Elizabeth returned her sister's hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek back. She nodded her head to Marianne.<br/><br/>"It is always good to see you, dear Marianne. And, yes, Thomas and I received them."<br/><br/>She was sure it pained her sister to know that Miss Bradley was there. She was such a little harlot. What kind of woman carried on with a married man? A loose woman did and that's what Elizabeth felt the younger woman was. She disliked Victoria almost as much as she disliked Angus.<br/><br/>"Come, sit. Would you like some tea? I can have Martha bring some."<br/><br/>Elizabeth said as she offered Marianne a seat on the couch. Her eyes got wide a moment as she saw a pair of scissors. She and Martha had forgotten them. Elizabeth quickly, but discreetly, grabbed the scissors and hid them under a pillow. She hoped Marianne had not seen them. Angry crossed Elizabeth's face when Marianne confirmed what Elizabeth already thought, that Victoria would be there for the masquerade.<br/><br/>"Of course she did."<br/><br/>How Elizabeth would love to wring that girl's neck for the pain she caused her sister. She took Marianne's hand and squeezed it.<br/><br/>"Yes, Thomas heard them and told me."<br/><br/>The rumors were that Victoria Bradley was pregnant and that Lord Angus Allerton was the father.<br/><br/>"Even if she is, she is a whore. Who knows who truly fathered her little bastard?"<br/><br/>Although Elizabeth had no proof that Miss Bradley carried on physical relations with another men, she felt that Victoria was a whore. She had to be, she was willing to sleep with a married man. She probably slept with more then one.