Page 10 of Her Ruse with the Rakish Duke
“What? Those shoes cost more than all the dresses. Where did you keep them? These girls! You will not be the death of me. Come, come, and bring your maid.”
Melanie was shepherded away by a bristling aunt. At the door, she turned and gave Daphne a wink then continued her wailing down the hall.
Daphne collapsed on the floor with laughter and had barely gathered herself when Amelia shuffled inside. Her sister was worse in appearance than Melanie. She crashed to Daphne’s bed, a series of complaints pouring from her lips. Her words fell fast and harsh.
Amelia always spoke like she was on fire. But with the stress of the wedding, that had tripled.
“It will be fine, sister,” Daphne consoled. She had not exactly understood everything her sister said. The only certainty was that if her mother were to find them unprepared, there would be blood.
“It is fine. You just have to prepare for Harry’s place. Once we get there, everything else will fall in line.”
“The family will hate me, I just know it,” Amelia complained at rapid-fire speed.
“Nonsense, they love you. They know how the Marquess feels about you. They would not dare to say a bad word behind your back, not to mention in front of you.”
Another jumbled sentence. Daphne made out a few words, enough to cause offense. She tamped down on her temper, with the knowledge that her sister was a nervous wreck.
“Fine, I promise. I will be in a better mood and I will not cause any trouble for you.”
“This is not about Percy, is it? There is another man on your mind and Melanie knows about it. All I am saying is, pull yourself together for me.”
“I will.”
Amelia narrowed her eyes, “Later, we will discuss why you confided in Melanie and not me.”
“Before or after you have snapped everyone’s head off?”
Amelia threw back her head and wailed about how Daphne was making fun of her and not being helpful at all. Daphne laughed and held her sister. A minute later, they heard their mother’s bellow and had to break apart.
It was like when they were eight and nine again. When Daphne had to stand outside their father’s study, watching out for their mother while Amelia looted the study for some sweet snacks. This was after both of them had been banned from the kitchen and Daphne remembered their father had a horrible sweet tooth.
One shout from their mother and they were dashing down the hall with their loot. Now, Amelia was to be married and Daphne was not sure what she was doing with her life.
After Amelia left, Daphne’s maid arrived. She helped her pack the rest of her luggage. The family set out for the Marquess’ estate. Her parents on one side, and the girls on the other.
Once they reached the estate, their mother turned to Melanie and Daphne. “Your priority this week is to look out for the eligible bachelors. The Marquess has many friends, so I assume many of them will be there.”
“We do not know these people…” Daphne started.
“And you, Daphne,” her father interjected. “Percy will be at the estate. Ensure that you catch his attention.”
“Papa, no!” Daphne blurted.
“What do you mean, no? Have you lost your mind?”
The carriage came to a stop in front of one of the buildings. Melanie alighted first, followed by Amelia, her mother, then Daphne. She told the earl, “We are not a good match, Papa. Believe me, I have known Percy for years.”
Her father grunted, tapping on his tobacco pipe. “Everyone thinks that way before they marry. You will never learn enough to love about a person until you share one bed and one roof. Even then, it is hard.”
“What I know now is enough. I cannot marry Percy. He is not right for me.”
“Then tell me why you think this of him. Perhaps we will understand.”
Daphne stuttered a few words and then looked ahead. She saw a loud yellow coat and a dashing top heart. “Speak of the devil. That is Percy and his family.”
“My lord, my lady, I did not know it was possible for four women to arrive earlier than us,” Percy’s father, the Viscount of Suffork, commented, eyeing his son. “How do you do?”
Lord Wallace replied with a chuckle. “Quite well Lord Suffork. The ladies did surprise us today, I must say.”
