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"Are you certain?" Susan asked, her voice quiet

"It's nothing," Elizabeth said quickly, turning away and looking out theLucas and Jane were playing in the garden They'd devised so a piece of blue fabric tied to a stick and were squealing with glee

Elizabeth sed, love and pride briers stopping in place when she reached the top of her braid "I'm sorry," she said to Susan "I shouldn't have snapped at you like that"

"I don't reat deal of strain I know that"

"It's just that I'm so worried" Elizabeth moved her hand to her forehead and rubbed Suddenly she felt so tired and so very old "What good is practicing my wiles upon Mr Siddons when there aren't even any real e prospects to be found?"

"Lady Danbury invites visitors all the ti voice "Doesn't she? And you told me that all her friends are rich and titled"

"Yes, but she grants me my free days when she entertains She says she has no need of uests in residence"

"You'll just have to find a way around that Concoct some reason why you need to visit And what about this party at the end of the month? Didn't you say she always invites you to such functions?''

"It's to be a masquerade, actually She inforh to sew you a fashionable ball gown, but we can certainly e a costume You don't need to dress up as anyone fancy"

Susan moved her hands aniht she was looking at herself at fourteen--back when she'd thought anything was possible Before her father had died and left her with mountains of responsibility Before he had died and taken the innocence of her childhood along with him

"We look so alike, you and I," she said in a s your pardon?"

"It's nothing It's just" Elizabeth paused and gave her sister a wistful smile "It's just that sometimes our similar looks reer?"

"No, not really Soh" She leaned forward impulsively and kissed her sister's cheek "Those arethat looked suspiciously like tears before assu her usual businesslike mien "We need to return to the otten what that was"

"When," Susan asked with an i visitors? Not the ri people at the end of this week I believe it is to be a s, really, than a formal party I wrote out the invitations"

"How ?"

"No more than ten or twelve, I think It is only for the afternoon We are close enough to London, after all, that people can make the trip to and from in one day"

"You must attend"