Page 17 of The Mistletoe Duke

Susana shook her head. “You’ll never get a seamstress now.”

Mother shook her head as well. “Never.”

“Why not?” That seemed terribly ridiculous. He was a duke, after all.

Susana stood and came to Meg’s side. “It’s high season, that’s why. But never mind. I have a solution.” His sister took Meg’s arm, dried her tears, and tugged her toward the door.

“Whatever are you doing?” Jonathan asked. “It’s time for dinner.”

“No time for dinner,” Susana crowed. “Meg, you and I are about the same size and I brought far more dresses than I will ever wear. You and I are going to pilfer my wardrobe! Have cook send two trays to my room at once!”

Jonathan watched them go—happy that Susana’s suggestion had seemed to delight Meg, and slightly annoyed that, once again, she wouldn’t be at family dinner, since this was the last one before the insanity began.

But his feelings hardly mattered, didn’t they?

He was only the duke.

Chapter Four

Susana’s wardrobe was a treasure trove. Meg did her best to swallow the acrid fact that she’d once had one just like it and was now reduced to begging for scraps. She focused instead on the fact that she was lucky to have such a generous friend. And the opportunity to wear beautiful dresses as well. That was wonderful.

“Oh, this one!” Susana sighed, pulling out a beautiful sky blue frock with sequins stitched into the bodice. “It barely fits me now, since I’m increasing again, but it’s one of my favorites. I’m glad I brought it because it is perfect for your coloring.”

It was. And, in a flurry of tulle, Meg eagerly tried it on. It was perfect. The blue brought out her eyes and made her shine. Or maybe that was simply her delight as she spun around and watched the skirt bell in the glass. It was a little tight in the bodice, but Susana insisted, with a wink, it was just right for someone on the hunt for a husband. There was another, a dark forest green, which would be perfect for the Christmas Eve supper and ball, and a lovely pink day dress.

“I love you in these jewel tones,” Susana said and Meg laughed.

“My last party frock was white.”

Susana grinned. “We’re hardly debutantes now.”

Yes. Hardly.

When they were finished, Meg returned to her dark weeds and sighed. “That was fun,” she told her friend, who grinned.

“Wasn’t it?”

“I’m so appreciative. You’ve been so generous.”

To her surprise, Susana stared at her, tears welling. Which caused Meg to tear up as well. “Meg, darling,” she said, opening her arms for a hug. “You deserve it. You’ve always been so generous with me. Even when we were children. Do you remember that time when you let me have the last cake at tea, after Jonathan and George swept in and tried to scarf them all up?”

Meg had to chuckle. “No. I don’t.”

Susana’s eyes sparkled. “Well, I do. And the time you gave me your doll, because I liked it. And— Oh, I could go on. You’re like a sister to me. A dear, dear sister. And I, for one, hate to see you moldering in Devon with Mama.”

“I’m hardly moldering. Besides, I love your mother.”

“I do too, but she doesn’t exactly live an exciting life.”

“She…throws parties…”

Susana snorted. “We both know, you throw those parties. She just tags along and makes speeches.”

“They are very good speeches.”

“That is a matter of opinion. And beside the point.”

“And the point is?”