While Edward hadn’t spotted James yet, he had the misfortune of bumping into Miss Lillian Eaton—in her first Season—on his way to fetch himself a drink. Miss Eaton, who had been excited to show off her new brooch to Miss Elizabeth Thorne, one of James’s many cousins, then set her sights on him as soon as she spotted him. She prattled on about wearing blue tonight because she heard it was Baron Hadleson’s favorite color. Apparently, she dressed to match him. That was all Edward had the patience to listen to.
Elizabeth, he thought, tried to pay attention and nod along, but kept shifting her gaze to someone across the room. At Mr Nicholas Herron, James’s brother-in-law, who was talking to Lady Rosamond Leigh.