Page 22 of The Marquess Method
Her sister was rarely innocent. Of anything. “Why on earth would the circumstances have driven me mad?”
“I don’t know. You’re an artist. Artists are given to fragile constitutions. Prone to insanity and fits.”
“I’m not on the edge of lunacy, Phaedra. Not even a bit addled. Nor is my constitution the least fragile. How did you find out about my situation to begin with?”
“You mean your,” Phaedra leaned across the table, “despoilment?”
“Were you listening at the door?” Theo couldn’t imagine Mama or Tony had come right out and announced it over dinner last night. Though Theo couldn’t be sure because she had taken a tray in her room.
“I overheard, quite by accident, Tony speaking to Mama and Maggie. And Freddie. Though I don’t suppose he understands, so you don’t have to worry about him gossiping. All he did was drool.”
“I expect my nephew will have an opinion once he’s older.” He probably would, since Theo would likely still be living with her brother. She had no intention of residing indefinitely with Haven. If she had to go to his estate for appearance’s sake, so be it. Then she was coming right back to London. Because she and Haven didn’t suit. Would never suit.
“I’m a bit confused because I thought you liked Blythe.” Phaedra blinked.
Theo’s jaw hardened. Phaedra was also rarely confused.
“You went to all that trouble to tangle yourself up in his kite string, dragging me along to the park with Olivia.And,” she drew out the syllables,“you forced Romy to go to that stupid house party. Then you have an assignation with Haven.” She lifted her hands with a roll of her shoulders. “It doesn’t make sense.”
Oh, good grief.“I happened upon Haven in Blythe’s study. I tripped. Haven caught me.” Theo repeated the story Haven had concocted. It was as good as any, though nearly everyone, including her family, assumed Theo had been lying in wait for Blythe when Haven came upon her. There was simply no other explanation she could give. “Lady Blythe misunderstood the situation and screamed—”
“Was itthathorrible? The sight of your ruination?”
Theo took a deep breath. She couldn’t very well toss her cup of tea on her sister though she longed to. “No. Lady Blythe made much more of it than necessary. Much like you, she’s given to dramatics.”
Phaedra bit into her toast, crunching loudly.
“And you only found the house party stupid because you didn’t get to attend,” Theo added.
“Possibly. Romy didn’t want to go at all. I remember quite clearly.”
“Whether she wanted to attend or not is irrelevant. The result of the house party for Romy was marrying a duke.”
“Yes, but the duke isGranby,” Phaedra said. “The Frost Giant.”
“I happen to like him.” Olivia delicately nibbled at her own toast.
Olivia did everything in a ladylike, refined way. Floating about the house with her dark solemn eyes. Perfect curtseys. Hair never out of place. Just now, Theo found all of it annoying. “You would, Olivia. Your last conversation with him was aboutworms. And as for calling him the Frost Giant—”
“It’s far nicer than the words Tony uses to describe him,” Phaedra said, interrupting. “And I’m tired of Mama’s Greeks. I’ve branched out to Norse mythology. Much more bloodthirsty. There’s an entire race of giants who live in the north. I feel certain Granby is one. He’s the look of,” she lowered her voice, “a savage.” She shivered. “I find him quite terrifying.”
Phaedra wasn’t afraid of anything, which in turn made the entire family fear forher. Theo’s improper miniature would be nothing compared to what she was certain Phaedra would do someday. There was a reason Tony affectionately called her demon.
“I think it more possible Granby is terrified of you,” Theo told her. “As we all are.”
Olivia giggled, giving an incredibly ladylike snort into her tea.
Theo felt beginnings of a headache stir, her temples throbbing as much from this discussion as her impending doom. She had considered fleeing London. Running away to America. Or France. But in all scenarios, Theo risked hurting her mother, something she simply couldn’t do. Nor did she want to resign herself to an estrangement from her family with a tattered reputation, leaving her no place in the world. Theo didn’t want the likes of Lady Blythe and her daughters crossing the street to avoid coming in contact with her, as if she were a piece of refuse.
She must make the best of the situation as her mother had advised her.
“I quite like Haven. He’s interesting. I liken him to Theseus.” Phaedra paused. “The cat, not the Greek warrior,” she clarified. “As I mentioned, I’m giving up on the Greeks. Possibly I’ll even rename Theseus. I haven’t decided.”
“Haven reminds you of our cat at Cherry Hill? The one with half his ear missing, fur which is always full of mud, who keeps leaving Mama dead birds and such?” Actually, Theo could see the resemblance. Haven had the look of a feral cat lingering about, waiting for an opportunity to steal a bit of meat.
“They both have green eyes. Surely you’ve noticed.”
Theo hadn’t really made the connection. “I don’t spend time gazing into the eyes of our cat, or Haven’s, for that matter.”
