Finding Felicity

Chapter Fifteen

Dinner was simply intolerable. That was something both Felicity and Ethan agreed on.

Grace preened and simpered and smiled ever-so-sweetly at Ethan and his family, Felicity could barely stomach her food. Ethan looked similarly uncomfortable, and several times their eyes met from opposite ends of the table, only for one of them to quickly look away again.

The Harrington’s dining room was a fairly dark affair when the heavy brocade curtains were drawn. Shadows flitted on the walls and the various jewels of the women at the table.

Once Felicity had shown Ethan up to her mini-library, which she was cautious about as she could not remember whether she had left a law tome lying on the armrest of the chair, she retired to her own room to await a maid. Since she and Grace shared a maid, it had taken more than a while for the girl to turn up.

In the end, Felicity was only left with a paltry and utterly insufficient fifteen minutes to prepare for dinner. This time her mother had not even attempted to dictate to her daughter what to wear, so whilst waiting for Jane to turn up, Felicity had taken more care than she felt she should have to select a delicate green dress with pearly beading on the skirt.

Jane had then painstakingly drawn Felicity’s hair up behind her head and threaded it into a dainty creation, leaving only a few wisps free around the front. Once Jane had left, Felicity scowled at herself in the mirror. Her hair was too fine for deliberate tendrils to be left framing her face, unlike Grace’s perfect mahogany locks. Instead, her hair was imperfect, having a mind of its own, strands escaping from the bun in a way that only looked messy.

But, it was the best she could hope for.

When the gong had rung, Felicity had taken her time walking down the stairs to the dining room. She didn’t want to bump into Ethan.

And now, they all had to put up with Grace’s ridiculous attention-seeking, whilst Felicity was ignored at her end of the table. Why would anyone want to look at her, listen to her, pay an iota of attention to her, the inferior twin, when an angel was sitting next to Ethan. It was like a ray of sun shone upon Grace, light bouncing off her and dazzling everyone around, whilst Felicity was sat shrouded in shadow. No one spared her a second glance. All eyes were on Grace.

Ignored was the best she could hope for. At least it was better than Grace’s old jibes and teasing.

Ethan, meanwhile, wasn’t faring much better. His brain had gone to sleep thanks to Grace’s nonsensical wittering about the most useless of things, and when he glanced down at Felicity he saw the well-disguised contempt on her face, but also the sadness in her wide, glassy eyes. He found it disturbing that all attention was given to Grace, when what Felicity had to say was most likely of far more value and far more stimulating.

After two painful hours, the plates were finally cleared away and the men and women split. Felicity swiftly excused herself; she had no place in the gossiping of her mother, sister and, as kind as she was, Mrs Palmer-Grey.

With tired arms, Felicity undressed herself and prepared for bed. She curled underneath the sheets and lay on her side, her hands under the pillow and her knees drawn up to her chest. As she closed her eyes, the memories of her and Ethan at Cambridge flooded her mind, juxtaposed with Grace hanging off his arm like a limpet, a smile on her face that didn’t reach her eyes.

With the dawn of a beautifully clear and sunny day, although briskly cold, it was decided that the Harringtons would take their guests out riding. As soon as Felicity heard this at breakfast, she could not help but roll her eyes and wonder how Grace would manage to take advantage of this.

Nonetheless, she was excited. As a self-confessed bluestocking, she would not be expected to enjoy outdoor pursuits such as riding, but she did. She enjoyed the freedom it gave her, and the challenge too. So as soon as she had eaten her fill, she rushed back to her room and pulled out her warmest riding habit. Glancing out of the window, she noted that she would certainly need it. The snow still lay on the ground, making the estate look serene and beautiful and innocent.