Page 81 of A Virgin for the Duke of Thorns

She felt her mother rub soothing circles on her back as she laid her cheek on her father’s knee while he affectionately stroked her hair.

“What about the gossips?” she asked her mother softly. “What if they talk?”

Lady Brandon let out a most unladylike snort. “When did they not? Gossips will always talk, my dear. That is simply how it is.”

“But what about Phoebe? What if she is affected by the failure of my betrothal?”

“Do you really have so little faith in your sister’s capabilities?” Her mother laughed. “Phoebe can manage well enough on her own without having to sacrifice your happiness to boost her own popularity.”

Alice let out a hesitant smile. “That is true. Phoebe has accomplished in a few short weeks what I have not accomplished in three Seasons.”

She felt a light pinch at her side, and she yelped a little.

“Now, I shall not countenance such talk from you, young lady,” Lady Brandon admonished her. “You and your sister are different, and you each have your own strengths. Do not worry too much about this, and simply direct your efforts towards more meaningful pursuits.”

“You mean to say that I may indulge in my hobbies once more?” Alice teased, although deep in her heart, she knew she might not feel the urge to do anything in the immediate future besides surviving the rest of the Season.

She looked up to find her mother smiling most determinedly.

“On the contrary, my dear, you had best prepare yourself,” Lady Brandon told her with a wry smile. “With our breaking off the betrothal, it will only make those gentlemen ever more eager to pursue you.”

“What do you mean, Mama?”

Lady Brandon laughed lightly. “I have simply had more experience than yourself in maneuvering the ton, my dear. If the Duke of Blackthorn had chosen to court you properly instead of directly asking for your hand in marriage, we would have seen a great increase in gentlemen callers asking for you. Naturally, they will be most curious to find out what His Grace had seen that they managed to miss for all of three Seasons.”

“You make me sound like some novelty in a circus,” Alice groused, although there was a slight smile on her face. “Or some new specimen to be studied.”

At least her mama was more optimistic about how the rest of the Season was going to pan out for her and Phoebe. Alice, however, was not so certain she might be able to entertain suitors so soon after everything that happened.

“Now that you intend to call off the betrothal, this would only pique their curiosity more,” her mother continued. “After all, you will become the woman who was strong enough to refuse the offer of a duke—there will not be many with the same fortitude or the means to do so, and that is very, very attractive.”

“Whatever your mother says, dearest,” Lord Brandon threw in softly. “She is far more experienced in this field than I am.”

Lady Brandon beamed at her husband. “Naturally.”

Her husband smiled back at her. “Naturally.”

“All you will have to do,” her mother told her, “is be yourself. Do not hide and mope in your rooms. Go out on picnics and promenades. Go shopping with Phoebe and Scarlett on Bond Street. I know you are a fantastic dancer—it will be particularly useful in the coming balls.”

In other words, do not show defeat. Do not wear your heartbreak on your sleeve.

Alice did not know how she would be able to manage such an endeavor, but she knew she had to. If she so much as faltered or showed weakness, the gossips would hold onto that, and it was not only her reputation that would suffer, but Phoebe’s as well.

For the sake of her sister, she must be brave. Braver than she had ever been.

It was not going to be easy, but it would at least give her something to focus on besides the pain that was now timed to the rhythm of her heartbeat.

But after that… Alice did not dare look too far into the future. For now, it was enough to just take it one day at a time.

* * *

Her father chose to summon Colin to his study three days after she first broke the news to him. Alice had not been home at that time, as she had been accompanying her younger sister to purchase some items, which took them the better part of the entire afternoon.

In short, their paths did not need to cross for the breaking of their betrothal.

At first, this piece of news made waves amongst the ton, and everyone was eyeing both Blackthorn Estate and Brandon Estate for more news of the same. Fortunately, both estates had trained their servants well, and beyond the official announcement that the betrothal between the Duke of Blackthorn and the Lady Alice Barkley had been called off, there was not much that the gossips of the ton could sink their teeth into.

Business carried on as usual, and everyone shifted their attention to the next bit of news—namely, that all Wolves—were presently unattached, and therefore, the young misses could renew their efforts in capturing their attention.

---