Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
My father’s eyes shot to me, willing me to say something.
“Mama,” I said, placing my hand on her arm. “I fear now upon seeing Verity’s dress that mine might not be up to par. Should I change?”
“No, my dear, both you and Verity look splendid. As I said, it is a thing of birth,” she replied, and my father again looked at me. Luckily, she switched her attention to Verity. “Come, my dear, I wish to introduce you to friends of mine. I fear for the company around you at times.”
“That would be most welcome, for sometimes I find myself afraid, as well,” Verity replied and shot her stepmother a glance before walking away with my mother.
The dowager stood there, trembling in rage before she gave a quick nod to my father and walked in the opposite direction.
“Dear God,” Damon said as he rushed back over, laughing as he looked us over. “Never has there been a sharper blade than the tongue of a woman.”
Father exhaled looking to me. “That was the best you could do?”
“You have been married to her for over thirty years. Was that all you could do?” I pressed back. “Reason dictates the more experienced party take charge.”
“And society dictates a man does not interfere with the battles of women,” he replied. “Next time, drag her away.”
“Impossible,” Damon and I both said, then looked at each other and laughed.
“May I ask?” Silva questioned, now in our little circle as well. “Is it wise to make an enemy of the dowager?”
“It is not,” my father replied. “But they have been in this battle since before any of you were born. So only the second coming of Christ can end it now.”
“Lord Monthermer!” one of my father’s friends called.
“Finally, sane company. Excuse me,” he said and left us.
“So, let me understand,” Silva whispered. “Your mother abhors the dowager to this degree due to her friendship with the former Duchess of Everely?”
“We Du Bells are a stubborn and loyal breed,” my brother explained to her. “We do not easily forgive anyone who hurts our own. And in the case of Lady Luella Farraday, the former Duchess of Everely, my mother forgives not at all. She truly considered her a sister.”
“Is it wrong that I feel slightly for the dowager?” she asked. We could both see the dowager in the crowd, spoken to by few but shunned by many more.
They were not as harsh as my mother, of course, greeting her politely and then moving on.
“Believe me when I say, from my memories of past events, she deserves it and much more,” my brother replied. “The cruelty she may seem to be a victim of is no more than the cruelty she offered, especially to the former duke’s children.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “What cruelty?”
He looked me over, opened his mouth, and then stopped. “Nothing, sister.”
That was not nothing. “But—”
“Look who has arrived,” he said, and my heart started beating quickly.
I turned, thinking it was him, but it was just Tristian. And when he saw me and started to move toward me, I put my drink down to walk away.
“Where are you going?” Damon called after me.
“I shall return in a moment.” Though I did not know where I could hide in a ball, not when everyone kept slowing me down to speak or introduce me to someone else. All the while, I could feel Tristian coming toward me.
The only refuge was outside, so I rushed to the servants’ door and raced downstairs to make my escape to the only place I thought I could breathe freely.
“My lady?”
I turned to see the whole kitchen pausing their work to stare at me.
“Is there anything we can help you with…?” asked the maid standing before me.
“Um…no…I mean…” I did not want to return upstairs, but it was not correct for me to be among the servants. Then again, I was a lady of the house. Surely, I was free to stay wherever I liked.
“I know this is quite odd.” I laughed, but they just stared at me. “But may I stay down here for a moment?”
They all gave one another knowing looks.
“Of course, my lady,” the butler said, pulling out a stool for me to sit on. He dusted it as best he could with his hands.
“Thank you,” I said and sat down.
They returned to their work, but it was now very quiet. I was obviously impeding them. And it made me wonder what in the world I was doing.
Why had I come down here?
Why was I staying down here?
Evander, my heart answered.
Sighing, I reached for one of the pastries on the table.
“Aphrodite!”
I jumped off the stool, my hand dropping as I turned to meet the face of my brother.
“What on earth are you doing down here?”
I stared. “Sitting?”
He frowned and came over, taking my hand. “We are going back up. You cannot sit with the servants. You are bothering them.”