*******
Mother and daughter were enjoying their afternoon together.
Usually, both would meet in the women's lounge room, to have entertaining conversations and practice their needlework, after sharing a cup of tea in the garden.
On this occasion, they did not go outside. They were tired of the early preparations they had to make for their return. Also, the decision the Duke had made to send them back ahead of Marianne had left a sour taste in the two women. However, they did not touch the issue, and as soon they finished their late lunch, both went to the lounge room to talk privately about the impressions the Royal Spring Ball had made on them.
Elenaide was anxious to know how did her daughter feel during those days, since, after accompanying her on the preparations on the first day, she couldn't meet her in private because of the duty to socialise with her peers as the Sylfinnier's Duchess.
