Margaret had helped Eliza with the seating arrangements so she was grateful to be seated between Margot and Colin during dinner. She was glad to have stimulating conversations instead of gagging at old men slurping their pea soup or attempting to make conversation with women about the latest gossip out of Nottinghamshire.
Eliza did notice, how kind her guests were to the newcomer and she felt far less intimidated by her surroundings as she did when she was in London. Her twenty guests included three lords and a baroness, who apparently had also seen Madame Bouchard in Paris. Margaret seemed to add her acquaintances onto the list as Eliza was unsure if Margot knew such esteemed guests. The young Whitman was ecstatic to be hosting alongside Eliza and her jittery energy stayed with her through dessert.
"Was the dinner really necessary? Could we not have just gone straight to the entertainment?" Margot jokingly asks Eliza as the Rhubarb pie was whisked away.
"Do not fret, the ghosts will be joining us shortly," Eliza mumbles back to the eager woman.
Colin leans over Eliza's right shoulder and asks Margot, "So are you one that believes in Madame Bouchard's gifts? Or are you merely entertained by the idea?"
Margot's eyes light up as she replies, "Oh, I believe she can communicate with the dead. No matter how morbid it seems."
"Morbid? Or unwise?"
"Unwise, my lord?" Margot asks Colin.
"Should we not let them rest in peace?"
Margot shakes her head, "What if they are not at peace? Like that poor Rachel, who seeks justice."
Eliza then looks to Margot as Lady Henry instructs everyone to move to the library and quietly asks, "You do not think it was Rose? The Dupree's maid."
Everyone rose from the table after Margret's announcement leaving the gossiping young girls in their seats. Colin gathers Eliza's gloved hands into his and helps her from her seat, grateful that he made it back in plenty of time for dinner. He links arms with his bride as Margot replies, "Why would one need justice for a fall? Unless she hopes the ladder be split to pieces and used for firewood." Eliza wants to mention that someone fears her death was no accident but she was unsure if Colin wants that gossiped about.
Colin must want to change the subject as he suddenly asks Eliza, "Are you hoping to hear Lady Penelope tonight? Or Master Evan? Do you have your hopes up and a stake in this?"
"I'll admit I thought of them the first time," Eliza confesses. "But, my brother passed so long ago quite a ways from here that I doubt his soul would pop up in Nottinghamshire of all places."
"Keep your mind open, Lady Winter. Who knows how powerful the French woman is," Margot says with a sly grin, wanting nothing more than to have some sort of connection to a soul that comes forth.
Everyone quiets down as they spill into the library and they find seats at the wide table that was brought in from the long gallery, covered with a navy linen tablecloth. The maids were instructed to find as many candelabras as they could to help create the spooky setting and only the candlelight lit the room. Eliza knew of several others sitting behind the bookshelf but she did not offer them up in fear of Margaret discovering their hiding place.
"This looks fantastic," Margot murmurs quietly to Eliza as she filters into the room. "Much more spacious than the Dupree's drawing room."
"Please do sit beside me," Eliza murmurs back, "I do not wish to be found next to Mr. Lipnick."
"Why is that?" Margot replies with a twinkle in her eye, "You do not find his spittle dotting your face amusing?" The women giggle and Eliza missed having a friend to laugh with. Penelope was the best at jesting at others, never missing an opportunity to point out an amusing flaw. Colin asks if Eliza's Pimm's needed refreshing and left his smiling bride at the table. Eliza also noticed the firelight causing her necklace to shine, the diamonds casting dazzling light around her. She was indeed radiating tonight.
