Darden himself came into the room and braced himself for the inevitable onslaught of sisters.
They rushed him and nearly knocked him over with their enthusiasm.
“Darden!”
“Dear Darden!”
“Our dear brother!”
“Darden, we have brought a dog,” Juliet said, having thrown herself at him and rumpling his coat.
“Of course, you have,” Darden said, picking her up for a hug.
“We found her on the road,” Juliet said by way of clarification.
“Where else?” Darden said, well used to his sisters’ habits.
He untangled himself. “Father,” he said, “and Miss Mayton. You are both looking well. Everybody is looking exceedingly well.”
“Rosalind especially,” Viola said, hanging on Darden’s arm.
“Naturally Rosalind especially,” Darden said. “It is to be her season after all.”
“Now my girls, unhand your brother,” the earl said jovially. “Tattleton has signaled we may go through. At table we can tell Darden all of our news and he can tell us all of his.”
Viola had her brother’s one arm and Rosalind took the other. Cordelia and Juliet followed close on their heels as they made their way to the dining room.
Rosalind was to take her place to the right of Darden this year, as Beatrice was gone from the house. It was rather thrilling to take the place of eldest sister in the house.
They arranged themselves with Miss Mayton to the earl’s right, and Viola now on her own across the table from Cordelia and Juliet.
“Darden,” Cordelia said, “you would have been so proud of us all while we traveled. We even entertained a French lady who was stranded and she was so overcome by our attentions she could not even find the words to thank us.”
“She was speechless,” Juliet said nodding.
“That would not surprise me,” Darden said, laughing.
“And Darden,” Viola said, “you are not to have nearly as much trouble this season as you did last. Rosalind has already seen her one true love.”
“Already? How can it be so?” Darden asked, looking mystified.
“Indeed,” the earl said, “I am interested to hear of that myself. We only arrived to the house three hours ago.”
“We were in the carriage, just coming into Town,” Rosalind said. “He is magnificent and he saved a young girl from being trampled on the road.”
“Gracious,” the earl said, “I missed that excitement. I suppose I was too deep into my book to notice what went on outside my window.”
“A bit of derring-do and that was it, eh?” Darden said, obviously amused. “Who is this paragon?”
“We do not know him yet,” Rosalind said. “But I cannot imagine the fates will keep him long from my side.”
“None of us saw him but Rosalind,” Cordelia said. “She says he is very wonderful.”
“And,” Miss Mayton said, “the signs of true love were there—Rosalind’s heart beat faster and her hands shook.”
“He is magnificent,” Rosalind said once more.
“Then let us hope he is not magnificently married or some sort of bounder,” Darden said.
