Page 39 of My Secret Duke
“Olivia and Justina will come with me.”
Olivia set down her teacup with a clatter, but no one seemed to notice.
“It is time Olivia resumed her Season, and…” The dowager bit back a sigh. “I had hoped that Olivia would be settled before Justina had her coming-out, but thatnow seems unlikely.” Her dark eyes rested censoriously on her eldest granddaughter, and Olivia, remembering the approval she had so recently basked in, tried not to flinch.
“So I will be coming out?” Justina said, eyes wide with trepidation.
“I see no reason for us to wait any longer,” the dowager retorted. “Unless…” She looked questioningly at her grandson. “Gabriel? Can we afford another debutante ball so soon after the house party?”
Gabriel cleared his throat. “We can. A small one.” He grimaced at Justina. “I’m sorry, the coffers are running low. There is never enough to do everything I want to do at Grantham.”
He sounded downhearted, and Vivienne placed her hand over his. Gabriel seemed surprised. Olivia held her breath, hoping he would not pull away. Gabriel’s eyes met Vivienne’s, delving deep, and then suddenly, they were both smiling. The relief around the table was palpable.
Justina’s smile was undimmed. “I don’t mind, Gabriel. As long as the people I love the most are at my coming-out, I will be happy. Oh, and if I have a new dress for the occasion.”
Gabriel’s dark eyes were warm. “Then you will have your wish.”
“What about me?”
Roberta’s question shattered the harmonious moment. All attention turned to her, but she only lifted her chin and stared back, unfazed. “You have mentioned everyone else, Grandmama, but what about me?”
Olivia gave an inner sigh as she looked properly at her sister. Roberta’s hair was hastily bundled up into a chignon, wisps falling everywhere, and her dress had a stainon the sleeve. She had probably been down at the stables already this morning—the girl seemed to live there.
“How old are you?” their grandmother demanded.
“She’ll be seventeen in two days’ time,” Vivienne replied mildly, with a smile for Roberta. “She is no longer a child.”
“Despite behaving like one,” the dowager said. Then, in a testy voice, “Very well, she will come with me to London, and if she misbehaves at all, if she disobeys even one of my directives, then she will be sent home in disgrace.”
Roberta bit her lip and tried hard not to smile.
Olivia couldn’t help but smile too. She felt like skipping around the room. London! There would besomeinvitations, surely? And even if she received only one, she would use it to win everybody over so that soon there would be more. Olivia would be sensible and serious, she would make the most of this chance, but she was also going to enjoy herself like there was no tomorrow, because with Roberta accompanying them, there may very well not be.
The dowager was issuing orders. The governess would remain here at Grantham with the younger members of the family, while the companion, Miss Starky, was to come with them to Ashton House. Their companion was young and amiable, although she was understandably anxious when in the company of their grandmother.
Rides and strolls in the park would be in order. Visits to their dressmaker, and the theater, and all the other entertainments London had to offer. So much to look forward to. Olivia could hardly wait. Finally, she would be able to resume her Season. She hadn’t realized quite how low her spirits had fallen until they started to lift. And no,she refused to believe that had anything to do with Ivo’s hasty departure.
With breakfast finished, the three girls went upstairs to pack. Justina was still wide-eyed from the news of her coming-out, while Roberta was dancing as she climbed the stairs, swirling her skirts around her until she stumbled and nearly fell over the bannister.
“You realize you will not be able to walk around looking as if you’ve been dragged through a bush backward,” Olivia said, catching hold of her sister’s arm to hold her upright.
Justina shot her a worried look and, startled, Olivia realized her voice had sounded as testy as Grandmama’s. Was she being horrible again?
Roberta seemed to think so, her eyes flashing. “I can be a lady,” she retorted, and curtsied low. “See? There’s nothing to it.”
Olivia shrugged. “Passable, I suppose.”
Roberta curtsied again, and skipped away to her room, her untidy hair tumbling down around her.
Justina caught Olivia’s hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. “Shedoestry. She’s just so… so—”
“Annoying?” Olivia finished for her.
Justina gave a little smile, and her eyes sparkled. “Prince Nikolai didn’t know what to make of her. We were walking in the garden with him, and suddenly, she turned a cartwheel. Right in front of him!”
Olivia stared in horror. “Her skirts…”
“She was wearing pantaloons. We all saw them. The prince turned as red as a beet and almost ran away.”
