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“And you only found the house party stupid because you didn’t get to attend,” Theo added.
“Possibly. Romy didn’t want to go at all. I remember quite clearly.”
“Whether she wanted to attend or not is irrelevant. The result of the house party for Romy was marrying a duke.”
“Yes, but the duke isGranby,” Phaedra said. “The Frost Giant.”
“I happen to like him.” Olivia delicately nibbled at her own toast.
Olivia did everything in a ladylike, refined way. Floating about the house with her dark solemn eyes. Perfect curtseys. Hair never out of place. Just now, Theo found all of it annoying. “You would, Olivia. Your last conversation with him was aboutworms. And as for calling him the Frost Giant—”
“It’s far nicer than the words Tony uses to describe him,” Phaedra said, interrupting. “And I’m tired of Mama’s Greeks. I’ve branched out to Norse mythology. Much more bloodthirsty. There’s an entire race of giants who live in the north. I feel certain Granby is one. He’s the look of,” she lowered her voice, “a savage.” She shivered. “I find him quite terrifying.”
Phaedra wasn’t afraid of anything, which in turn made the entire family fear forher. Theo’s improper miniature would be nothing compared to what she was certain Phaedra would do someday. There was a reason Tony affectionately called her demon.
“I think it more possible Granby is terrified of you,” Theo told her. “As we all are.”
Olivia giggled, giving an incredibly ladylike snort into her tea.
Theo felt beginnings of a headache stir, her temples throbbing as much from this discussion as her impending doom. She had considered fleeing London. Running away to America. Or France. But in all scenarios, Theo risked hurting her mother, something she simply couldn’t do. Nor did she want to resign herself to an estrangement from her family with a tattered reputation, leaving her no place in the world. Theo didn’t want the likes of Lady Blythe and her daughters crossing the street to avoid coming in contact with her, as if she were a piece of refuse.
She must make the best of the situation as her mother had advised her.
“I quite like Haven. He’s interesting. I liken him to Theseus.” Phaedra paused. “The cat, not the Greek warrior,” she clarified. “As I mentioned, I’m giving up on the Greeks. Possibly I’ll even rename Theseus. I haven’t decided.”
“Haven reminds you of our cat at Cherry Hill? The one with half his ear missing, fur which is always full of mud, who keeps leaving Mama dead birds and such?” Actually, Theo could see the resemblance. Haven had the look of a feral cat lingering about, waiting for an opportunity to steal a bit of meat.
“They both have green eyes. Surely you’ve noticed.”
Theo hadn’t really made the connection. “I don’t spend time gazing into the eyes of our cat, or Haven’s, for that matter.”
“I’m sure Theseus would wield a sword, much like Haven, if he could. He’s quite brave. Loves a good fight. You see? They have much in common.”
“I think you have given Haven attributes he may not actually have.”
“You must like Haven a little to have been compromised by him. It’s all right to admit it.”
Theo looked up at her sister. “Wait, how in the world would you know if Haven wielded a sword or not?”
“He told me so when he called upon us. When Granby disappeared from town for a while. Don’t you remember? Romy was secretly missing her Frost Giant, and Haven kept popping up to take her to the park.”
Her mother had reminded her of Haven’s visits only the other night. Since Mama had conversed with him, Theo supposed it wasn’t a stretch to find out he’d also had discussions with Phaedra on weaponry.
“I’ve never seen anyone eat so many scones at one sitting,” Phaedra continued. “Piles of them. And he ate all the sandwiches even though he claimed not to care for cucumber. Romy had to send Pith for another tray. You’ll have to keep him from getting stout, Theo. At any rate, that is when we talked of swords.” She waved about with her hand as if wielding one. “I may take up fencing.”
“Perhaps you’ll prove more adept at swords than the violin,” Olivia said, still nibbling at her toast.
One had to be careful of Olivia. Theo had always admired her ability to strike when one least expected the attack.
Phaedra gave Olivia a hard look. “Not everyone takes to music as well as you do, Olivia. Mama says I deserve applause for at least trying.” She frowned. “Perhaps swords will prove to be my passion.”
“Perhaps,” Olivia murmured dubiously. “Fencing is bound to bring you many admirers. The drawing room will overflow.”
“Regardless,” Phaedra continued while simultaneously flicking a bit of egg toward Olivia, “Haven always asked after you, Theo.”
“How kind of him to inquire after my health.” It surprised her that Haven had asked after her, but possibly he was only being polite. Still, a bit of warmth settled in her chest at the words, refusing to be dislodged.
Olivia discreetly threw a tiny bit of honey-covered crust back at Phaedra. It landed just above Phaedra’s ear, sticking firmly to her hair.
“He always wanted to know,” Phaedra informed her, a bit gleefully, “if you were stumbling about blindly in the garden. He expressed his worry that you’d trip and fall out a window. Asked if the servants guided you about. Because, you know, he wasn’t certain you were wearing your spectacles.”
She should have known Haven’s concern had only been an opportunity to find new ways to mock her eyesight. The warmth faded abruptly.
“Yes, but I’m wearing them now.” Theo pushed the hated spectacles further up her nose. Phaedra was unlikely to notice the bit of toast stuck to her until much later. Served her right.
Theo shared a conspiratorial smile with Olivia. “Olivia, would you be a dear and pass the honey?”
