like to convince her that he was worthy of her affections — but who was also scared. Scared of rejection, that when she learned he no longer possessed all of his faculties, she would run the other way. He wasn’t sure which was worse — the man he was before, or the man he had become.
Yet somehow he fervently hoped she accepted him all the same — which was why he had to manage this carefully.
He looked around for Caroline, hoping that she was here to defend her friend, but his sister was nowhere to be found. New worries invaded now as he wondered if she had run off somewhere with the footman.
He knew it wasn’t exactly his problem to address, but Baxter was too caught up in his own affairs while his father seemed to have dismissed the thought of Caroline becoming involved in anything more than a flirtation with a footman.
Which was a mistake. For he knew his sister, and once Caroline made up her mind about something, it was nearly impossible to dissuade her. If she thought she was in love with Thatcher, then he knew she would go to any lengths to be with him, even if it was only to prove to them all that she was serious about him.
When he stood to find her, however, he noted that now Joanna was gone as well, and he lifted his hands out to the side and then returned them in exasperation. This house party was going to drive him mad, for more reasons than one.
He turned to find Alex was standing there, drink in hand as he watched him, his expression one of both suspicion and knowing, as though he was well aware just what was bothering him.
“She just left,” Alex said dryly. “Cecily arranged for all of the women to bring her their dresses so that she could get to work.”
Elijah was already shaking his head. “That isn’t right. She’s a house guest, not a servant.”
Alex shrugged. “She is a seamstress. Cecily was right about that. And she agreed.” He eyed him with undisguised interest. “Why does it matter so much to you, anyway?”
“It doesn’t,” Elijah said, masking his concern. It was not that he cared if his brother knew he was interested in Joanna — as long as she returned his affections. If she didn’t, then he had no wish to be embarrassed by unrequited love. Not love, he corrected himself. Interest. “I actually wasn’t looking for Joanna — Miss Merryton — anyway. I was wondering where Caroline had gone off to.”
“Ah,” Alex said, looking around quizzically, “that I am not entirely sure about. I haven’t seen her in quite some time.”
“And that didn’t concern you?” Elijah lifted a brow. Why was he the only one who was worried about Caroline? He was supposed to be the one who didn’t care about anything but his own actions and how he could entertain all of those around him.
“Caroline is a grown woman,” Alex said with a shrug. “If she chooses to ruin herself with the footman, then she must suffer the consequences. She is well aware of what they are.”
“And just what would those be?” Elijah questioned. “To marry the man? Father would never agree to it.”
“Of course not,” Alex scoffed. “No, he would find some other poor sod for her, who would marry her for the family name and her dowry.”
“She would hate her life.”
“She would. But she would have chosen it.”
Elijah heaved a sigh. If he was the only one who had any particular concern about this, then he was the one who was going to have to do something about it. Lord help him.
Or… there was someone else who would care. Someone he was fairly sure he could rely on.
She was just rather busy at the moment.
Joanna was an excellent seamstress — of that, she was well aware. But even so, she pricked her finger for the second time in a matter of minutes, and she cursed before bringing it to her mouth, sucking on it to stop the bleeding.
Cecily had taken great joy last night in bringing her all of the costumes she was to create, and as Joanna had expected, there was much more work to do than a few simple alternations. Twelfth Night was not far away, but Joanna decided that if she got an early start, then hopefully she could enjoy some evenings before it would be time for the party, and then a speedy return to London.