Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“Yes, she said that you were only pretending to be nice so Papa would like you,” she replied, her eyes glued to the doll.
“Did she tell you this often?” I pressed, doing my best to keep calm.
She nodded, not at all realizing the fault in this. “Mrs. Watson told me every day. That is why I have to be quiet and mind my manners, so you will not send me off.”
I bit my lip in rage, but I pressed it down. “That is silly. You are family. Why would I ever send you off?”
“Mrs. Watson said the dowager is family, but she did not mind her manners, so she was sent off. She showed me from the window how Papa and you made her leave. And Papa did not return with Aunt Ver. Because you had her sent off, too.”
The audacity of that lying wench, I thought as I pulled on the thread.
“The dowager and your papa are not very good friends, and he was surprised she came without notice, so she left for the day. But your Aunty Verity wished to spend time in London for the season.”
“The season?” she questioned, glancing up at me.
I nodded. “That is when all the ladies in the ton who are old enough go to balls and lunches in the park, so they can dance and sing and meet many good people. It is all very fun.”
“May I go?” she asked.
“Of course, but when you are older,” I explained, finishing the last loop of the doll’s dress. “I shall take you, and you shall have the finest dresses. You are the daughter of a duke. You must look very grand.”
She grinned from ear to ear. “So, Aunty Ver will come back?”
“Yes, my dear,” I replied, giving her the doll, though it was not very good. I should have focused more on my needlework, but she did not seem to care. She hugged it tightly.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Anything for you.” I cupped her face. “Because you are important. So very, very important. No one can ever send you off or be mean to you. Not even me. And you needn’t call me Your Grace. Odite or Mama is fine. Mrs. Watson was mistaken. I shan’t be angry.”
“But why has Papa become angry?” she whispered, now hanging her head as she poked the doll.
“He heard what Mrs. Watson said to you?”
She nodded. “I think.”
He’d dismissed her because she was poisoning Emeline against me. Why she would do such a thing, I was not sure. But I understood his actions. I would have done the same. However, that was not the issue. The issue was his lack of communication and his refusal to explain anything to me. And now, we had not seen or spoken to each other over it. Was I wrong to keep pushing him? He was willing to speak on anything else but his family’s past. Surely that was enough.
Knock. Knock.
The door opened to reveal none other than Verity herself, dressed in white.
Emeline rose from the floor and ran toward her. “Aunt Ver!”
“Little squirrel!” Verity exclaimed as she hugged the girl, spinning around. “How I have missed you! Look at how much bigger you have gotten.”
Emeline giggled, and Verity tickled her. “You are back from the season?”
“The season. Who told you that?” Verity asked.
“That would be me.” I laughed and walked to her. “Welcome home. Forgive me for not being out front when you arrived. I did not know you were returning now.”
“Is a month’s time still not enough?” She gave me a look.
“Has it been a month?”
“Yes, you did not notice?”
“No.” I laughed as time seemed to fly past me.
“Forgive me for not sending word. But I did come with the greatest of escorts.”
“Who?”
She grinned. “The Earl and Countess of Montagu!”
“My brother is here?” My heart filled—how I wished to see him.
“He is. Shall we go?”
I nodded gladly, outstretching my hand for Emeline, who took it without question. I was very excited to have some of my family here. I missed them.
When we came to the front of the house, my sister-in-law was at the very bottom of the stairs, staring up at the art upon the wall in utter awe.
“Silva!” I called out.
“Aphrodite!”
When I reached the bottom, we hugged. When I squeezed, she gasped and pulled back. “Careful I am not alone.”
I did not know what she meant until I pulled back and saw her place a hand on her stomach. Glancing down at it, then back to her face. She smiled, nodding.
“Welcome and congratulations.” I hugged her once more. “Oh my! I am so utterly shocked and yet pleased you are here. Where is Damon?”
“We arrived as the duke was preparing to bring the horse back from his ride, and Damon happily went to join him,” she answered, then her eyes drifted down to the girl now holding my dress. “Hello, little miss.”