Margaret got word that Madame Bouchard was still in Nottinghamshire and eagerly accepted an invitation to host another gathering at the duke's estate. Apparently, she felt it was quite the honor.
Eliza begrudgingly upheld her duty as a generous host and extended invites to all of Margot's guests while only giving them two days' time to RSVP. The medium had another commitment in Scotland so the short notice would have to do. Margaret was surprised at how quickly the confirmations came in and Eliza soon found herself planning a dinner party for twenty guests. She knew her mother would be proud of her for jumping into her role so quickly, so she jotted a brief letter to send to her parents to fill them in on her first week in the country. She was also aware that she'd see them at the ball in a few days' time but wanted to tell someone of the fun she was having.
She was able to plan a simple yet satisfactory menu with Cook and told the gardener to pull displays in from the garden sans lavender. Eliza was still unable to come to appreciate the soft scent as it reminded her of a certain harlot.
The staff quickly polished the silver and decanted some of the duchess's best wine to prepare for the lady of the house's guests. Margaret encouraged Eliza to use whatever was at her disposal when she noticed the young host's timid approach of using anything belonging to the owners of the estate.
Silk and lace table clothes were aired out and soon covered the dining table and Eliza decided to host the séance in the library. She felt the massive dark room with the oversized fireplace was the perfect place to set the eerie mood.
She felt Margaret's gentle hand guiding her through the process, never stifling her ideas only encouraging them to be bolder or more lavish. She was pushing the reserved wallflower to be more vibrant in all aspects of her life. Eliza knew that if Margaret was so unapologetically outspoken that the duchess would be far more intimidating than her sister. She watched the boisterous woman in awe as she directed the staff. She was direct but never cruel, she earned the respect the entire staff gave her which is what Eliza so desperately wanted. She had begun to find her voice with Colin and she needed to extend that confidence to the rest of her life.
The morning of the party, Eliza rose before Lucy entered her room and began bathing herself. She was too anxious to have a lay about after having a restless night. Thoughts of having the attention on her made Eliza's stomach twist but imagining the unwanted raven-haired beauty in her dining room made her sickly. She had realized this gathering was a good practice run before having hundreds of people in her ballroom the following week pawing for her attention and admiration.
As Eliza was wringing water from her long, freshly washed hair, Lucy strode into her room and was surprised to see her mistress up and clean.
"My lady! Did you tell me you wished to start the day at an earlier hour?" Lucy asks as she dashes over to take the towel from Eliza's hands.
"No, no Lucy. I simply needed to stop myself from tossing and turning. I felt I should put my anxious hands to use." Lucy quickly leaves Eliza to go open the rest of the curtains blocking out the sunlight. Eliza winces as the sunshine splashed her tired eyes but her maid continues to lighten up the room.
"Your gown is to be delivered this afternoon, my lady. What do you wish to wear until then?"
"The periwinkle frock will do," Eliza answers. Lucy nods and then combs through the wardrobe to find the high-collared dress. As she shoves other dresses aside, she asks, "Are you nervous, my lady? For your first dinner party?"
While perched on the wooden chair next to her vanity, Eliza replies, "Less nervous than I was to go to the opera with Colin. More than I was for any other dinner party I attended this past year."
"What can we do to tame the butterflies? Would you like your breakfast brought up to you? Warm milk or some tea?" Lucy suggests as she drapes the dress over the dressing partition. Eliza was about to answer when a light knock on the door interrupts her. Her maid crosses the room to pull the door open a crack, trying to hide her indisposed mistress. Eliza hears Colin's voice on the other side of the wall and quickly pops up off her seat to go greet him.
"His lordship would like a word with you, my lady," Lucy reluctantly informs Eliza while darting a glance at her lack of appropriate attire. Eliza pulls the door open wider and isn't bothered a bit that her hair is a tangled mess and her robe haphazardly closed.
Colin stands in the hallway already dressed for the day in a gray wool suit, waiting near the threshold.
"My lord," Eliza says with a grin, matching the one that takes over Colin's face as he notes his fiancèe's state of undress.
"My lady. I fear duty calls me away today." He notices the sudden alarm in Eliza's eyes so he quickly adds, "I will be back before dinner starts, do not worry. However, I worry that I will not be back in time before you start dressing for the event."
"Oh? You had hoped to be present while I prepared?" Eliza coyly asks, ignoring her maid listening in behind her. Colin laughs before reaching into his coat's inner pocket.
"I had wanted to give this to you in hopes of you wearing it tonight. I hope it does not clash with the gown you had prepared." Eliza watches as he presents her with a red velvet jewelry box. Large enough to hold a necklace inside. Intrigued, Eliza plucks the box from his fingers and they both waited anxiously as her fingers lift the lid.
"Oh my!" Eliza gasps as her eyes devour the layered diamond necklace nestled inside. "This is far too lavish, Colin."
He shakes his head, "Nay. I believe it is the perfect thing for my bride to wear as a host." Her fingers run over the sparkling stones and she simply can't believe such an exquisite piece of jewelry is now hers. She was used to wearing her mother's stones but nothing in her mother's box compares to this beauty.
"It is beautiful, Colin. I have no words to accurately express my gratitude," Eliza admits, still in awe.
"I had it made right after our engagement was announced. I had thought I was going to hold onto it until next week but, I thought it might help your confidence."
Eliza grins before flitting her eyes up at him, "I must walk around draped in confidence while wearing this beauty."
"I had thought so too. You will be marvelous tonight, my love. I have every confidence in you," he says optimistically before kissing her forehead. "Now, I must be off. Duty calls."
"You're going over to the Dupree's today, yes? To poke about the pantry?"
"Yes. I will let you know if I find anything of intrigue."
"They both are to be in attendance tonight, so for the sake of my party, I do hope there is nothing to find," Eliza states, and Colin gives her a short nod in agreement.
"I love you and will see you tonight," Colin reminds her before leaving his glowing fiancèe to get ready. Eliza turns back into her room as she shuts her door and Lucy zips over to view the opulent gift.
"Oh my!" Lucy gasps as she takes the box from her mistress. "There must be fifty diamonds there!" She lifts the necklace from its clasps and they both realize there are tiny pearls creating the chain.
"I cannot imagine what his lordship paid for this," Lucy wonders. "It is truly an art piece."
"Sometimes I do not feel that I deserve him," Eliza mumbles and her heart feels like it might expand throughout her entire chest.
"You deserve happiness, my lady. And I see the way he makes you happy," Lucy says pointedly and Eliza has to turn to hide her pink cheeks. "Do not let anyone spoil this feeling tonight."
Eliza darts her eyes up to her friend before saying, "Let us hope there are no trespassers tonight. I need to be the perfect host. I need to radiate as I walk into a room. Hold my chin high and forget all those nasty whispers that follow me in those gatherings in London."
"His lordship is presenting you with a fresh start, my lady. Everyone wants to be in your good gracious here," Lucy tells her as she places the necklace back into the safety of the velvet box. "You have power now. Don't let anyone take that from you."
"True, and I'll also have Lady Henry by my side. If they don't fear me, they at least all fear her."
