“I'm looking out for my sisters.”
“Looking out for them,” she snorted. “Don't be ridiculous. I don't see how you can possibly think your behavior benefits them.”
“And you know what benefits them?”
“Of course I do! I know what’s best for my girls and I won’t have you ruining her prospects.”
“If anyone is at risk of ruining her prospects, it would be you. You are the one pushing her into the arms of men who feel nothing for her just because it can do something to benefit you.”
“How can you say that after all I have done for you?!”
“You sold me off without a second thought. You had no way to know Christopher would treat me well. My welfare didn't enter into your minds at all. And before you say anything else, you might want to bare in mind that I am a duchess now and rank far above you.”
“Are you presuming upon on your own mother!” she gasped in shock.
“I am,” she nodded, narrowing her eyes. “It is only logical, considering how much you depend upon my husband these days.”
“What exactly is that spuppsed to mean?”
“Do you think I don't know how he bank rolls almost all of father’s endeavors?”
The color seemed to drain from her face. “Who told you-”
“My husband. He and I do talk after all. Not that you ever seemed concerned about that. All of this is to say that if you want the money to continue to flow, you had best step back and allow my sisters to make their own choices regarding their husbands.”
Her mother gaped at her, stunned. Rose was grinning from ear to ear, but before any of them could say anything more, Christopher approached Veronica, offering his hand.
“My dear wife, I would be honored if you would have the next dance with me.”
She lit up. “I would love that. Thank you.”
Her mother called out to her, but Veronica didn’t acknowledge it, instead simply letting him lead her to the dance floor.
The music started and the pair began moving through the familiar steps of a waltz.
“I must say, I didn’t expect you would want to dance,” Veronica smiled. “I imaged that if we were to make it onto the floor it would be because I forced your hand.”
“You look far too lovely to spend your night by the wall.”
She flushed. “Still, thank you.”
“No need to thank me, I’’m sure it won’t be long before I step on your toes. Quite frankly I’m surprised I remember even this much.”
“I was about to say, I don’t know what you’re talking about. You seem to be doing wonderfully as far as I can tell.”
“For the moment, but how long can it possibly last?”
“I would also like to remind you that you did just fine in our parlor a few weeks ago.”
“That was different. We didn’t have an audience.”
“Oh, but we did! Did you forget that my sisters were with us that evening?”
“Yes, but I would hardly say that is the same as what we have here tonight,” he said, glancing to where a small group of party goers were clustered together, talking and all but openly staring at them.
“Yes, well, I suppose this is a little but more… attention then we had there. Does it trouble you? We can stop if it does.”
To her surprise, he shook his head.
