When Ella entered her room she eyed Becca seated on a chair next to the window. As soon as Becca noticed her friend she jumped to her feet rushing to engulf Ella in a tight hug. "What happened?"
"We argued." Ella sniffled.
"Let me guess, Annabelle?"
"No. Yes. Maybe. I know it started with her. How it shifted I cannot say."
"Sit, I will have Jane bring some tea and we will speak about it."
Ella unceremoniously threw herself on the bed face down. She lost track of time as she mulled over the argument with James. She had never in her life felt so short sighted with herself. Ella could hardly remember a time when she embraced her feelings good or bad. Her mind raced to figure out when she had become so closed off to herself.
A shove to her leg caused Ella to roll over to find Becca standing above her with a cup of tea. "Has anyone told you it is unladylike to flop down on a bed. You should only lay on one with the utmost grace and elegance."
"I have recently come to discover being ladylike unpleasant and overrated."
Becca let out a mock gasp. "Do not let those fools in town hear you or they may throw a fit!"
Ella took a sip of tea than stood abruptly pacing around the room. "Becca why have you not told me I throw myself into the problems of others to ignore my own?"
Becca froze mid sip and gently put her cup down on the bedside table. "It was a recent development that I had hoped went away."
"Clearly not."
"So, James brought it to your attention then?"
"I told him I could not leave until I knew what Annabelle was up to. He went into this whole speech about not allowing myself to feel things."
"Sounds right."
"Ugh! Could you not have pointed this out sooner."
"Ella you believed most of your life the Annabelle's whims were just eccentricities to gain attention. William was your fairytale ending you dreamed of and she was jealous looking for anyway to beat you to it. When she could not she made sure to shatter what she perceived as your perfect life." Becca stopped, her face showing the pain Ella felt. "When everything fell apart you tried desperately to fix it, but you know as we all do it was already broken beyond repair."
Ella paused at the bedroom window, looking out to the moonlit garden, wondering where James was at that very moment. Becca walked beside her and Ella could feel her friends eyes on her in question. "I know that look. What is on your mind?"
"I think I just realized that I am glad you did not mention this to me before now."
"Oh, I wonder why that is?" Becca gave her an exaggerated wink.
Ella snorted out a laugh rolling her eyes in the process. Becca affectionately rested her head on Ella's shoulder. "Took you long enough."
"Speaking of."
"No."
"Charles?"
Becca's head shot up form Ella's shoulder and she returned to the bed flopping down just as Ella had moments earlier. "Has anyone told you it is unladylike to flop on a bed like that?"
She narrowed her eyes at Ella and she could not help but laugh at the reversal of roles between her and Becca.
"It will not do Ella."
"Why is that?"
"Besides being below his station, he only entertains my acquaintance because of you."
"Yes that is exactly why he spent more time at Hamsfield when you visited than the whole time I had been there. Not to mention he asked about you the moment you left."
"Oh that is not true!"
"Even Helen could see it, being as she was originally the one to suggest you come to London."
"Helen did that?" Becca's eyes widened.
"When James decided to bring me along he even pointed out that you should come because Charles would like it."
"No." Becca's blonde hair tumbled as she shook her head.
"Rebecca!"
"What?"
Ella gave up and joined her friend on the bed. "You know you always do this."
"Do what?"
"Every time someone shows interest in you, you act as if you are not good enough."
"No I just acted like that because I was not interested in them. This is different though Ella."
"How so?"
"Charles is a member of high society and the closest friend of a future Earl."
"Your point?"
"My family is not as wealthy as your and I certainly do not have a dowry worthy of a man of his class."
Ella rubbed her hand on Becca's back, "I have a feeling that does not matter."
Becca pushed her face down on the bed and let out a muffled scream.
"Feel better?"
"What am I to do, go to Paisley and throw myself at him?"
Ella erupted with laughter falling back on the bed. "I think we could find a more subtle way to confirm your interest."
"James?"
Ella nodded in agreement.
"You are aware that involves speaking with him."
"I was fully planning on it.... In the morning."
Becca blinked at her expressionless.
Ella stared back at her, "I am exhausted, trying to get you to see reason is like tea with the ladies of the Ton."
Becca hit Ella with a pillow and she let out a squeal that caused both to laugh. The two got comfortable on the bed and spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing together.
******
Ella could not exactly recall when she fell asleep, she just knew it felt painfully early when she awoke to knocking on the door. While she stirred she heard a loud thud that fully woke her. Ella rubbed her sleep filled eyes and rolled over, finding the space Becca should have been in empty. She scrambled to look over the side of the bed as the door creaked open. Ella fell back with a burst of laughter at the sight of Becca laying face down on the floor.
"I am so glad you find my pain amusing."
"If it was me you would be laughing twice as hard."
Becca popped her head up to look over the bed with narrowed eyes. "True."
A soft chuckle from behind Ella caused the both to look, only to find Jane standing by the door with a tray of food.
"Of course another one to laugh at my pain." Becca muttered.
"Stop Becca. Good morning Jane."
"Good morning My Lady, Miss. Chambers." Jane greeted with a curtsey.
Becca eyed the tray in Jane's hands. "Did we sleep though breakfast?"
"You did, so I brought something in case you were hungry. If I woke you I apologize, I just heard you both up late and thought you would like to sleep in."
"Thank you Jane that was very kind, and to be honest after last evening I could have slept the whole day." Ella sighed.
"Well at least you managed to actually stay in the bed!"
"Do not act like this is the first time you have rolled out of bed while sleeping."
Jane's eyes widened, "This is a common occurrence?"
"NO!" Becca shouted.
"Yes!" Ella glared at Becca as she stood and walked to Jane with a soft expression. "I know you have probably eaten already, but if you would care to join us, I could use more help in teasing our dear Rebecca." Ella could hear Becca scoff as she grabbed the tray of food from Jane's grasp.
"Yes you should! We need to finish all this food you brought us so someone can speak to their husband." Jane's face took on a shocked expression and Becca's blunt statement.
Ella sighed while placing the tray down on the table next to the window. "Jane I thought by now you would be used to us being so , well us."
"I am not entirely sure anyone can become used to us." Becca's face lit up as Jane let out a girlish giggle. She hooked arms with the young lady's maid and led her to the table. "I see now, she is merely playing with us."
"I would never miss!" Jane feigned innocence.
"Yes that was definitely sarcasm. Now you must help us eat this food!" Exclaimed Ella.
The three of them sat at the table and dug into the various types of food before them and Ella tried to focus solely on the conversation but her mind continued to drift to James. Sensing her distracted thoughts, Becca drew her attention, "Are you nervous?"
"Surprisingly not. I am more concerned that too much damage was done last night."
"Well you will not know until you speak with him." Becca placed a comforting hand on Ella's.
"Yes I know. I am not sure why I am hesitant about it either."
"My Lady?" Jane spoke with a quiet voice.
"Jane you have seen me at my worst. I believe it is acceptable to call me Ella now."
"Ella.... If I may speak freely?"
Becca rolled her eyes. "I was not aware we were in the military. Considering she said you could call her by her given name I believe you can say what you like."
Jane dropped her head and Ella reached over to grab her hand, "I consider you a friend Jane, please tell me what is on your mind."
Jane took a deep breath and looked up meeting Ella's eyes. "My Lord has always been a kind man, distant but he always went out of his way to look after the staff. It was how we have always been able to tell that he had a certain sadness to him. Perhaps it was from pressure of his family or the gentry's expectations of him."
"Or every single lady in England throwing themselves at him." Becca muttered.
"Becca!" Ella admonished.
"Sorry! Please continue Jane."
"What I was getting to, since you arrived we have noticed a change in him. There is a lightness in his step. Not to mention he smiles more, especially when you are in the room. What I mean to say is, I do not believe you can sway Lord Winters' feelings towards you because of an argument."
"See nothing to worry about, just march in to the room tell him you are madly in love with him and be done with it."
Ella rolled her eyes at Becca, than a playful smile crossed her lips. "You know Becca, you should consider your own advice."
Becca glared at her with a hint of anger. "Stop that."
"I am simply making a suggestion."
"No you are going to act all coy and slowly wear me down until I agree to whatever ridiculous plan you have."
"I would never!" Gasped Ella.
"Is this about Mr. Hawthorne? Because he is most decidedly interested in you Miss. Chambers."
Becca sighed in exasperation and leaned closer to Jane. "Becca Jane, Becca. And this whole turn of conversation is nonsense."
Ella stood from the chair and headed for the door. Before taking her exit she glanced over her shoulder to her best friend. "I suppose we will just have to see." She left the room making her way to the stairs hearing the echo of Becca's grumbling behind her. She let out a soft chuckle, easing the tension in her body before taking her first step down the stairs with a hope of a new beginning.