Octavia’s admonishment brought Gwen’s attention back from the swirl of worries running through her head. Looking down, she realized she had been pulling on the delicate silk of her gown for several minutes, forming a small patch of wrinkles.
Wincing in alarm, Gwen smoothed the patch with a trembling hand. Meeting Lord and Lady Moreland for the first time had occupied her thoughts since the dinner had been scheduled.
I am to meet his parents!
Butterflies took flight once more in the region of her stomach, and Gwen felt a brief wave of nausea. What did they think of what had happened between her and Lord Abbott?
Aidan.
Gwen mouthed his name beneath her breath, still struggling to comprehend that she was to marry such an esteemed gentleman.
Reaching out, she picked up her copy of Debrett’sPeerage, and opened it to the entry about Lord Moreland … again.
The Abbott family had a long and illustrious line of important ancestors, while her father was the third son of a minor baron. The only reason Papa was set to inherit was because her father’s oldest brother had no issue, and his next brother in line had died twenty years earlier. And her mama had been the daughter of a lowly scholar, with no claim to high society, or even the gentry.
What could they possibly think of Aidan Abbott’s offer of marriage to insignificant Gwendolyn Smythe?
Gwen, Gwen the Spotted Giraffeechoed in her ears once more, and the jolt of bravado she had acquired when confronting Milly at the modiste dissipated at the thought of meeting the parents.
What if they were incredulous as Lady Astley had been?
What if they deemed her unworthy?
What if they did not like her?
“Right, you’re ready.” Octavia stepped back. Gwen looked up to find she now had a fall of red curls framing her face, while the rest of her thick hair was gathered into an intricate design. She cocked her head and attempted to see herself as Aidan had described. Not Gwen, Gwen the Spotted Giraffe, but Venus as painted by Botticelli.
She squinted and tried the opposite tilt. Biting her lip, she tried once more, and for a fleeting second Gwen was able to perceive the similarities before the illusion collapsed once more and her stomach set flight at the thought that the Morelands would be arriving for dinner soon.
“They will hate me.”
Octavia firmed her lips in disapproval. Grabbing Gwenby the arm, she tugged her to a standing position. The maid came up to Gwen’s chin, highlighting the disparity in height and making Gwen’s stomach lurch with nerves.
With determination, Octavia marched her out of the room, closing Buttercup inside. Then down the hall and to the stairs. As they descended, the servant was forced to let her go, their gait wholly mismatched.
Gwen briefly considered running away to hide, but dismissed this as foolish. Eventually, she would be forced to meet her future in-laws and then their first impression would be that she had disappeared for their dinner.
Surely that would make matters worse?
Logic aside, it was still tempting!
Reaching the first level, Octavia followed her into the small drawing room, where Gwen stopped in the middle of the room to contemplate the silk wallpaper.
“Shall I bring you some tea while you wait?”
“That is not necessary. Papa will join me to await their arrival at any moment.” Gwen began to pace the room, agitated.
“You’ll wear a hole in the rug,” declared Octavia, narrowing her gaze to Gwen’s feet. Her too-large, unwomanly feet.
Gwen stopped, gnawing on her lower lip. “They must hate me! Their lauded heir forced to wed a spotted ginger! Think what their grandchildren will look like!”
Octavia drew herself to her full height, many inches shorter than Gwen. Her arms akimbo, the lady’s maid wore an expression of rebuke.
“Gwendolyn Smythe, you’re a treasure. The Morelands are lucky to invite you into their ranks!”
Gwen’s mouth fell open, and she stared in horror at the woman who had stepped into the doorway behind Papa just as Octavia made her declaration. An elegant woman withchocolate brown hair and eyes just like Aidan’s, her gown a rich collection of hues. Despite her youthful appearance, it was obvious by the slight sprinkling of gray whom Gwen was beholding.
Behind her, a tall gentleman with a square face and graying hair, who looked suspiciously like Lord Aidan Abbott, suppressed a smile.
