“Aye.” Elise took another sip of tea. For the first time in forever, she had a date taller than herself, one who, on occasion, even made her feel feminine.

“You’ve been home no time at all. How did you meet him?” Mother didn’t bother to hide her interest. If civilians were given patriotic medals, Mother would be first in line.

“I knew him in London.” Elise stuck as close to the truth whenever possible.

“Does this officer have a name?” Cairstine asked.

Elise delayed her answer while she did a quick mental calculation. She couldn’t remember if Harry was using an alias on this mission. “Planning to look him up?” Elise asked instead, instantly regretting her words when Mother’s lips thinned, and sudden hurt clouded Cairstine’s blue eyes. “I’ll bring him round beforehand so you can meet him,” Elise said to soften her comment.

Picking up her knife, she slathered a scone with clotted cream, then added a dab of jam.

“Who’s escorting you, Cairstine?” Elise asked when Mother appeared ready to continue her inquisition about Harry.

“Viscount Ahern,” Cairstine gushed. “He’s the dreamiest.”

Elise felt, rather than saw, Sophie stiffen. Oh dear. Sophie had fancied Viscount Ahern, the Earl of Shrewsbury’s heir, for years. She had innocently introduced Cairstine to him at a hunt ball over the holidays.

Mother fussed with her napkin, well aware of Sophie’s emotional leanings. Cairstine appeared to be the only one at the table oblivious to the situation.

Elise squeezed Sophie’s hand under the table. Sophie and Ahern had been friends for ages. Both belonged to the horsey set and spent a good deal of time mucking about racecourses and riding to hounds.

Sophie was beautiful—when she made an effort. Most days, she scraped her mass of frizzy curls into a bun and wore little to no makeup. She had done her best throughout her teens to hide her well-endowed chest by slouching and wearing oversized jumpers. Elise would give anything to be six inches shorter and not have almost every article of clothing bespoke.

Her lips curved as she sipped the last of her lukewarm tea. Viscount Ahern was in for a big surprise when Sophie showed up at the ball. The gown the dressmaker had planned for her sister suited her perfectly and accentuated all her best parts.

“Sophie, you never mentioned who you are going with.” Cairstine selected a cream puff, with the custard fairly oozing from its shell, and popped it into her mouth.

“I didn’t, did I?” Sophie added a dollop of cream to her tea.

Mother set her teacup in its saucer. “Well, don’t keep us in suspense, Sophie. Who did you ask to escort you?”

Sophie’s eyes dropped to her plate. “Zander asked me.”

Mother’s jaw dropped, and Cairstine set down a bite-sized eclair.