Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 116547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
“This is what is expected of a duchess,” Hathor said to us all with her head held high, as though she were one. “Aphrodite should have waited a day so she could see her competition now.”
“The Duchess of Imbert is far too old to be my daughter’s competition,” said the marchioness as they came to us. She was dressed in wine-colored silks while her husband had worn a simple black. “And you should be less concerned with your sister’s rivals and more focused on your own. As you see, there are a great many ladies here this evening.”
“They worry me not, Mama, as I am well aware of their capabilities.” Hathor smiled, adding, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”
“Sun Tzu?” Her father grinned, nodding. “Well done, my girl. I did not know you had even begun the Eastern philosophies.”
“Everyone really ought to stop underestimating me.” She beamed with pride.
“She has barely even read the Greeks let alone the Far East. It was Aphrodite who once said that to her,” Damon interjected, making her turn to glare at her brother.
And just like that, they were all engaged in familial banter once more. They slipped into conversations with such ease and intimacy that even while in the room with them, I felt as though I were nothing more than a secondary character watching them live out their lives before me. I had never experienced a morning like I had today—the laughter, the teasing, and the open dialogue. Even the marquess was always engaged, just pretending to be seriously preoccupied with his paper.
I could not keep up then, and I felt myself slipping from them even now. The feeling was exacerbated as we entered the house. All around us, I heard people talking.
“Lord Monthermer. Lady Monthermer.”
“Marquess. Marchioness.”
“Good evening, Damon. My lady.”
“Hello, Hathor!”
There was a choir of greetings from everyone and anyone who saw them as we walked farther in. All the world was gracious and jubilant at the sight of the Du Bells, while I was given courteous nods and ceremonial smiles. I was not unknown, and I was not out of place. This was my society. I was simply distanced from it, as I had not been afforded the opportunities to intermingle with them throughout my life. Creating those opportunities was the task of a mother. This had never bothered or upset me because I was never around them as much before. And if I was, my brother was never more than an arm’s reach away. He was my shield. Without him here to distract me, I wished to leave—immediately. I glanced back at the entrance as it grew farther and farther away, and more people arrived.
But the night had only just begun. As if she could hear my thoughts, Hathor took hold of my arm and linked hers with mine.
“Mama, we shall go say hello to the other young ladies,” she said to her mother, who nodded but gave her a sharp look, as well.
“Do manage to keep the air in your lungs so you do not faint, my dear.”
Damon snickered, but I was not sure why.
“Of course.” Hathor smiled at her and then pulled me away as her smile dropped slightly. “Have you seen anyone you like?”
“Like?” I repeated as we ambled about the room. “Hathor, we have only just arrived.”
“There were at least a dozen eligible gentlemen between here and the entrance alone. You did not notice?”
“Not in the slightest.”
She sighed heavily. “Effort, remember?”
“I am looking as intensely as I can and my breath still remains in my body,” I jested in response.
“Hathor! Verity!”
We turned to see three young women, dressed in red, white, and a soft purple-blue, all with light-brown hair and green eyes. They had called my name, without title, as though we were close friends. However, I did not recall them.
“Oh no, not the garden sisters,” Hathor muttered.
“Garden sisters?” I asked as we were already walking toward them.
“They aren’t actually sisters, but cousins. However, that is not the point. The point is they will hold us in the most incommodious of conversations all night, so let us simply say hello and move on quickly,” she directed, plastering a large smile on her face as we reached them. “Poppy, Lily, Iris, good evening. How are you?”
Poppy, Lily, Iris. I tried not to laugh as I understood now how they had gotten their collective nickname.
“As excellent as one can be. Congratulations to both of your families. The wedding was splendid. It was all my mama could talk about this morning,” said the one dressed in red, who I assumed was Poppy.
“And mine,” said Iris, I believe. Once again, I had no way of truly knowing, as they had not introduced themselves, which made me wonder if they had before and I had merely forgotten.