Judith McNaught Quote

When Elizabeth finally descended the stairs on her way to the dining room she was two hours late. Deliberately.Good heavens, you’re tardy, my dear! Sir Francis said, shoving back his chair and rushing to the doorway where Elizabeth had been standing, trying to gather her courage to do what needed to be done. Come and meet my guests, he said, drawing her forward after a swift, disappointed look at her drab attire and severe coiffure. We did as you suggested in your note and went ahead with supper. What kept you abovestairs so long?I was at prayer, Elizabeth said, managing to look him straight in the eye.Sir Francis recovered from his surprise in time to introduce her to the three other people at the table-two men who resembled him in age and features and two women of perhaps five and thirty who were both attired in the most shockingly revealing gowns Elizabeth had ever seen. Elizabeth accepted a helping of cold meat to silence her protesting stomach while both women studied her with unhidden scorn. That is a most unusual ensemble you’re wearing, I must say, remarked the woman named Eloise. Is it the custom where you come from to dress so…simply?Elizabeth took a dainty bite of meat. Not really. I disapprove of too much personal adornment. She turned to Sir Francis with an innocent stare. Gowns are expensive. I consider them a great waste of money.Sir Francis was suddenly inclined to agree, particularly since he intended to keep her naked as much as possible. Quite right! he beamed, eyeing the other ladies with pointed disapproval. No sense in spending all that money on gowns. No point in spending money at all.My sentiments exactly, Elizabeth said, nodding. I prefer to give every shilling I can find to charity instead. it away? he said in a muted roar, half rising out of his chair. Then he forced himself to sit back down and reconsider the wisdom of wedding her. She was lovely-her face more mature then he remembered it, but not even the black veil and scraped-back hair could detract from the beauty of her emerald-green eyes with their long, sooty lashes. Her eyes had dark circles beneath them-shadows he didn’t recall seeing there earlier in the day. He put the shadows down to her far-too-serious nature. Her dowry was creditable, and her body beneath that shapeless black gown…he wished he could see her shape. Perhaps it, too, had changed, and not for the better, in the past few years.I had hoped, my dear, Sir Francis said, covering her hand with his and squeezing it affectionately, that you might wear something else down to supper, as I suggested you should.Elizabeth gave him an innocent stare. This is all I brought.All you brought? he uttered. B-But I definitely saw my footmen carrying several trunks upstairs.They belong to my aunt-only one of them is mine, she fabricated hastily, already anticipating his next question and thinking madly for some satisfactory answer.Really? He continued to eye her gown with great dissatisfaction, and then he asked exactly the question she’d expected: What, may I ask, does your one truck contain if not gowns?Inspiration struck, and Elizabeth smiled radiantly. Something of great value. Priceless value, she confided.All faces at the table watched her with alert fascination-particularly the greedy Sir Francis. Well, don’t keep us in suspense, love. What’s in it?The mortal remains of Saint Jacob.