“If you wanted me there, you would’ve asked,” Cecily insisted. “You’ve always excluded me.”
“I have not.” It wasn’t as though Jane was in any way the social superior of the two. Her cousin had a sizable dowry, a living parent, a knighted husband, and a healthy son. “What could I possibly exclude youfrom? You’ve had everything you’ve ever wanted.”
“So you think me spoiled,” Cecily concluded. “Is that why? It isn’t easy being a society hostess, you know. It takes a great deal of work behind the scenes, which you’veneverunderst—Oh, don’t youdareroll your eyes at me.”
An ugly flush mottled Cecily’s face.
“I didn’t,” Jane said swiftly, though she probably had. She hadn’t meant to, at any rate. She’d just been offering a silent prayer for the conversation to end, and her eyes had slipped heavenward.
“You don’t appreciate anything that I’ve done for you!” Cecily snapped. “I spentweeksplanning our trip to Ascot, and you didn’t lift a finger to help. Then you spoiled everything the second day by running off to have your own little party with Hannah, as if you’re too good for us, and you disappeared from the Pearsons’ ball without even saying goodbye.”
“I was feeling poorly!”
“You always have some excuse. I know the real reason. You’re jealous of me and you’re determined to punish me for it, though I’ve done nothing to warrant such treatment.”
“Jealous of you!” That was rich. “And you’ve donenothingto deserve it? You can’t think of any time you’ve wronged me?”
“What have I done then?”
“You know perfectly well.”
“Is this about Eli?” Cecily puffed up her chest, the picture ofwounded pride. “I can’t believe you’re still holding on to that, years later. It’s not my fault he preferred me to you.”
But it didn’t hold the same power it once had.
“He didn’t prefer you, you threw yourself at him. Youknewthat I fancied him, and you decided to steal him from me for no other reason than to hurt me.”
Cecily couldn’t have loved him; she’d barely known him then.
“Wellyoustole my father,” Cecily cried. “Which is much worse. It serves you right if I dashed your hopes with Eli.”
“I beg your pardon?” How could she reply to such a ridiculous accusation? She hadn’t stolen Uncle Bertie. He worshipped his daughter. “Are you blaming me for being orphaned and having no other place to go?”
“Poor Jane.” It was Cecily’s turn to roll her eyes. “You’ve had such a hard life. Papa’s treated you like his own daughter, when he alreadyhadone, and somehow you’re still hard done by.”
“I’m very grateful to Uncle Bertie for taking me in,” Jane protested. “But I haven’t replaced you. He adores you.”
“But he doesn’t talk to me the way he talks to you!” Cecily was in tears by now, the words punctuated by small hiccups. It must be genuine, for she didn’t look pretty while doing it. “You’re the one he always goes to for advice. He ran off to Sunninghill becauseyoutold him to. And neither of you told me of your engagement until today!”
Cecily was obliged to break off to fish a handkerchief from her reticule to smother her cries.
Jane was too stunned to reply. She was forced to listen to Cecily’s quiet sobs for the span of twenty seconds as her mind worked to twist all of this into something that made any sense.
“I never knew you felt this way,” she finally said.
Cecily sniffed loudly.
“I suppose…I could try harder to include you when we’re makingplans?” She felt as though she were fumbling for an oil lamp in the dark. “Would that help?”
“It would be a start.” Cecily dabbed at her eyes. “I also want a standing invitation to your club.”
Ha.
“I’ll use my forfeit if I have to,” she added, perhaps sensing that she was on shaky ground. She actually began rummaging in her reticule. Had she planned this when she’d come over?
“Oh, put that away.”
It was only with supreme effort that Jane kept from refusing her outright. This was her only bargaining chip, really. She and Cecily both loved Uncle Bertie, and were therefore stuck with one another.
