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“I’m sure Penelope feels the same way. It’s been the better part of a whole week since you have last seen each other. There’s no b=doubt you have much to catch up on.”

Rebecca laughed, but knew her friend to know that it was likely quite true.

In fact, given just how long the pair sat talking, there was no doubt about it.

Patrick Monaghan arrived almost exactly on time. He motioned for the woman beside him to step forward.

“Everyone, I would like you to meet my wife, Rosemary,” he said.

Pleasant greetings were exchanged and he continued. “Shall we head into the dinning room then?”

“Not yet,” Rebecca said, chewing her lip. “We’re still waiting for a few more guests.”

Lady Sutton hesitated. “May I ask who?”

Before Rebecca could reply, Penelope nudged her mother and whispered something in her ear.

The woman appeared surprised for a moment before she composed herself.

“Of course. In the meantime why don’t we all sit down for a bit. There’s no need to rush what is sure to be a fine evening.”

Rebecca offered a relived smile. “Indeed. I feel the same way.

So the six of them sat and waited.

Most of them were able to pass the time amicably enough, but Rebecca struggled to focus.

It felt like her family would never arrive, but finally the foot man announced the arrival of the Viscount of Glourshire and the Lady Dorothy Crowton. Rebecca didn’t doubt that their late arrival was precisely calculated to humiliate her without injuring their standing in the ton.

The air in the room seemed to shift when they entered. Dorothy’s eyes darted over every surface as if she were searching for something. After a while she must have found it because a wide grin spread across her face.

Solomon on the other hand seemed to be a completely different person than she was used to. No sooner had they stepped inside, than he was approaching Rebecca.

“It looks like you put in quite a bit of effort for us,” he said with a tight smile.

She hesitated, waiting for the next part of that sentence. The part that would cutr her like a knife, humiliate her in front of everyone, but it didn’t come. “Thank you?” she said after a moment.

He nodded then moved to go speak with Lady Sutton.

Rebecca blinked in shock, turning to William. She caught his eye for a moment, but before she could approach him, Dorothy approached her.

“Well, isn’t this all rather quaint,” she scoffed. “It’s easy to see it’s your first time hosting.”

She looked away, taking a deep breath. “Shall we move to the dinning room for dinner?”

CHAPTER 20

It was taking everything in William to remain calm. From the second Solomon and Dorothy walked through the door, he wanted nothing more than to throw them back out.

It wasn’t helped that Solomon seemed intent on trying to play the part of the perfect father and Dorothy taking a shot at Rebecca every chance she got.

Of course his perfect father act didn’t extend to stoping his other daughter from mocking Rebecca.

He walked beside Rebecca as they led their guests into the dinning room.

Everyone moved around, taking their seats. Dorothy scoffed, turning to Rebecca.

“Why did you seat me beside Lady Sutton?” she pouted. “What am I supposed to talk about with her?”