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Epilogue
Summer 1741
Annalise entered Lavinia’s sitting room, a basket in her hands.
“Annalise, dear, come, sit.” Lavinia hovered over her and helped her into a settee.
“Olivia, darling, I haven’t seen you in so long!” Annalise exclaimed as she noticed her friend.
“Yes, I’ve been… indisposed.”
“What happened?” Annalise asked as she placed a basket next to her and opened the lid. Miss Gale jumped out of it and started sniffing around.
“How do you do, Miss Gale?” Lavinia asked cheerfully.
“Well, the gowns you made me buy that day at the modiste are uncomfortable, to say the least,” Olivia said with a pout. “I can’t walk in them, and I can barely breathe. I made a fool of myself during one of the balls and recovered at home for the rest of the season.”
“They are of the latest fashion,” Annalise protested.
“They itch.”
Annalise gave a soft smile. She knew Olivia would find the gowns uncomfortable. They all did, even Olivia. “You need to get used to them if you want to catch a gentleman’s attention. Unless you’ve changed your mind?”
Olivia shook her head. “No.” She picked at the skin around her fingers.
“And you need to cease doing that,” Annalise observed with a smile.
Olivia balled her hands into a fist. “All those etiquette lessons are not what I need. There are plenty of women versed in the art of etiquette and yet unmarried, or married unhappily.”
At Lavinia’s grimace, Olivia bit her lip. “I… Apologies. I didn’t mean you.”
“Well, if you did, you wouldn’t be wrong,” Lavinia said.
Miss Gale walked over to Lavinia’s chair at that time and was sniffing her skirts. She then jumped up and started settling on her lap with loud purring.
“She likes you,” Olivia said.
“We shall have a grand time, shan’t we, Galinthias?” Lavinia addressed the cat.
“Speaking of your grand time. She is very picky about the food,” Annalise said. “She prefers fish and milk most of all. And if you give her bread, it is better to dip it into the milk first.”
Lavinia laughed. “Do not worry about your cat. I shall take good care of her.”
Annalise smiled. “She is fierce. She will not let anyone harm you. I am glad my favorite ladies will be looking out for each other while I am gone.”
“Do not worry about us and have an incredible wedding journey,” Olivia said.
“I am so glad everything is well with you and Blake,” Lavinia chimed in.
“I couldn’t be happier,” Annalise said. “Perhaps Miss Gale can spread some of the luck with men your way too.”
Lavinia grimaced.
Olivia narrowed her eyes. “You are right!”
Annalise blinked. “What did I say?”
“Her mind made the jump again,” Lavinia said with a chuckle.
