Through My Eyes

Chapter Three

“Eloise! Eloise! Oh, wake up, you frigid girl!!” 

I wake to Mother's disapproving voice.

I sit up in bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

“Mother.” I sigh and squint at her, “Mother, what is it? Has the house burnt down? Is everybody dead? Am I an unmarried widow? Wait a minute, it must be worse. Your dress is creased. Am I right?”

“Oh, shut your mouth, Eloise.” Mother hisses, “Why do you want to ruin this for us? Get up, quickly now. You must get dressed and be down for breakfast in no less than ten minutes. Mary, prepare her, please.” 

With that, Mother strides out of the room.

“Yes, Mistress Adeline.” Mary says, scuttling over to me timidly. I allow myself to be dragged to the dressing table.

Mary combs out the knots in my hair, “Are you feeling better today, Miss Eloise?”

I sigh, “I don't know, Mary. Before yesterday, I have never thought about not being close to Damon. He is very important to me, more important than my own mother. I simply cannot let him go.”

Mary takes the strands of hair that obscuring my face and pins them back, leaving the rest of my hair to flow down my back, “I know, dear. I know. Now, let's get you dressed.”

Mary picks out a periwinkle dress that is cinched in at the waist with some black detail and bears no sleeves. Mary helps me into my corset and tightens it at a tear-inducing rate. After helping me into my dress, Mary retrieves a lace shawl, wrapping it around me.

“To provide a little decency in case the Colleton family do not approve of this style. It is most modern.” Mary tells me as she pins the shawl to my dress with a large gemmed brooch.

“Of course, Mary.” I sigh.

Mary looks up at me and then takes my hand in hers, “I know what is going on in your mind, Miss Eloise. The honour of this house is not just yours to uphold. It is also your mother's. She has made this decision after a lot of thinking. She would not simply give you to the first bachelor who comes along.”

I nod, unconvinced, “Yes, Mary. We should go to the dining room now.”

Mary smiles gently, “Of course. Come, Miss Eloise.”

We link arms all the way to the dining room. The dining room is painted a lavish violet, with contrasting cream sofas to make up the adjoining seating room. Mother is seated at the end of the dining table, Emmanuel and his mother have taken the seats nearest to her. I take my usual seat opposite Emmanuel, refusing to meet his eye.

“Good morning, Mother.” I say, “Good morning, Lady Elizabeth.”

They both smile at me in return. Mary disappears through a door, returning moments later with a tray of extravagant breakfast. 

She is immediately at my side, buttering my crumpet with a smooth knife, “Do you require anything else?”

“No, Mary, that will be enough breakfast for me.” I say as she puts the crumpet on my plate. I take a bite, feeling the butter run down my throat pleasantly. 

Lady Elizabeth looks at me, “I trust you and my son had a good time getting to know each other yesterday?”

“The best.” I say in a monotone. I see Mother freeze with shock out of the corner of my eye. Mary nudges me imperceptibly, warning me to watch my attitude in her silent way.

“That is good to hear.” Lady Elizabeth shows her yellowing teeth in a sneer, “After breakfast, why don't you show Emmanuel your horse? The one you found in a ditch?”