Page 74 of Wicked Is the Duke
Anna noted the young girl rolling her eyes. She was of an age where she would question everything and everyone in authority. Until now they’d only had Jane as a parental figurehead. Now that Henry and she had married the change disrupted what had been normal for so long. It would take them some time to get to know each other.
They reluctantly followed Anna into the drawing room and flounced down on the gold couch, letting their displeasure be known.
"Alice, would you care to pour?"
The eye roll, followed by an arched brow. "I really wouldn't."
Anna decided not to back down and give in. "Consider it practice for the tea we'll be hosting in two days’ time."
"We're hosting a tea?" Daisy chimed in.
"Yes. Though the season won't start until April, I thought it would be nice to begin including you girls in some social events. A tea is a perfect introduction."
After adding milk and sugar to her sister's tea, Alice passed the cup and saucer to her sibling.
"I take mine with one sugar, no milk," Anna said. She eyed Alice closely to see what she might do next.
She heard the young girl let out a breath, obviously meant to be as dramatic as possible. Alice proceeded with the task, handing the cup to Anna.
No one said a word; the room was awkwardly silent.
"I made an appointment at my modiste for us all."
"Will Jane be going with us? She always goes with us when we have dresses made," Alice said firmly.
Anna set her tea on a table next to her chair. "Of course she will be going with us. It was her idea we all go."
The drawing room door opened, and in walked Henry. His timing couldn't have been better. The girls hurriedly dropped their cups to the table and ran to meet their brother.
Henry laughed, taking them both in a group embrace. "If I'd known I would receive this sort of welcome, I'd have sent you both to school earlier."
"Are we staying for the summer?" Daisy asked innocently.
"Of course."
"I don't think we need to return, Henry. We could learn from tutors, what they teach us there," Alice quipped.
"Alice, you know the reason I sent you and Daisy was primarily to get you both out in the world, as much as young girls do."
"Well, I'm grown up now. I can write my friends, and we can visit when we can."
Henry glanced at Anna. She wondered if he felt the tension in the air. "I'll take that under advisement. No decisions need to be made at the moment."
"Can you take us to the park, Henry? Like you used to?" Alice asked.
"I'm sure I can," he replied. He turned to gaze at Anna. "Or Anna can take you if I'm not at home."
"We'd rather go with you or Jane," Alice replied.
"Anna's perfectly capable of taking you anywhere you desire to go. In fact, I believe she has a number of outings planned for you both."
Alice let out a sigh worthy of any dramatic stage actress. "I cannot wait."
"Excellent," Henry replied. "Now if you ladies will excuse me, I have some matters I must take care of."
"But what are we supposed to do?" Daisy asked innocently.
"We should make sure Mr. Tiger is settled in," Alice replied. She looked toward her younger sister with an expression of exasperation.
