They couldn’t deny she was their own Zoe Octavia.
Then, within twenty-four hours, the trouble started, at which point they all remembered that their own Zoe Octavia was the problem child.
“I don’t want to be rid of her,” Priscilla cried. “I’m sure I don’t, Papa. But we haven’t any choice.”
“You most certainly do,” said Papa. “You can act with courage. You can hold up your head and ignore this foolishness. If we do not feed the rumor mills by hiding and denying, the world will soon find something else to make a fuss about.”
“Papa, I wish I could believe that—”
“If it were an ordinary sort of scandal, naturally, that would be the case—”
“But this is like nothing that’s happened before.”
“It isn’t like a political scandal—”
“Or even a crim con case or a divorce.”
“A Harem Girl, Papa! When was the last time London had a Harem Girl?”
“They might as well call her Jezebel.”
“Some of the newspapers have called her that—and other names a lady must not utter.”
“If she goes into any public place—a shop or park or theater—everyone will stare and whisper.”
“She won’t have a moment’s peace, nor will anybody near her.”
“Those dreadful journalist persons will follow wherever she goes.”
“She cannot live a normal life, nor can we, while she is by.”
“Not in London, certainly.”
“But if she were to go away, to a quiet place in the country—”
“Dear Cousin Horatio’s, for instance—”
“May he rest in peace, poor man.”
“And if she lived there under a different name—”
“Ooooh,” Mama said faintly. She covered her face with her handkerchief.
“Go away?” said her father. “Change her name? But she’s hardly come back!” Papa turned to face them, and Zoe was shocked to see the grief in his face. “My little girl. Twelve years I’ve spent trying to get her back. Twelve years I’ve prayed and worried and kicked myself a thousand times for my folly. Twelve years I’ve raged at myself for not taking better care of her.” He met her gaze then. “I shall never forgive myself, child, for what you’ve suffered. I shall never forgive myself for all the time we’ve lost and can never recover.”
“I’m truly sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you, Papa,” she said. “I’m sorry for causing everyone so much trouble this time.” She closed the book of fashion plates and folded her hands on top of it. “If there’s no other way to make it right than for me to go away, then I shall go away.”
Her sisters’ eyes began to dry. Mama took the handkerchief off her face and sat up a little straighter.
“Well, I’m glad you’ve decided to be reasonable,” said Augusta.
“I shall go to Paris,” Zoe said.
Her sisters screamed.
“Or Venice,” Zoe said. “I’ve lived shut away from the world for twelve years. I cannot bear to do that again. But these are cities. They have shops and theaters and parks and such. I shall feel alive again.”
“She can’t live inParis!”
