A Change of Fortune

by Jen Turano

  He found himself trailing after everyone down the hallway, gritting his teeth when Eliza’s laughter trailed back to him.

  Apparently, she wasn’t annoyed with Zayne.

  “. . . have the tongues wagging tonight,” Zayne finished saying.

  Hamilton ran into the back of his brother as Eliza suddenly stopped in her tracks and turned a glare on him. He blinked. Why was she glaring at him? He hadn’t said a word.

  “Why will there be tongues wagging?” she demanded.

  He looked at his brother. “Yes, Zayne, why will there be tongues wagging?”

  “New York isn’t accustomed to receiving English aristocrats on a regular basis,” Zayne replied.

  Hamilton shot a glance to his mother and found her muttering furiously under her breath even as she glared at Zayne. She drew in a deep breath, blew it out, and then directed a somewhat weak smile at Eliza, who was standing there with her mouth hanging open.

  Hamilton held his breath, knowing disaster was imminent.

  “How, may I ask, would anyone know I’m a member of the aristocracy?” Eliza asked in a voice Hamilton had never heard before. It was somewhat haughty and had a nasal tone to it that gave credence to the fact that Eliza was, indeed, an aristocrat.

  He didn’t particularly like that voice.

  Gloria moved to Eliza’s side and patted her arm. “Now, there’s no need for alarm, dear, but you see, I thought it would be in your best interest if everyone knew exactly who you truly are, so . . . I let Mrs. Murdock know she’d be entertaining Lady Eliza Sumner.”

  Eliza squared her shoulders, and Hamilton thought she was going to start yelling, but instead, she lifted her nose, turned on her heel, and began walking back down the hallway.

  “I’m not going,” she said over her shoulder.

  “Go after her,” Gloria hissed under her breath.

  “Not on your life,” Hamilton hissed right back. “I’m not the one who let the cat out of the bag.”

  Gloria released a dramatic sigh and stomped after Eliza. Hamilton found himself walking behind her, not really certain why, but unable to help himself.

  “You’re overreacting,” Gloria said.

  Eliza turned. “I didn’t agree to attend this ball as Lady Eliza.”

  “But, my dear, that’s who you are, and it’s ridiculous for you to continue hiding from that fact.”

  Eliza shook her head, causing a riot of curls to tumble around her face, her appearance at distinct odds with her refusal to admit she was indeed Lady Eliza Sumner and no simple Miss. “Not in this country. You know perfectly well I’m trying to remain inconspicuous, and there’s no possible way that will happen if I attend the ball as an aristocrat.”

  “It’s not as if you could remain inconspicuous forever,” Gloria argued. “You have a demeanor about you which screams the fact that you’ve led a life of privilege. Besides, talk was already swirling around town.”

  “I think I’ve just been insulted,” Eliza said with a sniff before her eyes narrowed. “What talk?”

  “Come now, Eliza, you’ve visited practically every store in New York with me. People were bound to notice,” Gloria said.

  “I wore a hat.”

  “Honestly, a woman as beautiful as you can hardly hide beneath a measly old hat. You have an inherent grace about you which draws attention.”

  “I’m sure I should thank you for your compliment, but I don’t think I have it in me at the moment.” She turned to Hamilton. “Did you know about this?”

  “I swear I did not. If I’d known what my mother intended, I would have attempted to dissuade her.”

  “Traitor,” Gloria muttered.

  “Now Mr. Hayes is certain to discover I’m in town,” Eliza said, her shoulders slumping, which caused Hamilton to move to her side and take her hand in his, ignoring the hiss she emitted.

  “Eliza, Theodore is working diligently on the case, and I have to assume it will not be long until he is able to bring Mr. Hayes to justice,” Hamilton said.

  “What if he flees to escape prosecution?”

  “From what we’ve learned of the man thus far, he’s hardly likely to abandon his newfound status without a fight,” Hamilton said.

  “Are we willing to chance that?” Eliza shot back.

  Gloria heaved a sigh. “It’s not as if we have any choice in the matter now, dear. I’m certain Mrs. Murdock has already informed her many guests of your expected arrival.”

  “So what you’re suggesting is that I really have no option other than to attend the ball,” Eliza grouched.

  “I’m afraid so,” Gloria muttered, although she looked anything but contrite.

  Hamilton offered Eliza his arm and then was forced to exert a touch of pressure to prod her back down the hallway and out the door. He helped her into the carriage and turned to his mother, not surprised in the least when his mother took the seat opposite Eliza and demanded Zayne sit next to her. This left him no choice but to sit by Eliza, his lips twitching when she began inching away from him.

  She seemed to make a habit of doing that.

  An uneasy silence filled the carriage as Eliza spent the ride glaring at his mother, then him, then Zayne, and then back at his mother, all the while repeatedly smoothing her gown down.

  A trace of disgust washed over him.

  She was nervous, and he’d neglected to do anything to calm her nerves. He cleared his throat, drawing her attention away from Zayne, who was the current victim of one of her glares. He caught Zayne’s relieved smile, sent him a brief nod, and turned back to Eliza.

  “You mustn’t worry about the ball, Eliza,” he began. “You’re certain to receive a warm welcome there.”

  Eliza’s hands stilled. “I’m not nervous, Hamilton, I’m annoyed; there’s a difference. I was presented at court when I made my debut, and honestly, after surviving that, a ball doesn’t faze me in the least.”

  “You were presented to the queen?” Hamilton asked.

  “Queen Victoria was very gracious, if a bit intimidating. After you’ve been presented to a queen, everything that comes after pales in comparison.”

  Who was this woman?

  Hamilton forced a smile before he turned to look out the window. He didn’t notice all the sights rumbling by him as he sat lost in thought, wondering why the knowledge Eliza had obviously lived an indulgent life rankled.

  Why hadn’t she mentioned she’d met Queen Victoria?

  What else had she neglected to mention?

  Mary Ellen had been a master at concealing things. Did the two women share something in common?

  That thought had doubt niggling through him. He’d sworn he would never become involved with a woman who had secrets, and yet, here he was, unable to help himself in regard to Eliza.

  “Ah, we’ve arrived at the Watsons’,” Zayne declared. “Shall I go fetch Agatha?”

  “We’ll both go,” Gloria said. “By the enthusiastic response I received from Mrs. Watson, I’m afraid the woman is still hopeful of a match with either you or Hamilton; I don’t believe she cares which one.”

  “That’s a bit insulting,” Zayne remarked.

  “If you’re fortunate to have daughters of your own someday, dear, you’ll come to understand Mrs. Watson’s reasoning. You know how I fret about Arabella’s future, and poor Mrs. Watson has three daughters to see settled. It’s no wonder she’s desperate. The eldest Miss Watson is not getting any younger.”

  “Don’t let Agatha hear you say that,” Zayne muttered as he offered his mother a hand and helped her out of the carriage.

  Hamilton turned his head and found Eliza watching him. He tried for a smile, but realized he’d failed miserably when she rolled her eyes.

  “Judging from your expression, I would have to assume something I said bothered you,” she said.

  “You never told me you were presented to the queen.”

  “I didn’t know it was a matter of great importance.”

  “What else have you n
eglected to tell me?”

  “How in the world do you expect me to answer that?” she asked.

  “You have withheld pertinent information from me regarding your life.”

  “Being presented to the queen when I was all of sixteen years old was not overly pertinent,” Eliza said. “Every young lady who has a social standing in society is presented at court.”

  “I had no way of knowing that.”

  “You could have simply asked instead of behaving in such a boorish manner.”

  “I’m hardly boorish.”

  “Brooding, then.”

  “Am I interrupting?” Agatha questioned as the door to the carriage opened and she struggled in, the extensive bustle attached to her dress almost knocking Hamilton from his seat as she turned and plopped down on the other side.

  “We should have brought a larger carriage,” Zayne said as he steadied Agatha, who was listing to the side, and then turned to help his mother into her seat, eyeing the remaining space skeptically.

  “Here, sit between us,” Gloria instructed. “We’ll use you for extra support.”

  Zayne heaved a sigh and maneuvered his large frame between the two ladies.

  “Comfy?” Hamilton asked.

  Zayne raised a brow, but refrained from replying when the carriage lurched forward and Agatha fell into his lap.

  Hamilton grinned and watched his brother push Agatha back into a sitting position, but his grin disappeared when Agatha opened her mouth.

  “Was someone saying something about brooding?”

  “Who’s brooding?” Gloria inquired.

  “If I were to hazard a guess, I would say your son,” Agatha said.

  “Hamilton?”

  “Of course,” Agatha replied. “Zayne doesn’t have the propensity to brood.” She turned her attention to Eliza. “I did warn you about this when we first became acquainted. I distinctly recall mentioning Hamilton’s brooding nature.”

  “Why were the two of you discussing my brooding nature?” Hamilton asked, curious in spite of himself.

  “Never mind that,” Agatha said quickly when Eliza began sputtering. “I believe we were discussing why you’re brooding at the moment.” She frowned at Eliza. “Did you do something to him?”

  “From what I can discern, Hamilton is brooding because I neglected to mention to him the fact that I was presented to the queen, but honestly, I don’t understand why he got all huffy about that. If anyone has a right to be huffy at the moment, it’s me.”

  “Because . . . ?” Agatha asked.

  “It’s my fault,” Gloria said, speaking up. “I revealed Eliza’s true identity to Mrs. Murdock.”

  Hamilton bit back a groan when Agatha sucked in a sharp breath. “Good heavens, Mrs. Beckett, do you think that was wise? You know how Mrs. Murdock loves to gossip.”

  “That was exactly the point I was trying to make,” Eliza said. “Well, not about the gossiping business, seeing as how I’ve never met Mrs. Murdock before, but I’m concerned that after tonight, everyone will know who I am, including Bartholomew Hayes.”

  Agatha looked out the window and then back to Eliza. “Well, it’s too late to do anything about it now. We’re here.”

  The carriage rolled to a stop and Hamilton got out first, helping his mother, Agatha, and then Eliza down before exchanging a telling glance with Zayne.

  “You think she’ll be all right?” Zayne whispered with a nod in Eliza’s direction.

  Hamilton looked to Eliza, who was tilting her chin in that unfamiliar haughty manner. “I think Eliza is more than accustomed to this type of setting.”

  “And that bothers you,” Zayne said.

  Hamilton ignored the remark and moved to Eliza’s side, surprised when she accepted his arm. He nudged her up the walk, until they came to a stop at the end of a very long line of guests waiting to make their entrance.

  “I’ll be right back,” Gloria said before she strode away, dodging the guests and soon disappearing from view.

  “Where do you suppose she’s going?” Zayne asked.

  “Knowing Mother, she probably told Mrs. Murdock to make some big presentation of Eliza. Hopefully, she’s come to her senses and is on her way to correct that little situation,” Hamilton said dryly. He squeezed Eliza’s arm. “Are you certain you’re not nervous?”

  “I may be a little nervous,” she admitted. “At least I knew everyone in England.”

  “Do you have many friends in England?” Zayne asked.

  “I used to, before I lost my fortune,” she said.

  “Those people were never your friends,” Agatha said softly. “Friends are those who stick with you in good times and bad.”

  “Truer words have never been spoken,” Eliza returned. “I’m curious as to how they’ll react when I return with my fortune restored, especially Lawrence.”

  “Lawrence was your fiancé, right?” Agatha asked.

  Eliza nodded.

  “If you ask me, you were fortunate to lose your wealth,” Agatha said. “If you hadn’t lost all your money, you would have married a man of questionable integrity.”

  “You’re right, but I must confess I’ve enjoyed thinking up all sorts of nasty schemes to seek retribution from him once I secure my fortune and return home,” Eliza said before she looked up at Hamilton. “Do you think that makes me a bad person?”

  Hamilton studied her for a moment as his mind flashed to an image of her playing with his children. “I must admit I never considered you to be a woman who would harbor thoughts of revenge.”

  “I’m not certain the thoughts I’m harboring are exactly revenge,” Eliza said slowly. “They’re more . . .”

  Before Eliza could finish, Gloria marched up to them, a beaming woman by her side.

  Hamilton watched in amazement as right before his eyes, Eliza changed into a smiling, gracious aristocrat.

  “Lady Eliza Sumner, may I present to you our hostess, Mrs. Murdock,” Gloria said. “Mrs. Murdock, this is Lady Eliza Sumner.”

  “My dear Lady Eliza,” Mrs. Murdock gushed, “I have been anxiously awaiting your arrival. I must tell you, I adore all things English.”

  “You’re too kind,” Eliza replied, her tone causing Hamilton’s teeth to click together. She sounded as if she’d turned more English, more proper, and didn’t sound anything like the Eliza he thought he knew.

  His temper began to simmer when Eliza took Mrs. Murdock’s arm and strolled with the lady back up the walk, his mother on her other side, apparently forgetting all about him.

  “She really is an aristocrat, isn’t she?” Agatha asked as she took Hamilton by the arm and propelled him forward, Zayne trailing in their wake.

  Hamilton forced a smile as they moved through the receiving line, his thoughts so distracted that he wasn’t able to fully appreciate the lavishness of the decorations. Mrs. Murdock had apparently taken the fall season to heart; sputtering pumpkins filled the house, while garlands of festive red and yellow leaves draped across the ceiling. He was relieved when Agatha and Zayne went in search of some drinks, leaving him to slouch against a wall. His mood became more dismal by the second as he watched Eliza twirl around the dance floor in the arms of some nameless gentleman.

  It certainly hadn’t taken much time at all for the hounds to come sniffing around.

  “Eliza seems to be adapting well,” Zayne remarked, handing Hamilton a glass of champagne before moving to take up wall space right beside him, an annoying grin on his face. “Just a word of advice, Hamilton. You might try to soften your expression a bit. You’re scaring the ladies.”

  “I’m not scaring any ladies.”

  “Oh?” Zayne questioned as he nodded toward a group of young ladies who were definitely giving them a wide berth as they moved quickly out of range.

  Hamilton pasted a smile on his face. “There, satisfied?”

  “You look deranged.”

  “Go away.”

  “Not until you tell me what’s wrong. Is it Eliza?”


  “No.”

  “Why do you keep throwing her nasty looks, then?”

  “I’m not throwing her nasty looks.”

  Zayne rolled his eyes.

  “Besides, it’s not as if she’d even notice,” Hamilton muttered when he saw she’d moved on to another dance partner. He released a sigh. “I don’t know her at all. From what I can tell, it seems as if she enjoys being frivolous.”

  “Is it a crime now to enjoy a bit of frivolity?” Zayne asked.

  “Mary Ellen was frivolous.”

  “You’re comparing Eliza to Mary Ellen?”

  “I cannot overlook the similarities,” Hamilton said. “It became crystal clear to me this evening that there is too much regarding Eliza I just don’t know.”

  “Of course there is. You only recently met her. There’s hardly been enough time to learn everything about her, but that’s what makes life interesting.”

  “I don’t want an interesting life. I want a stable life. I need a stable life and a stable companion who will provide a stable home for my children.”

  Zayne’s mouth dropped open. “You’re considering marriage again.”

  “I was considering marriage,” Hamilton corrected. “I have since come to my senses.”

  “What are you talking about? Eliza’s wonderful.”

  “She was presented to the queen,” Hamilton said.

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “She has high expectations of life. I could not fill those expectations. I’ve never been presented to the queen,” Hamilton said.

  “Because we live in America and don’t have a queen.”

  Hamilton’s lips twitched. “You think I’m being ridiculous.”

  “I think you’re lying to yourself,” Zayne corrected. “You’re inventing reasons to push Eliza away. You’re trying to use Eliza’s privileged upbringing as a reason to discontinue your relationship with her.”

  “We don’t have a relationship.”

  “You just admitted you were considering marriage.”

  “That was before I came to the realization that a woman bent on revenge would hardly have any room in her heart for other emotions such as love,” Hamilton said.