Page 3 of Wedded to the Cruel Duke

Perhaps she is not as grown up as she likes to think herself,she thought as she took off her bonnet and gloves.

“I had thought you had forgotten about me,” Daphne repeated, the complaint clear in her voice. “You promised you would be home byfour.”

The eldest daughter of the Townsend household nodded slightly. “Of course, I did, but the meeting dragged on for far longer than I would have liked.”

It could have ended much sooner, if Miss Thomas kept her tongue in check, she added in her mind.

“Well, no matter!” Daphne declared as she dragged her older sister upstairs to her rooms. “You must help me—I am in a right state wondering what to wear for dinner tomorrow.”

“I hardly think the approval of a spinster should accomplish your goals.”

“Spinster or not, you have attendedthreeSeasons. Your experience is, at this point, most invaluable, Fi.”

Phoebe smiled to herself as Daphne continued to drag her upstairs. Indeed, she had made her bow and attended all of three Seasons, but she did not have much to show for it. As far as thetonwere concerned, it had all ended with dismal results for she had no husband to show for herself.

Therewasone suitor, but the mere thought of him had her glowering once more—something that Daphne managed to catch.

“You do seem like you are in a less than stellar mood today,” she remarked softly as they stood just outside the door to her bedchamber. “Perhaps I should not have dragged you so needlessly—”

“Oh, dearest, that is hardly your fault!” Phoebe cried as she hugged her sister. “It is just that…well…” She let out a frustrated sigh. “Miss Thomas brought up the subject of the Baron of Scunthorpe earlier at the meeting…”

Phoebe knew she needed not expound further on the matter when she saw the realization dawning on her younger sister’s face.

“Well, that was rather rude of her!” Daphne huffed as she pushed the door open. “And I have heard of thisMiss Thomas—she sounds like a dreadful character, really.”

“Who is a dreadful character, Daphne dear?” a voice queried.

Phoebe peered inside the room to find the third Townsend sister seated on the couch with a book on her lap. Minerva looked back at her like a curious little owl, her head tilted slightly as she regarded her two sisters from the doorway.

“Miss Thomas!” Daphne bit out. “She just mentioned that…that…unwelcomepresence during their meeting!”

Phoebe let out a small smile as her youngest sister expressed an extreme indignation for what she had experienced at the meeting with Miss Thomas.

Sistersare truly a loyal and ferocious bunch.

Well, her sisters, at least, for she knew a great many amongst thetonwho turned against their own.

“No!” Minerva breathed out. “Shedid not!”

Phoebe could tell that her second sister truly had strong feelings on her behalf also, for she had set aside her book as she stood up suddenly.

“The sheer audacity!” Minerva remarked.

“I know, right? It is no wonder that most people I know have shunned her.” Daphne let out a delicate shudder. “Even her poor mama has had to contend with her misdeeds for it appears she had made a great number of foes before.”

Phoebe looked at her two younger sisters, who appeared to have worked themselves up into a fit of righteous indignation on her behalf. The earlier resentment that she felt towards Miss Thomas and her reminder of the Baron started to dissipate and she smiled a little bit more as she laid a hand on Daphne’s shoulder.

“Come now. Let us shelf that matter,” she coaxed her. “You have a dinner to attend tomorrow, I believe? Why, we must make sure that you are simply the most radiant creature that Lord Brunswick has ever laid his eyes on!”

Daphne blushed a vivid rosy hue as she cast down her gaze shyly. “You know that nothing is settled yet between us. I just wanted to make a good impression…”

“And you shall, of course!” Minerva declared loyally. “After all, where else can he find such a beautiful and talented young lady in all of London?”

“Stop it, Minerva! You know that is not true!”

Phoebe reached out into the wardrobe and pulled out a dress of pale blue silk shot through with delicate golden embroidery. “This one should bring out the color of your eyes wonderfully, dearest. And it looks so elegant, does it not?”

“Yes, but I think you also look pretty in that pale rose dress from Madame Chagnon,” Minerva pointed out with a shrug. “But what do I know about dresses, really?”