“Thank you,” Lisa whispered, and listened as the maid left the room. She lay still and tried to relax into sleep, but it wasn’t as easy as she’d hoped. She was awake now, and not likely to find sleep again.

Lisa shifted from one side to the other, and then rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling, grimacing when her stomach growled. Sighing, she finally just gave up and got out of bed. She was hungry. She may as well get up and go below. The problem was she had sent Bet away.

Lisa shrugged. She could dress herself, and she’d just leave her hair down. It wasn’t like she cared to look attractive for Richard or Robert anyway.

Decision made, she walked over to kneel in front of her chest and began to sort through her gowns. After a moment, she sat back on her heels with disgust. Every single gown she owned was awash in frills and ruffles, and for some reason, she was repulsed by the overly feminine creations now. She’d always thought them pretty before, but last night at the ball she’d noticed that they seemed to make the other women look young and sweet. It was no wonder Robert had seen her that way for so long, she’d thought, and now found herself preferring a more simple arrangement with less of the ruffling.

Lisa hesitated for a moment and then lifted out a pale pink gown and eyed the ruffles narrowly. They just had to go, she decided, and grabbing a handful of the material, began to rip.

“Do you plan to go out to see the runner, or is he coming here?”

Robert chewed and swallowed the blood pudding he had just taken a bite of. “I sent my valet with a message for him to come here before I came in to breakfast. I didn’t know what your plans were for the day and thought it best not to leave the house in case you had appointments and couldn’t be here to watch Lisa.”

Richard nodded. “As it happens I do have appointments today, so that’s for the best. I—Oh good morning, Lisa.”