Annabelle, for her part, was less concerned with their brother’s happiness than with her own.
“What are we to do if he can’t be made to see reason?” she lamented over a late breakfast the next morning. The sisters had come down to the sitting room to take their meal together and confer while their parents still slept and Peter hid upstairs. “Why did I let you talk me into choosinghimas Eliza’s bridegroom?”
“Me?” Della set down her teacup so hard she might have chipped the saucer. “This whole thing was your idea! I was only trying to help you, and now you’ve made me quarrel with Lord Ashton over it.”
She’d been so upset about their row that she’d tossed and turned all night.
As frustrated as she was by the trouble Ashton had caused them, once Della’s temper had cooled she had to contend with the uncomfortable possibility that he might have a point. Peter had every reason to be happy with the beautiful Miss Greenwood. But if he weren’t—if he should prove just as miserable as Lord Ashton had been in his own marriage—what then?
“Do you think there’s any risk that we’re”—Della had to pause to find the right words before she finally settled on her honest fear—“well, ruining Peter’s life?”
“Nonsense!” Annabelle countered. “He’sruiningmylife. If he was going to refuse us, the time to do it was before he spoke to Mr. Greenwood. Now it’s too late to get someone else to take his place.”
“At least Miss Greenwood’s father has let her out of the house again,” Della pointed out. “Have you asked her if she has any ideas?”
“She’s not exactly speaking to me at the moment.” Annabelle paused to take a bite of her biscuit and dab her napkin to her lips. “She’s still cross that I put Peter’s name forward instead of running away with her.”
“Oh.”
This got better and better. But Della had no further time to ponder Annabelle’s dilemma, for the butler announced that Miss Chatterjee had come to call. Della hurried to finish the last few bites of her breakfast, instructed her sister to think of a solution that didn’t involve threatening Peter with defenestration, and went out to meet her friend in the drawing room.
Reva rushed to her side as soon as she entered.
“Is everything all right? I heard…” She trailed off here, looking uncomfortable.
Della shut the door firmly behind her. “It’s all right; you may speak plainly.”
“Miss Berry has been telling people that one of the dealers at your club seduced a girl in full view of all the guests a few days ago. It isn’t true, is it?”
“As far as I know it was only a kiss,” Della admitted with a sigh. “But everyone saw them, yes. I’d rather not relive the details, if it’s all the same to you. I feel just awful about it. I sacked the dealer immediately, and neither of them will be allowed back to the club. That’s all we can do for now.”
“How dreadful.” Reva’s eyes widened in sympathy. “I’m sure it wasn’t your fault.”
“I wish Jane felt the same,” Della said. “She’s asked me to take some time away.”
Though she’d done her best to put the matter out of her mind, remembering it now made her throat go tight. Everything she’d worked for had gone up in smoke so quickly.
Remembering what else had transpired that night, Della asked, “Did Miss Berry say anything else?”
Reva didn’t meet her eye.That’s a yes.
“I’d rather hear it from you than from a stranger,” Della encouraged.
“She said that there was a rumor that you were involved with a married man.” Reva looked apologetic for repeating it. “I told her that was nonsense, of course.”
“Did she have any guesses as to who this man might be?”
“No.”That’s one good thing.Reva gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as she continued. “I’m sure this will pass. We all know you would never do such a thing. It’s just like when Mrs. Duff was gossiping about me.”
Except that you were innocent.
Della felt quite wretched. Even if Lord Ashton’s marriage were destined to end, it changed everything. It was the reason Della had to hide the truth from her friends.
“What’s the matter?” Reva asked, studying her with concern.
Della didn’t want to lie anymore. It only made her feel worse about all of it.
“Promise me you’ll keep a secret.” At Reva’s nod, she continued, “The truth is, I did harbor some feelings toward Lord Ashton.”
