Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
* * *
Suddenly two children came running down the stairs, screaming after each other, and disappeared down the hall. Lord Benjamin seemed not at all upset by the chaos. He serenely led Arthur to the parlor, explaining that dinner was the one big meal that the family all had together.
* * *
“Everyone is so caught up in their different projects it’s difficult to get them all in the same room at the same time, but dinner is sacrosanct, you understand?”
* * *
Actually, Arthur did not. He ate all his meals on his own and had nobody to share them with even if he were so inclined. He smiled however and made a noncommittal sound.
* * *
Lord Benjamin sat opposite him and then shot to his feet. “My apologies, may I offer you an aperitif?”
* * *
Arthur inclined his head. “Thank you.”
* * *
Lord Benjamin crossed to the bar where he busied himself pouring. Arthur looked around in the meanwhile, feeling very much out of place. Being in this home was so foreign to his way of life that he did not know how to react to it.
* * *
These people are here to build their family, while I am here to destroy mine.
CHAPTER 3
Janice changed into a gown, one of her prettier ones, with a red floral design. She brushed her hair until it shone, before knotting it atop her head and putting on a cap. On a whim, she decided to put on her mother’s pearl earbobs.
* * *
Clotilda, who sometimes acted as her lady’s maid, stepped into her chambers and stopped short, gawping at her. “You didn’t tell me you were dressing up for dinner ma’am. I would have helped.”
* * *
Janice laughed nervously. “Oh no, I’m not dressing up. I just thought that I would wear this gown since I haven’t in a while.”
* * *
Clotilda came closer, still looking at her as if she’d never seen Janice before. “Oh, and you’ve combed your hair. I could have done that.”
* * *
“I told you Clotty, it’s no trouble. I just stuffed it under my cap. Why are you acting so flabbergasted about it?”
* * *
“Oh, I’m not ma’am. Just surprised is all. Shall I go and tell Emily and them to dress up too?”
* * *
“I said I wasn’t dressed up! My sisters can do whatever they like. As always.”
* * *
“Mmhmm.” Clotilda didn’t seem convinced.
* * *
Janice sighed, her face bright pink. “I’m going down to the parlor. Tell my sisters that we have a visitor for dinner.”
* * *
“Oh, I see. Alright.” Clotilda hurried out of the door and Janice watched her go with relief. She smoothed down her gown and then slipped her stockinged feet into gold slippers – since they happened to be the closest shoes and most appropriate to wear with her gown and for no other reason.
* * *
Taking a deep breath, she turned towards the door and left her chambers.
* * *
“Janice!” Her sister’s sweet piping voice called to her as she walked towards the stairs, and she stopped and turned with a smile. “What’s this I hear about a visitor?”
* * *
Janice smiled, looping Anne’s hand around hers. “It’s nothing. Just a duke I ran into on the moors. He escorted me home and father invited him to stay.”
* * *
“Hmm. How exciting. We haven’t had a visitor in a while. Is that why you’re all dressed up?” She stopped walking abruptly, “Should I go and get dressed too?”
* * *
Janice looked at her sister’s perfectly serviceable emerald gown. “You are fine. Come on, let’s go and I shall introduce you.”
* * *
Anne looked behind her. “Shouldn’t we wait for Emily?”
* * *
“What is she up to?”
* * *
Anne shrugged. “I don’t know. She was barking at Clotty earlier, so I went and hid in the nursery.”
* * *
“Oh Anne, you know she’s all bark and no bite.”
* * *
“I know but…” she shrugged helplessly, “I didn’t like the noise.”
* * *
“Well, then you should tell her to shut up.”
* * *
“Tell whom to shut up?”
* * *
Both girls jumped and screamed. They had reached the bottom of the stairs and were just turning towards the parlor. They hadn’t expected to run into anyone. They turned to see their uncle Keith, emerging from the library.
* * *
He grinned at them as he approached, his cobalt blue eyes shining. “What are you two plotting?”
* * *
“Nothing Uncle.” Anne shook her head vigorously, her curls flying every which way. “Janice was just telling me not to be afraid of Emily.”
* * *
“And why would you be afraid of your sister? Is she not just a year older than you, my girl?”
* * *
“Yes, but she’s very loud,” Anne complained.
* * *
Janice snorted. “She’s opinionated. That’s not a bad thing. You should state your opinions aloud too Anne, or people will step on you.”