Page 83 of Wicked Is the Duke
"That and your brilliant ideas to include them in planning the dinner party. I will say, though, redoing their bed chambers was quite ingenious."
She graced her husband with a smile. "I had already decided their rooms needed redoing. This gives them a say in what is chosen."
Henry leaned over and took her hands. "Whatever it is, I'm just happy to see the three of you trying to have a civil relationship."
"I think they've decided I'm not the enemy. Daisy never did think so, but Alice was determined I was."
"I'm sorry the dinner had to be cancelled. I know how much they were looking forward to it," he said. "That includes you. I know you wanted to establish yourself and us in the community."
She nodded and squeezed his hands. "It'll happen. We may have to postpone it until we return from France, but we will have a small dinner party."
"It makes me love you all the more."
"Henry..."
He arched a brow. "What? I'm merely complimenting my wife for the wonderful job she's doing and not just with my sisters."
Just as Henry was about to kiss his bride, the door flew open, and Alice and Daisy burst through, each carrying a sketchbook.
Chapter Thirty
Two nights later, thedinner party was in full swing. Anna had wanted Alice and Daisy to participate in the dinner procession. This, she reasoned, would be an excellent practice for when Alice would debut the upcoming season. She made sure the dinner procession would be arranged.
She had spent hours explaining the hows and whys of the procession and how they were to walk with their escort into the dining room and then part to sit at her assigned table. Tonight, however, they would all be seated at one table, and Alice and Daisy would be seated at the far end.
Footmen dressed in full dress livery seated the guests deftly and poured wine and water for them. The meal this evening would start out with turtle soup, follow by broiled salmon with capers, and perch in cream sauce. Next came herb garnished ham, peppered venison, and crisp roast fowl with fresh garden vegetables. Dessert would follow with almond cheesecakes and rice soufflés. After that, the gentlemen would stay behind for port and cigars while she and the girls would lead the women to the drawing room for tea.
Anna glanced around the table, particularly at her sisters-in-law to see how they fared so far. Seated near the end of the table, Alice was talking animatedly to the guest on her right, Viscount Morrow. Daisy, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to either of the men seated on either side of her. The men, however, were beaming at being seated next to such a ravishing companion. Anna wasn't worried that Daisy reacted this way. She still had a couple of years before her debut.
"Any word on Lady Carlisle and the earl?" Lord Charles Taylor, the Marquis of Dorchester, inquired. He was seated to Anna's right, and his family estate sat about two miles from Blackmont Crest.
"None. The last information Blackmont had received was that her father had all but disowned her. The earl was last seen in Dover, boarding a ship to Calais. I believe he left his bride at one of his lesser estates by herself."
"Pity," he replied.
"It is. I had always thought her to be a rather intelligent young woman, but Carlisle saw weaknesses in her no one else did."
