Lord Henry hadn’t returned by Thursday afternoon when Flora and I went to visit Lady Elinor. Daylight made a remarkable change to her room. It had seemed cavernous at night, but with the late-afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows the room was cheerful. Flora gave her aunt an obligatory greeting, but Elinor’s focus was on me. “It is so good of you to come, Verity,” she said. She bade us be seated, and servants brought an elaborate tea, with sandwiches, scones, and cakes. “I’m sure I’m ruining your dinner, but you dine so early. I refuse to adjust my schedule merely because Henry prefers to keep country hours. Verity, you may pour.”

While I poured and passed around teacups, Elinor said, “I understand from my father that I knew your parents, Verity. I remember your mother. I was just a child then, and I’d lost my mother a few years earlier. I was quite the little duckling, following around anyone I thought might make a good replacement, and I attached myself to yours. I am truly sorry for your loss. You were very fortunate to have her.”

“Yes, I was,” I said.

“But enough of that! We have a book to discuss. Flora dearest, what did you think of it?”

“I thought it was preposterous,” Flora said with a sniff. “No magister is going to marry the governess.” She said the last word with a sneer and a pointed glance at me.

“But it was implied that Jane was from a magister family,” Elinor said. “She’d merely been sent away to an ordinary school by her uncaring aunt.”

“But if she had powers, why would she be working as a governess?” Flora asked.

Elinor smiled and said, “Not all magisters are as wealthy as we are, but perhaps I was letting my imagination run away with me. Being a governess must not be nearly as romantic as it is in novels, is it, Verity?”

Before I could respond, Flora rolled her eyes and said, “She works for Henry. Even if she were a magister, that wouldn’t be at all romantic.”

“Henry isn’t that bad, though I will agree that he’s not exactly a romantic hero,” Elinor said with a laugh.

Without thinking, I leaped to his defense, blurting, “I could imagine him being quite dashing, under the right circumstances.” They both stared at me, and I felt my face flaming. No matter what I said, my blush would make it sound like a weak denial of true feelings, and I didn’t dare give the real reason I knew Henry wasn’t as boring as they thought. Flora’s glare chilled me, but Elinor gave me a little smile before putting the book aside and saying, “Enough about the book. We should discuss the truly important topics. There’s to be a ball!”

“A ball?” Flora said, her eyes lighting up as she completely forgot about me.