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“That would be most welcome, for sometimes I find myself afraid, as well,” Verity replied and shot her stepmother a glance before walking away with my mother.
The dowager stood there, trembling in rage before she gave a quick nod to my father and walked in the opposite direction.
“Dear God,” Damon said as he rushed back over, laughing as he looked us over. “Never has there been a sharper blade than the tongue of a woman.”
Father exhaled looking to me. “That was the best you could do?”
“You have been married to her for over thirty years. Was that all you could do?” I pressed back. “Reason dictates the more experienced party take charge.”
“And society dictates a man does not interfere with the battles of women,” he replied. “Next time, drag her away.”
“Impossible,” Damon and I both said, then looked at each other and laughed.
“May I ask?” Silva questioned, now in our little circle as well. “Is it wise to make an enemy of the dowager?”
“It is not,” my father replied. “But they have been in this battle since before any of you were born. So only the second coming of Christ can end it now.”
“Lord Monthermer!” one of my father’s friends called.
“Finally, sane company. Excuse me,” he said and left us.
“So, let me understand,” Silva whispered. “Your mother abhors the dowager to this degree due to her friendship with the former Duchess of Everely?”
“We Du Bells are a stubborn and loyal breed,” my brother explained to her. “We do not easily forgive anyone who hurts our own. And in the case of Lady Luella Farraday, the former Duchess of Everely, my mother forgives not at all. She truly considered her a sister.”
“Is it wrong that I feel slightly for the dowager?” she asked. We could both see the dowager in the crowd, spoken to by few but shunned by many more.
They were not as harsh as my mother, of course, greeting her politely and then moving on.
“Believe me when I say, from my memories of past events, she deserves it and much more,” my brother replied. “The cruelty she may seem to be a victim of is no more than the cruelty she offered, especially to the former duke’s children.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “What cruelty?”
He looked me over, opened his mouth, and then stopped. “Nothing, sister.”
That was not nothing. “But—”
“Look who has arrived,” he said, and my heart started beating quickly.
I turned, thinking it was him, but it was just Tristian. And when he saw me and started to move toward me, I put my drink down to walk away.
“Where are you going?” Damon called after me.
“I shall return in a moment.” Though I did not know where I could hide in a ball, not when everyone kept slowing me down to speak or introduce me to someone else. All the while, I could feel Tristian coming toward me.
The only refuge was outside, so I rushed to the servants’ door and raced downstairs to make my escape to the only place I thought I could breathe freely.
“My lady?”
I turned to see the whole kitchen pausing their work to stare at me.
“Is there anything we can help you with…?” asked the maid standing before me.
“Um…no…I mean…” I did not want to return upstairs, but it was not correct for me to be among the servants. Then again, I was a lady of the house. Surely, I was free to stay wherever I liked.
“I know this is quite odd.” I laughed, but they just stared at me. “But may I stay down here for a moment?”
They all gave one another knowing looks.
