Page 5 of Marry in Scandal
She directed a basilisk gaze at Lily. “What is this engagement you set so much store on keeping?”
“I’m going to a party with Emm and Cal.”
Aunt Agatha’s thinly plucked brows rose. “The Mainwaring rout?” She gave a contemptuous snort. “An insipid gathering of mediocre nobodies.”
“Emm and Cal are going too,” Lily pointed out. The Earl and Countess of Ashendon, her brother and his wife, were hardly nobodies, and as for being mediocre, well, Cal was magnificent—a war hero. And Emm was a darling—a darling who could parry Aunt Agatha’s horrid stabs without turning a hair. Unfortunately Emm and Cal had gone out for a walk before Aunt Agatha had descended on them.
“Your brother and sister-in-law felt obligated to accept the invitation,” Aunt Agatha corrected her. “Sir George was your brother’s commanding officer at one time. But given Emmaline’s interesting condition, they would have been able to make a token appearance and leave early. However if you attend, Emmaline will beobligedto stay longer.” Her tone suggested that by staying late, the succession of the Earls of Ashendon would be endangered. And if Emm lost The Heir, Aunt Agatha would know whom to blame.
“I don’t mind if we leave early.”
Aunt Agatha sniffed. “Your sister and Georgiana, frivolous as they are, understand a golden opportunity when it is offered to them.Theyhad no difficulty in writing to Lady Mainwaring to make their apologies for this evening. Why can you not do the same?” Her lip curled. “Apart from the obvious.”
“That’s not fair—” Rose began hotly.
Before another argument about her deficiencies could begin, Lily said, “Because I promised someone I’d meet her there. A girl I knew at school.” Rose gave her a curious look, which Lily avoided. “She’s new to London and I said I’d introduce her to some of our friends. I don’t want to let her down.”
It wasn’t exactly true. She hadn’t made a promise, but when Sylvia had asked whether she was going to the Mainwaring rout, she’d said she was. As an excuse to avoid an evening suffering the slings and arrows of Aunt Agatha’s company, it would do.
Aunt Agatha’s brow arched higher. “You would dismiss adukeand his friends for the sake ofsome gel you knew at school? Pfft! Who is this gel, and who are her people?”
“Nobody of any significance. You won’t have heard ofher.” Lily shot Rose a warning glance, a silent plea for her to say nothing.
Rose frowned but remained silent.
Aunt Agatha sniffed. “Why does that not surprise me? You have no ambition, do you, gel?”
“Not much,” Lily admitted. “I just want to be happy.”
“Pshaw! I suppose by that you mean you want to fall in love! Tawdry, sentimental middle-class nonsense! When will you gelslearn? Marriage is for position, advantage and land.” The old lady got to her feet. “Since you’re determined to waste the opportunities I make for you, Lily, I wash my hands of you. Rose, Georgiana, my carriage will collect you at seven.”
• • •
“Well done, Lily. You were very brave, standing up to Aunt Agatha like that,” Rose said as the girls trooped upstairs.
“Positively heroic,” George agreed. “I thought the old tartar would burst when you said that about it being an invitation, not an order.”
Lily gave a shaky laugh. “I was terrified.”
“You didn’t look it. You did well, young ’un.” George opened the door to her bedchamber. “Hello, my darling boy. Were you waiting for me?” She ruffled the ears of Finn, the great shaggy wolfhound who’d bounded out to meet them.
“Young ’un?” Lily said in mock indignation. “You’re only eleven days older than me.”
George grinned. “And therefore I’m older and wiser. Aren’t I, Finn? Yes, so much older and wiser.” Finn squirmed with delight, his tail madly scything the air.
“Ah, but I’m your aunt. Andyou, therefore, owemerespect.” Lily gave George a playful smack as she passed. She’d stood up to Aunt Agatha, and not only had she survived—she’d won. She bounced onto the bed.
Rose tugged on the bellpull. She’d arranged for tea and buns to be brought up after Aunt Agatha had left, and that was the signal. She sat on the bed, curled her legs aroundand said, “So, who is this school friend for whose sake you braved Death-by-Lorgnette?”
Lily grimaced. “It wasn’t really about her,” she admitted. “She was just an excuse. The truth is, I couldn’t bear to spend another evening out with Aunt Agatha. The way she looks at me...”
Rose leaned forward and gave her a hug. “I know. It’s horrid. Just ignore the old witch—you’re not fat, you’re curvy. Aunt Agatha is one of the thin Rutherfords! George and I take after her—physically, George, not in any other way, I’m glad to say—whereas you’re like darling Aunt Dottie.”
“Who never married,” Lily reminded her. “Whereas Aunt Agatha married three times.”
“I know. It’s a mystery.”
George snorted. “Yes, but all three of Aunt Agatha’s husbands died on her—which I think is perfectly understandable. What else could you do once you found yourself married to a vitriolic dragon?”