AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Romy crossed her arms and eyed her usually sensible, calm sister. “Do you mean to tell me you threw yourself at Blythe? At the park? In full view of everyone?”
“Not at Blythe. His kite. He was quite gallant about the entire affair, even while unraveling the twine from around my ankle.”
“Dear God.” The situation was far worse than Romy had previously assumed if Theo was resorting to such antics. Apparently, she’d missed quite a bit by spending her days at Madame Dupree’s. “You could have been ruined.”
“I couldnothave been. Besides Phaedra and Olivia, there were scores of people walking along the path. Literally dozens,” she emphasized. “Blythe was a perfect gentleman.” Another faraway look came over Theo’s face. “Even though I wished him not to be.”
Theo’s infatuation with Blythe had crossed from girlish adoration to full-fledged obsession. Her sister could very well ruin herself over the handsome earl, causing their mother undue embarrassment while she was only just recovering from her grief. Romy had little choice now in attending the house party, if only to save Theo from her own idiocy.
“This is the worst possible time for me to be gone from London, Theo. I’m in the middle of several designs for Madame Dupree.” She stopped short of informing Theo of her partnership with the modiste or that Romy herself was now in trade.
I’ll tell them all. Just not yet.
“We will be gone less than a fortnight. I swear,” Theo said, her face brightening. “The Barrow is said to be beautiful, with lots of woodland for you to wander around. You adore the country. I promise you won’t need to spend undue time in Beatrice’s presence. You can disappear and sketch for hours on end. I’ll tell everyone you’re walking. I promise.”
“The Barrow?” Dread clawed at Romy’s throat.
Theo looked away, picking at a bit of paint stuck to her palm. There was always a splotch of paint somewhere on her sister’s skin, no matter how careful she was. “The house party is being held at the Duke of Granby’s estate. And before you become angry, I didn’t tell you outright because I knew you would have refused immediately.”
“His estate is named The Barrow?” A snort escaped Romy. “How appropriate.”
“I don’t think his ancestral home is actually built on a burial mound if it makes you feel better. There are just some in the general vicinity.”
“No. It does not make me feel better,” she snapped. The situation could hardly get any worse, unless Romy dug in her feet and didn’t attend, in which case Theo was bound to humiliate herself, Miss Waterstone would be deserted, and Rosalind left to flutter about helplessly.
“Will you design something marvelous for me to wear to the ball? I want to sparkle like the rarest of gems so that Blythe will take notice.” Theo flopped back down on the bed, eyes glazing over.
Romy watched her with abject horror. What had happened to her rational, sensible sister? “Of course I will.” She could hardly do anything else. “Butyouare in my debt, Theodosia.”
“Thank you.” Theo sat up. “And the next time Mama asks where you’ve gone, I will continue to say you’re attending to your charitable work, shining example of charitable endeavors that you are. Is it orphans or widows you are assisting?”
“Both.” Romy had been spending the better part of her days at Madame Dupree’s, sometimes barely arriving home in time for dinner. An entire plethora of excuses had been invented to explain her daily disappearance to her mother. “I also visit the park to sketch, browse for books at Thrumbadge’s, and sit in the gardens.”
“It’s a wonder you have time for the orphans and widows.”
Madame Dupree’s business had increased significantly of late, especially with Romy designing entire wardrobes. The modiste was inundated with orders and had hired three more seamstresses. She and Madame were also making plans to expand the store to possibly include ready-made clothing for working class women who could not afford the services of an exclusive modiste.
“You must never breathe a word of my involvement with Madame Dupree.Never, Theo. I will tell Mama and Tony in my own time.” Once the partnership was more established, Romy planned on confessing everything. “I hope Blythe is worth all your efforts.”
“He is,” Theo said in a wistful voice.
Romy turned away in disgust as her sister mooned over Blythe. She would need to stay as far away from Beatrice as possible. And avoid Granby at all costs.
