “I shall ring for refreshments,” Hildred continued, pulling the bell. She ordered before resuming her place and indulging in conversation with Astrid and Christian.

Esther sat a little distance away and watched the trio speak about inane but socially acceptable things such as the weather and of course the ball at Willmeade Manor. Esther noticed how Astrid commented about almost every lady in attendance in a rather snide manner. She wondered how anyone could fail to see the bitterness that resided in Astrid's heart.

She was overlooked entirely. She did not attempt to contribute anything, and no one seemed inclined to include her. They were content conversing with one another and ignoring her existence. She felt more invisible than ever.

After the allotted quarter of an hour, the duke stood. “I must take my leave now, ladies, although it pains me to do so. I have taken quite enough of your time already.”

“I was delighted with your visit, Your Grace,” Astrid cooed, standing up beside him. She looked up at him with a dreamy smile.

“I look forward to seeing you again soon, Lady Astrid,” the Duke of Alewood said as he turned around to leave. Astrid and Hildred waited until the heard the front door close before they both whooped with glee.

“Didn’t I tell you he would come today, Mother? Did you see how he looked at me? I declare he is already half in love with me!” Astrid exclaimed as she perched on the edge of her seat.

Her mother laughed happily and lightly touched Astrid’s shoulder and even Esther couldn’t help but be happy for her sister. Unlike Astrid, she was not a bitter person, and no matter how troubled their relationship was, she loved her little sister. She wanted the best for Astrid, and the Duke of Alewood seemed like a decent enough gentleman. Esther was certain that he would make an excellent husband to her.

“I must tell Ingrid, Chelsea, and Susan. I will go meet them at once. They will be so envious,” Astrid said as she stood.

Astrid's hateful friends’ comments at Almack's came back to Esther, and she couldn’t help but feel her hurt all over again. She was once again upset about the fact that Astrid had refused to defend her that day, making her forget that she had just been happy for her.

Emboldened by her outburst earlier, Esther resolved to confront Astrid. “Astrid, might I have a word with you before you leave?” Esther asked as she followed her sister out of the room.

“What is it?” Astrid questioned, clearly annoyed. She stopped at the bottom of the staircase and turned to face Esther, all but tapping her foot in impatience.

Esther knew her sister viewed her as nothing more than an irritation and Astrid’s evident dislike of her steeled Esther’s resolve. This confrontation was long overdue.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Ian awoke feeling relaxed and refreshed. He had gone to bed early last night, not in the mood for White’s or any of the other entertainments he was suddenly being invited to. However, he had decided he would go to White’s in search of Jake later on; Ian wanted to thank him for his sound advice. He called for Walder and was soon dressed for the day in a beige morning coat that was tailored to perfection, brown trousers that disappeared into shining Hobbe boots, and a green waistcoat that rather reminded him of Esther’s ball gown of two nights ago.

Pleased that he looked every inch the reputable gentleman, he descended the stairs to reach the dining room, where his mother was already having breakfast. His father was nowhere in sight. The arrangement suited him since he and his father had been at odds since the ultimatum.

“Good morning, Your Grace,” Ian said formally with a playful smile on his lips. His mother looked up at his words and laughed heartily. Ian noticed she looked stunning, just as she always did.