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5
“Ido hope Blythe hasn’t begged off.”
Romy shook her head, silently praying for patience before turning her attention to the view of the coastline. The journey had been without incident, unless you counted the constant odes to the perfection of Blythe. If Theo burst into song over the manly shape of his legs or the color of his eyes, Romy meant to toss herself out of the vehicle. Her sister had been reduced to nothing more than a giggling schoolgirl in the throes of her first crush. Theo had even chosen not to wear her spectacles, purely out of vanity. A very bad idea. She couldn’t see things clearly without them.
“You won’t know if he’s there or not. You’ll be as blind as a mole without your spectacles.”
“I doubt I’ll need them. Besides, I would know Blythe anywhere. Especially if he is close to me.” Theo’s voice took on a nauseatingly wistful air. “He is etched on my memory.”
“Ugh. Are you addled? You’ve met Blythe exactlyonetime and not under polite circumstances.”
“Thefirsttime I saw him in the park, before Papa died, I found him vastly appealing. When he was untangling the twine from around my ankles and he looked into my eyes, I was sure.”
“Sure of what?” Theo was behaving like an idiot. “Love? You don’t even know Blythe. Did he ask to call on you properly?”
“No, of course not. We weren’t introduced. And I failed to give him my name during our...encounter.”
Romy took that to mean that Blythe hadn’taskedfor her name. He’d merely flirted with a pretty girl whose ankle had become intentionally entangled with his kite string. “Blythe could be a complete dolt for all you know. He’d have to be not to have noticed you throwing yourself at him.”
“He’s not.” Theo pressed her lips together. “He’s perfect.”
“A paragon.” Romy thought of the way Blythe had wiggled his backside upon meeting her at Lady Masterson’s. She’d never told Theo because it would lead to a host of questions, namely, how Romy had met Granby and Blythe to begin with.
Theo went back to the book she held, pointedly ignoring Romy.
Romy clasped her hands and took a deep breath. It was the worst sort of luck to find herself as an uninvited guest at the home of the Duke of Granby. She would have to spend the entire week avoiding him.
At least The Barrowwasan enormous estate, according to Cousin Winnie. Her sister hadn’t exaggerated in that respect. A multitude of entertainments had been planned for the guests, few of which Romy meant to attend. She could simply stay in the background. Take a tray in her room if the mood struck her. No one would notice.
At least that was her plan.
Romy turned to the passing scenery outside the coach window, which changed dramatically once they turned to head inland. After another hour or so, the scenery became less wild and seemingly more cultivated. Moments later, the coach stopped before a gatehouse made of weathered gray stone. A guard stepped out, speaking in low tones to their driver before the coach lurched forward again.
“Theo, I think we’ve arrived.” Romy nudged her sister’s knee, almost dislodging Theo’s book. She craned her neck out the window to assure the smaller coach, bearing two more of the Barrington footmen as well as their maids and trunks, followed close behind.
Romy had tried to convince their mother that she and Theo shouldn’t go to a house party without her, even if Cousin Winnie would act as chaperone. At the very least, she and her sister shouldn’t travel to Granby’s estate alone, but her mother had only waved Romy away. “You are both very level-headed young ladies. You’ll have trusted footmen, grooms and two drivers who will all be armed. Both your maids will be with you. And there will be dancing and games. You or Theo might even meet a gentleman.”
It was far more likely Romy would encounter a duke she didn’t like. Regardless, her mother had seemed completely unconcerned about their safety.
Maybe she should have informed Mama of Theo’s obsession with Blythe.
“What lovely flowers.” Theo peered out the window as they started up an incline. “Goodness, what a massive display. Granby must possess a veritable army of gardeners.”
“Can you even see what type of flowers there are, or do you only see splotches of color interspersed with greenery?”
Theo shot her a look. “If everything or anyone,” she emphasized, “is close by, you know I see perfectly well. It is only things at a distance.”
“Or across a room, Theo. It was a poor idea not to wear your spectacles. How am I to explain when you bump into a wall? Or begin talking to a potted fern thinking it is Blythe?”
“Very amusing, Romy. You are only put out because of Granby.” A mysterious smile crossed her lips.
“No surprise there. I’ve already explained we don’t like each other, so the party is bound to be awkward. If you recall, I didn’t want to come.”
“No, you didn’t. I know you and Beatrice don’t tolerate each other well, but you failed to disclose why you and the duke are at odds.”
He called me a shrub. And he makes my skin prickle rather deliciously. Which is much more alarming.
“I don’t think he approves of Leo,” Romy said finally. “Or Tony. At least that was my impression.”
