Gillian had found herself a seat on an upturned barrel, and was sitting bolt upright, just as genteel and collected as if she were reclining on a plush velvet stool in one of the finest houses in the land.
“What do you mean by that, Gillian?” Lavinia asked quietly.
Gillian flushed. “I mean that the Season is nearly ending. The Willenshires have gone to Bath, and it will not be long until other grand families follow. Nobody wants to spend winter in London, after all. Time is running out for me. I know quite well that we cannot afford another Season, so I must secure a suitable husband soon. But sometimes you can be… oh, don’t be offended, Lavinia, but sometimes you are entirely too blunt. It discourages others, and they are aware that they cannot invite me to a gathering without your presence. I just… I just want you to promise you’ll be on your best behaviour. Pray, do not be too disconcerting. Allow me to... to endeavour in seeking a suitable husband, for it shall contribute to our collective contentment.”
Lavinia swallowed hard. “I never intended to embarrass you, Gillian.”
In a flash. Gillian was on her feet, arms wrapped around her sister.
“You do not embarrass me, Lavvy! I love you with all my heart, you know that. I just need this trip to Bath to be perfect. You understand that, don’t you?”
Lavinia pulled back, forcing a wobbly smile. “Of course I understand. Now, shall we talk about which of your dresses we can turn into something a little more fashionable?”
Gillian’s face lit up. “Oh, yes, let us do that!”
Chapter Three
Ten Days Later
Rosewood House had always been Mary Willenshire’s domain. The Dowager Duchess, everybody knew, had exercised very little authority. She had no control over her children, from whom her husband had distanced her very neatly, and certainly none over her husband.
William had not been thrilled at the prospect of a house party at Rosewood House, but it made Mary happy, and he was not going to be the one to let her down. It was a rare thing to see his mother so happy.
The house was full of excitement, andpeople. When William stepped into the drawing room that evening, intending to read quietly before the fire, he found the room full of his siblings.
It said something about Katherine, Alexander, and Henry that the three of them could make a room feelfullregardless of its size.
“There he is!” Katherine laughed, stretched out on an armchair before the fire, feet propped up on a footstool. Her husband, the studious Timothy, sat beside her, their hands entangled.
Henry and Eleanor, both always submerged in running their china business, were bent over a pile of papers and sketches on the table, and barely glanced up at him. Alexander was bouncing about the room, doing something to make his siblings laugh, and his quiet wife, Abigail, watched him with fond amusement.
“Good evening to you all,” William said, smiling warmly at each of them. Why did it feel so odd to be with his family again? Perhaps it was because they were all paired off, deeply in love, newly rich, and entirely content with their lives.
And he was… well. He was himself. He was none of those things.
“Welcome William! Would you like some tea?” his mother said, leaning forward to pour him a cup. “I’m so glad we were able to go ahead with our usual house gathering this year. It didn’t feel right last year, not with your dear father so newly gone.”
There was a taut silence, and the siblings glanced at each other.
The late Duke of Dunleigh, father to William, Henry, Katherine, and Alexander, was not mourned at all by his children. He had been a vicious man with exacting standards, and William, as his heir, had borne the brunt of his ‘training’. Not one of them had escaped unscathed though.
It was as if the air had gotten thicker. William cleared his throat.
“Well, we’re having it this year.”
“I’ve invited a great many new people,” Mary continued, oblivious to the atmosphere. “There was a charming woman I met at Lady Clarissa’s party, with the most delightful daughter. You might meet her, William. The daughter, I mean. She’s nineteen, but this is her first year out. Remarkably pretty, and so sweet. I shall introduce you. I can’t quite recall her name. G-something, I believe.”
“Thank you, Mother,” William responded, taking a gulp of his tea, even though it was still scalding. “Anyone else I should know about?”
“Yes, actually,” Mary glanced uneasily around. “I invited Miss Bainbridge and her parents.”
William bit the inside of his cheek. “Oh?”
“Yes, they’ll arrive with the rest of the guests in three days or so.”
“She’s made quite a determined set at you, Will,” Katherine observed, eyeing her brother intently. “You could do worse.”
William smiled tightly. “I’m sure I could. Excuse me for just a moment, I’m going to step out onto the balcony. I need some air.”
