“Yes, I know it is unusual, but we are a rather small household. It always seemed unnecessary. I hope that won’t be a problem. I can understand it isn’t quite what you’re used to.”
“Nor what you would have been used to when you first arrived,” she frowned. “That must have been hard for you.”
“If anything, it’s one less thing I need to think about every day.”
“Still, I must ask if you miss it.”
She blinked. “If I’m honest, I hadn’t let myself think about it in some time.”
“I see,” Rose smiled halfheartedly. “Well, if you don’t want us to dress, we won’t.”
“Thank you. I hope it isn’t too much of a let down to Milly.”
“I’m sure she will be a bit disappointed, but I’m sure she will cope just fine. You learned to.”
She looked away. “But it was never something I cared much about. We both know how Milly can be.”
“She will have plenty of other opportunities to dress up. I’ll see you at dinner, won’t I?”
“Of course. I’ll see you then.”
Veronica couldn’t help but bite back her disappointment as she watched her sister walk away. She had expected her to be on her side. She had thought Rose would agree just how bad her parents had been, but she hadn’t.
More than that, she thought Veronica thought she should simply forgive them and act as though nothing had happened.
As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, Daisy came in. She frowned when she saw the duchess sitting there.
“Is something the matter, your grace? I thought you would be happy since your sisters are here.”
“I am, I’m just rather tired,” she forced a smile. “It has been a while since we’ve had a house full of people.”
She chuckled. “I thought you said your family didn’t constitute a house full of people.”
“It doesn’t. I suppose I’m just not as used to it as I once was.”
“Then I don’t know how you can expect the rest of the household to cope if you find yourself struggling.”
“I’m not struggling, I'm simply tired.”
“Of course. Would you like to take a nap before dinner?”
“I don’t think that’s necessary. I think I just need a little bit of time away from all the noise.”
“Do you want me to take the dogs for a walk? I could give you a few minutes alone?”
Veronica thought for a moment, “Yes, actually. I think that would be lovely. Thank you.”
Daisy curtsied before making her way from the room, the dogs in toe.
Veronica put her head in her hands with a sigh. She didn’t hold it against Rose that she had forgiven their parents so easily. Shewould never want her to harbor the anger that Veronica had, besides it would be hard to live with someone and feel this way.
For that matter, Veronica hadn’t realized just how she felt until she knew she was going to see them again.
Instead of the excitement she had felt at the thought of seeing her sisters, all she felt about the idea of seeing them again was a heavy sense of dread.
She was glad she had been able to avoid it this time, but she knew she could hardly avoid them for the rest of her life.
But none of that mattered for the moment. For now, all she was going to focus on was enjoying time with her sisters. It had been far too long since she had seen them and she was going to make the most of every moment they had together.
