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Cassie, predictably, sulked. “I’m not weak in constitution. I just don’t see why we have to gothere. Grandfather could be there.”
“Weak in constitution,” Sophie replied. “As I said.”
“I simply mean,” Cassie pitched her voice slightly higher, “that we should invite Priscilla to call on us.here,instead. Grandfather won’t be here.”
“We’ve never called on her,” Charlotte explained more calmly. “We’ve never been any sort of support to her. It wouldn’t be right asking her to call on us, especiallynow. She’s the one who’s lost both her father and brother in the matter of a few days. She shouldn’t have to call on anyone.”
Cassie leaned forward in her seat and her light brown curls bobbed against her shoulders as she turned her full attention on Charlotte, next to Sophie. “But what if Grandfather sees us? What if seeing us makes him think one of us would make an excellent match for Hellsburg?” She shivered slightly. “It’s much safer to stay here, don’t you think? Besides, I’m sure Priscilla would rather be out of that house than in it. I know I would if I was her.”
“Weak in—”
“Honestly, Sophie!” Cassie nearly wailed. “If you call me weak in constitution one more time…”
“Calling on our cousin who is in need is the decent thing to do, Cassandra. Ifyouaren’t willing to do the decent thing, then Charlotte and I will go without you. No one is forcing you to do anything. Going or staying is entirely your decision.”
Cassie sunk back against her chair, her bottom lip thrust out in a fairly characteristic pout. “There are days that I hate you, Sophie.”
“Cassandra!” Mama gasped from the threshold. “What an awful thing to say to your sister.”
“She called me weak in constitution. You just didn’t hear her.”
When their mother cast her gaze upon Sophie, she shrugged in response to the accusation. “She wasbeingweak in constitution.”
“Well, I’m certain there was no reason to point it out, Sophia.”
On that, they would have to agree to differ. If no one ever pointed out Cassie’s tendency to be spineless, then she’d never try to improve herself.
“Mama,” Charlotte began, her voice as serenely sweet as always. “Sophie and I are heading to Chatham House this morning to visit Priscilla, if you would like to come with us.”
Their mother blanched slightly. “Chatham House? What would inspire you to go there all of a sudden?” And then she apparently reached the most logical explanation in her own mind as she said, “You girls weren’t by chance listening outside your father’s study last night, were you?”
Sophie wasnotweak in constitution, so she tipped her chin up a bit stubbornly. “Sometimes it is the only way to learn what is really happening in the world.”
“Sophia.” Mama sagged a bit as she stepped into the breakfast room. “You do exhaust me.”
She probably did. Mama, after all, was very similar in temperament to Cassie. “Yes, well, Charlotte and I are worried about Priscilla, being stuck in that house with only Grandfather and…him.”
Mama dropped into a chair beside Cassie and heaved a sigh. “The girl needs more than a visit, Sophia. She needs a way out of that house.”
That was probably true, but…
“Mama! That’s it!” Charlotte began, beaming from ear to ear. “What ifweoffered to let her stay here with us?”
“Here?” Mama frowned at that. “I’m not sure your grandfather…”
But Charlotte was right. “It’s all in the way it’s presented,” Sophie said. “We could tell Grandfather that we wish to lift the burden placed upon him after Uncle Aylesford’s death.”
“That would only make him more stubborn in keeping her,” Charlotte said. “As though we don’t think he can handle everything on his own.” She shook her head. “He thinks everyone else is weak, so we should present it that way. Mama should tell him how in awe she is of how dignified and refined Lady Priscilla is and hint that if Priscilla were to stay at Beckbury House for a time that her poise and sophistication might be a good example for the three of us.”
Cassie gasped at the suggestion. “That makes us sound like undignified ape leaders.”
“Who cares what Grandfather thinks?” Sophie asked, warming to Charlotte’s plan. It was, after all, a brilliant idea. “As long as we’re able to free our poor cousin from his grasp, he can believe we each have three heads and forked tongues for all I care.”
“Honestly, Sophia,” Mama said aghast. “The things you say.”
“You grew up with him, Mama,” Charlotte said softly. “Certainly, you can’t want the same for her? Not now that everyone who loved her is gone.”
“I’m sure I could convince Papa to agree,” Sophie said. For all that Papa was full of bluster, he wasn’t the mean-spirited sort. At least not where she was concerned. “I’m sure he’d say yes if I asked him.”
