In the Arms of an Earl (The Duke's Daughters Book 4)(2)
There was silence for a long time. Amelia, her hands folded in her lap, studied Harmonia for a few moments before letting out one long breath, a sad smile on her face.
“My very dear Harmonia, do you truly see yourself in such a way?”
Harmonia, who had been fighting tears, tried to look steadily at her sister. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You are so lacking in confidence that you do not see yourself as others do,” Amelia replied, still smiling at her. “You are kind and sweet and gentle, with a heart so filled with compassion and tenderness that I have often envied you. You may be quiet or feel as though you lack the ability to converse easily with others but that is not what matters, Harmonia. A character such as yours will shine through regardless of what is going on around you. A smile from you and a gentleman will be quite lost. You are beautiful, Harmonia, truly. This Season will be your time to shine forth – and a gentleman willing to pursue your heart is a gentleman who will be worthy of you. Have no fear as to your prospects, dear sister. Luke is not the gentleman for you, as you and I have discussed so many times. He does not care about your heart. He only cares about the connection he will have with the family. He wants to have that closeness to our father, for whatever reason.”
Harmonia swallowed the lump in her throat and tried to smile. “You are very kind, Amelia.”
“Every word I say is true,” Amelia promised, a gentle smile on her face. “Now, you must forget Luke entirely and, even if he does attend the same events as we do, we will not give him too much attention. He will have to understand that you are not to be his, no matter how much he pursues you.”
Harmonia nodded slowly, trying to take in all that Amelia had said. The truth was that she had never seen herself as anything other than a quiet mouse, hiding behind the rest of her sisters as though afraid of what would come to face her when it was her turn to enter society. Now, however, she was to have no choice. Amelia would be her support, her guide. She did not, at least, have to face this new world alone.
“Now, I think we must get you out of the house and into town,” Amelia said with a smile, getting to her feet and stepping out towards the door. “You will not lose your melancholy simply by sitting here and trying to gain reassurance from my words. We are to go to the shops!”
“The shops?” Harmonia echoed, almost tripping over her own feet as she hurried after Amelia. “Whatever for?”
“For gowns, of course,” Amelia replied, her eyes dancing. “We have Lord Gaynes ball tomorrow evening and I insist that you have a new gown.”
“I do not need a new gown,” Harmonia replied, following Amelia out into the hallway. “All of my gowns from last year are still quite respectable.”
Amelia turned around and took Harmonia’s hand, coming to a complete stop. “No, Harmonia, you are to have a few new gowns, I insist upon it. Some, of course, will take some time to create but there should be something that will only need a few alternations for tomorrow evening. When it was my turn to enter society, that is what I had and so the same shall be given to you. It is only fair. Besides, I think I will be able to help you find the most beautiful of gowns, ones that will ensure you are simply unable to fade into the background, as you put it."
Harmonia hesitated for a moment, before she relented. If she was to have any prospects other than Luke, then she was going to have to do her best to meet new acquaintances. She felt as though she was being selfish in having new gowns simply for herself, but she knew that Amelia would not relent. It was best just to do as her eldest sister thought best.
“Excellent,” Amelia exclaimed, turning on her heel and practically marching towards the staircase that would lead to the front door. “What you’re wearing is quite respectable, although you will need a bonnet and possibly your shawl if there is still that cool breeze. We will not require a maid since I am an old married woman now and, therefore, quite respectable enough to chaperone you.”
Harmonia, now feeling a great deal more cheerful, tied her bonnet ribbons and smiled at her sister. “Thank you, Amelia. I am feeling better already.”
Amelia smiled, looped her arm through Harmonia’s and left the house. “And it is only going to get better from here on out, I promise you,” she said, before the two sisters made their way into town.
Chapter Two
“Are you quite ready?”
Harmonia drew in a deep breath before giving Amelia a bright smile. “Yes, I think so.”
“Good,” Amelia replied, as the carriage drew up to Lord Gaynes home. It was a large, ornate building with its own large gardens both front and back. The carriage rolled through the gates and made its way up to the house, leaving Harmonia feeling more and more nervous.
“Now, if Luke is here, as you expect him to be, then I insist that you allow me to try and take his attention away from you for a time,” Amelia began, as they joined the long line of carriages letting people down one at a time in front of the house. “You told me you would not think of him in a serious manner and I must insist that you continue to think of him in that way.”
Harmonia tried to nod, her stomach roiling with a sudden nausea.
“I do know, however, that cousin Luke can be a very insistent man, so it may prove a little more difficult than I am suggesting,” Amelia continued, with a wry smile. “Do ensure that you have time away from him, time to be introduced to new acquaintances for example. You are never going to find a suitable match if you do not get yourself away from Luke, Harmonia. Do you understand?”