Eliza puts on a pair of raindrop diamond earrings and surveys herself in the mirror. She is dreading the dinner that is approaching fast, as it turns out Jasper invited a few others from the land around, therefore Eliza thought it would be best to try and look like a duchess so she chose the silvery blue gown from her new wardrobe. It does look stunning on but all she can think about it the crushing weight of expectations on her shoulders. She has no qualms about attending a ball with a hundred people, her wedding had more people than that, its the fact that tonight she is a hostess and a duchess, they will watch her every move, waiting for a chance to strike.

She pulls her shoulders back to sit up straighter and slows her breathing. There's a knock on the door and Jasper strolls in, dressed in a slick black suit, he searches in one of the wardrobes for his cufflinks.

"They are in the fourth drawer," Eliza tells him nodding towards the farthest wardrobe. He opens the drawer and finds them immediately.

"You look gorgeous," He remarks, sitting down on the bed and attaching the cufflinks.

"Thank you." She replies meeting his eyes in the mirror, the flash of heat in his makes confidence swell in her chest.

"The guests will be arriving soon, we should go downstairs." He says as he stands and crosses over to her. He runs his hands down her bare shoulders and kisses a spot just below her ear, a shiver rolls through her body.

"I'll be down in a minute." She reassures him, he smiles and kisses her once more before leaving. Eliza's head slips forward onto the wooden desk, the cool wood calms her fevered skin.

"I can do this." She tells her reflection confidently. She applies a dab of perfume to her neck before slipping on a pair of matching heels and clasping Benjamin's gift around her wrist.

It is simply spending an evening with a few of Jasper's acquaintances and the awful Mirabelle, she tells herself as she walks towards the hallway, it is going to be fine. And she would have believed herself if she hadn't caught sight of the dining room all laid out with more than ten places set. Her stomach climbs up into her throat upon seeing so many plates.

"Mrs Windle." Eliza stops the housekeeper as she walks past. "How many are we expecting?"

"12 miss, excluding you and the duke." Mrs Windle says. Eliza hasn't been taught to handle this, only now is she cursing the time she spent outdoors when Eloise was learning how to be the perfect wife, host, and Duchess.

"Thank you, "She replies distractedly, the housekeeper curtseys and walks towards the kitchen to check on meal preparations. Eliza stands in the middle of the hallway, unsure whether to run, she fiddles with her sapphire bracelet nervously.

"There you are," Jasper says appearing from nowhere.

"Here I am." She says, trying not to panic. "These people you have invited." She begins.

"My business partners and a few noblemen." He answers curtly, checking his reflection in a mirror.

"Right." She grips her bracelet tighter. "Brilliant."

"I trust you can entertain their wives and daughter while we discuss matters in my study." He says straightening his tie.

"Of course." Eliza feels close to fainting. "No, bother."

"Brillant," Jasper says as the doorbell rings. One of the butlers opens the door and a couple stands there, the man walks confidently towards Jasper.

"Mr King." Jasper shakes the man's hand. Mr King grins back at him, he is a shorter man with no hair and wide eyes, he smiles brightly around him and Eliza immediately relaxes.

"Mrs King." Jasper nods to the woman and she bobs a small curtsey. The woman is the same height as her cheerier husband, she wears her ginger hair in a tight bun and patterns of tiny freckles are pattered across her nose and cheeks.

"This is my wife Eliza." Jasper introduces her. Mr King takes her hand in his fatter one and kisses it lightly.

"A pleasure to meet you." He says, his voice is higher than expected for his wide stature.

"You too." Eliza smiles at him, his wife looks nervously at her but looks quickly away when she catches her eye.

"We will be in the study," Jasper tells the butler. He and Mr King exit the hallway leaving Eliza and Mrs King standing alone. Eliza smiles at the woman who seems terrified of her.

"Shall we go to parlour?" She asks her, the woman nods. Eliza takes her to the room and they sit opposite each other on matching chaise lounges. Thanks to Eliza's cleaning the room is bright and well decorated. The furniture is still there but has had a thorough cleaning. They sit in silence, Eliza intensely studies the way the wallpaper is fraying at the edges of the fireplace. Mrs King fiddles with her wedding ring, moving the band up and down her finger. Deciding that as the hostess it is her job to "host" the women Eliza tries to strike up a conversation.

"How do you like living in Oxford?" Eliza asks. Mrs King looks up, surprised at her question.

"I like it very well." She mutters, her accent is thick and Eliza recognizes it instantly.

"You are from Ireland?"

"Yes, my lady." She says in her heavy accent, her eyes sink down and she seems to cower like a frightened mouse.

"I confess I have never visited but I think I would find the sights most enjoyable."

Mrs King looks her in the face for the first time.

"You like Ireland?"

"What's not to like?" Eliza asks but she catches on quickly at the strange looks on her guest's face, "Do people look down on you because you are Irish?"

"Yes." Mrs King says quietly. "I was born on a small farm near Dublin, I married Jack when we came over, he is a successful tradesman but we have no standing, therefore, I am looked down on by most."

"I have no such prejudice," Eliza reassures her, "In fact where I am come from, I am seen as a black sheep so I have some understanding of your position."

"But you are so young and beautiful?" Mrs King protests adamantly.

"And well educated, smart and witty," Eliza continues, "Being smart isn't well looked upon in London."

Mrs King opens her mouth to ask a question but the door opens and two elaborately dressed woman enter the room. Eliza and Mrs King stand.

"Goodness, I hardly recognized you with all those freckles ." One of the women says to Mrs King who blushes violently and looks down at the cream carpet.

"I would love to have natural freckles," Eliza says, she turns to the speaker with a warm smile.

"Really?" The woman turns her judgmental gaze on her but she stares backwards, a hard look in her green eyes.

"You must be the Duke's new wife." The other woman says with a low curtsey. "It's lovely to meet you, I am Mrs Rebecca Hill, my husband is in business with yours."

"New wife......?" The rude one looks Eliza up and down, she blushes an unattractive shade of red. Eliza pays her no attention.

"Likewise Mrs Hill." She says. The rude woman bite her wobbling lip/

"I meant no disrespect, my lady, please forgive me, I meant not to offend you." She lowers her head and sweeps the lowest curtsey Eliza has ever seen.

"What's your name?" She asks her.

"Lady Trinity, my lady." She says as she stands, all traces of arrogance and snobbishness have vanished.

"Well Lady Trinity, I am not one to believe in first impressions but you should offer your apologies to Mrs King, not I."

"But she's from Ireland..."

"And I am from London," Eliza replies calmly. Trinity opens her mouth like a goldfish for a few moments but she turns to Mrs King, her body hunched in respect.

"I am most sorry Mrs King, I meant no disrespect."

"I accept your apology, Lady Trinity." Mrs King says.

"Excellent." Eliza says, "Shall we sit?"

The next hour was not as painful as Eliza expected, she found that the women she has to entertain are actually intelligent and kind women, even Trinity is a woman of high education with similar views on Macbeth. A butler arrives at some point with a tray of tea but Eliza sends him to bring them a bottle of wine instead and they enjoy the fruity red wine and laugh like old friends.

The clock strikes seven and Eliza feels her stomach begin to complain. She is in half a mind to send for some bread and cheese, she sips her wine and smiles to herself, she might have made three girlfriends for the first time in a long time.

"Who else are we waiting on?" Mrs Hill asks, leaning into a cushion.

"I do not know," Eliza says, "I know Mirabelle will be attending, however."

All three women groan simultaneously but they quickly fall silent and look nervously at Eliza.

"You don't don't like her either?" She asks them, smirking.

"She is awful," Trinity cries and the other two nod, "Whenever she is around she flirts shamelessly with our husbands."

"That seems to be a common theme with her." Eliza says, "She could hardly keep her hands off Jasper at breakfast."

"Same with Winston." Mrs Hill says. A bell follows her words, it chimes loudly from the hall.

"Excellent, it is time to eat."