Sir Walter Elliot
Time: February 11th Place: The Parish Status: Closed, for @dinah-stmaur
Ever since the gambling scandal had broken, Lady Dinah had had this look on her face.
Valentin knew her well, ever since they were little, and with it came knowing, recognising and understanding the looks on her face. She had something to say. And he dreaded it.
He couldn’t imagine that the Earl of St Maur had spoken much against the Talbots, but he wouldn’t have put it past Lady Margaret to have made one or two scathing comments; Lady Dinah had never been an obedient carbon-copy of Lady Margaret, but she was her little sister. And if anyone knew how it was to be a little sibling carried on the broad and secure wing-span of their older sibling, then it was Valentin. It wouldn’t be surprising if she’d taken a warning against mingling with the Talbots. Valentin wasn’t even so sure if he’d be able to be upset about it. His father had already caused so much harm, there was no reason his action would stain the reputation of an innocent like Lady Dinah.
What he did not understand was why Lady Dinah was so eager to speak to him. Just the other day she’d once again written to him to invite her for a call. If it was just so she could warn him about her distancing herself from him, then why not do it in writing? Perhaps it was her kindness. Perhaps she treasured their friendship as much as he treasured it. Perhaps she thought she owed him an explanation for the distance. But he didn’t think so. He wanted her best, so if she needed to keep away, he’d not fight it.
He’d said so in his letter. For a few days, there had been no response. He thought she’d simply accepted it, and that was it. But clearly, that wasn’t it.
As he came down for breakfast, Mrs Lancashure handed him a letter. ‘From Lady Dinah’, she said and he opened it with questions written all over his face.
I’m giving you a call before lunch, it said, and he stared at it with even more questions popping up on his face like pustules. His fingers fumbled for his pocket watch, but before he could even assess how close to ‘before lunch’ they already were, there was a knocking coming from the door.
He rose and opened it with apprehension.
