Chapter 28

Eleanor tugged the sleeves of her silk gloves up as high as they could go and wiggled her fingers at the unfamiliar sensation of the fabric between them. She was covered toe to chin in multiple layers with the hopes of keeping animalcules off of her. Her hair was braided and pinned up tightly to her head. The style was uncommon for a reason, Eleanor decided, it was so uncomfortable that she almost wished for that sleep potion to numb her a bit. Her head was hurting more than her side now, though the aching had begun long before Claire’s maid had started on her hair so it was likely an after affect of the potion too.

“Do not fidget so when you’re in court,” Claire admonished from the seat opposite her.

“It’s just this is so uncomfortable. I can’t believe women actually dress like this in London.”

“We don’t. You’ve chosen every single covering that could possibly be put together. Your intent was to show no skin. It likely feels as odd as it looks.”

The carriage pulled to a stop then a