Page 14 of A Brilliant Match
She wrestled the jealousy into its place. It was not such a hard thing to do when the sun shone, especially feeling as well as she did. She took another bite of toast then looked up at how Margery was arranging her hair.
“I will wear a simpler style today. You need not add curls on the sides. Just pull it all back.” She stared up at the maid through the reflection and thus caught the second look of surprise. Never before had she requested to be made plainer in appearance.
Sophia apparently wondered at it too, for she pulled back from the armchair she had sat upon to peer at Dorothea.
“Why would you not want the curls? You know they suit you so charmingly when they frame your face that way. I hardly know you not to wear them.”
Dorothea averted her eyes as she sipped her chocolate. “I am riding out with Mr. Shaw today, and I do not wish for him to think I desire anything other than friendship. I plan to dress simply, so he does not imagine I’ve made any special efforts for him.”
“Dorry!” Sophia stood, her brows pulling together. It was as much censure as Dorothea had ever heard in her sister’s voice. “What do you mean by such a thing? Mr. Shaw is most gentlemanly. You should honor his invitation by attempting to look your best.”
Her sister’s strongly voiced criticism had merit, but Dorothea was not in the humor to listen to it. She shook her head as she chewed her last bite of toast. The thought that her sister might have developed a suddentendrefor him returned in full force.
“Sophia, you must know that Mr. Shaw is ineligible and set your sights elsewhere, if that is what you are thinking. You have the whole season ahead of you, and I certainly hope you have not pinned your hopes on the very first man who asked you to dance.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Sophia replied in what was a most unusual expression of exasperation for her. “I have no thoughts for him. Besides, he spent more time asking about you during our dance than he did attempting to win my regard. I merely think you do him a disservice by not attempting to appear at your best. It is beneath you,” she added in a voice of quiet dignity.
This almost turned Dorothea from her path, but she remained staunch as she sipped the last of her chocolate. However, Sophia’s next words had the effect of convincing her.
“All of London will be in Hyde Park this afternoon. You cannot afford to look less than your best at all times, even if you do not favor the gentleman you are riding with. What if people begin to whisper you are a dowd?”
Dorothea flushed at that and sat up straight. It was humiliating to have this conversation in front of their maid, but her sister’s advice was too pertinent to be ignored.
“Very well. You may add some curls, Margery. And I will not wear the brown dress.” She darted a defiant look at Sophia. “I shall wear the gray.”
“Good,” Sophia said brightly, ruining Dorothea’s attempt at gaining ground. “Your gray gown is the prettiest day dress you own, in my opinion. It is simple, but you look well in it.”
Dorothea glared at her sister, who remained supremely unbothered by her remonstration and returned an innocent smile. She did not know why Sophia could not show this side of herself to suitors. They would be lined up at the door if they saw it. When she smiled like this, her eyes lit with playfulness, her dimples came out in full force.
Dorothea allowed Margery to finish her hair and help her to slip on the gray gown. It was made of a light linen cloth that flattered her form. It would be best if she focused on her own suitors for the moment. As soon as she had secured one, she would be able to focus on arranging matches for each one of her sisters. Appraising herself in the mirror, she had to agree with Sophia. The soft gray gown with the pleated bodice, as simple as it was, lent an appearance of purity and youth that she knew was already fleeting. It softened her stubborn chin and made her more approachable.
Well! She would have to make sure she kept her eye out for other gentlemen once they reached Hyde Park. Not only for other gentlemen, but even the ladies. It was not until they were at Lady Berkley’s ball that she realized how much their family had slipped out of Society. She knew so few people, and that factor would not put her in the way of the most acceptable candidates. She desperately needed friends in the right places.
Chapter7
Dorothea went looking for Evo as soon as she was dressed and eventually tracked him down in the library. He was spinning coins on the table and looked up when she came in. He dropped his gaze and slapped his hand on the coin as it neared the end of its turns.
“Evo, we need to talk.” She went and sat opposite to him, clasping her hands on her lap.
He flicked a glance upward but remained silent as he sent the coin spinning again. Behind him, the diamond-pane windows let in little of the light from the outdoors, causing Evo’s face to rest in the shadows.
“Have you nothing to say for yourself for leaving Mr. Sands behind?”
“I am certain you have enough to say for the both of us,” he answered and flashed her a smile. There was an attempt at lightness in the tone, but the smile was unfriendly.
She frowned at his careless attitude so unlike the boy he’d been, when he had wanted to tell her everything. Was this what it was to lose her brother? Would he simply grow into a man like their father once he reached adulthood? Detached, hardened, with no family loyalty. Evo had always been such a joy to the family—to her. To think he might end up like his sire caused her heart to grow heavy.
“And the stunt you pulled in the drawing room with Mr. Shaw. I should hope you will never do such a thing again. It was humiliating for both Sophia and myself.”
“It was spoken in jest,” he mumbled. “Mr. Shaw knew it. He laughed—or nearly laughed,” he amended.
“Mr. Shaw’s behavior is no concern of mine. Yours, however, is. I want to see you grow well, Evo.”
“Has it never occurred to you that it is not your responsibility to see that I do?” he shot back. “If you will remember, my mother is still alive.”
“But she—” Dorothea clamped her lips shut. She would not voice what she knew to be true. Her mother would never direct the steps of any of her children. That was left to Dorothea. She had to try again.
“It is not good to ditch a man in your employ simply because it suits your pleasure. You have a responsibility to those underneath you. It matters not that you no longer need a tutor. Mr. Sands was to see that you made it safely back to London, and you deprived him of fulfilling his role. It was badly done of you.”
