“Tormenting Margaret,” Amelia admitted. “I have her list.”
Judging by her reddened eyes, Juliette had been crying again—and Amelia had had her fill of it. She spent all of her time playing with Aunt Charlotte’s son instead of seeking a husband. If she enjoyed children that much, Amelia believed her sister ought to make a genuine effort at marrying and starting her own family. Whether her sister was grieving over Paul Fraser or crying for another reason, it was time to end it.
“I think we should have a Sisters’ Meeting,” Amelia announced. “Take the baby back to his nurse, Juliette, and we’ll talk.”
“Matthew can stay. It’s not as if he’s planning to tell our secrets.” She kissed the baby and cuddled him closer. “That is, if you’re planning to share any.”
Amelia went to the bedroom door and turned the key. “All right, he can stay. I suppose he doesn’t talk yet, so it’s all right.” She sat down on the bed and patted the space beside her. “We need to discuss men.”
Her older sisters exchanged embarrassed looks, but that wasn’t about to deter Amelia. “We can’t all want to marry the same bachelors,” she pointed out. “If we pick the same one, we cannot let it come between us.”
“You choose third, Amelia,” Margaret said. “I’m the eldest and therefore deserve to choose first.”
“She’ll choose second,” Juliette corrected. “I’m not planning to choose.”
Margaret shook her head. “You keep saying that. I don’t believe for a moment that you want to be a spinster.”
“Well, I do.”
Amelia, strongly suspecting it was a lie, exchanged a look with Margaret. “What about Dr. Fraser? He loves you; anyone can see that.”And you love him back,she almost said.
“He’s a good man,” Juliette admitted, “but as I said, I don’t intend to marry anyone.”
“Give it a chance,” Margaret urged. “Aunt Charlotte and Mother are doing their best to find appropriate husbands for us. And you’re not even trying.”
Juliette stared at both of them. “Why must every woman marry? Does she really have to have a man to be happy?”
Amelia was shocked at the edge of anger in her sister’s voice. She’d never heard Juliette this upset, but her sister stood and regarded both of them. “I’ve made my choices, and marriage isn’t one of them. I never intend to let a man control me, nor will I ever bear children.”
Margaret was staring at her sister as if she’d just announced her decision to join a convent. “But why?”
Juliette gathered her composure and spoke in a calmer voice. “One of us has to continue Aphrodite’s Unmentionables, since Victoria is now a duchess. Our family needs the money more than ever, especially after the house burned down. Since Victoria can no longer run the business, I shall do so.”
“The duke will take care of us now,” Margaret pointed out. “There’s no need to sell scandalous undergarments anymore.”
“I like them,” Amelia felt compelled to offer. “They’re lovely and comfortable.”
“They’re a luxury only a few women can afford. You can’t even wash them with soap or the silk will fall apart,” Margaret pointed out. “Who wants a corset that can only be worn a few times? Or a chemise made of material so thin, it shows a woman’s bosom if she perspires?”
Amelia glanced down at her own bosom. She wasn’t daring enough to wear a chemise likethat,but she supposed a husband might like it.
“If no one wanted them, they wouldn’t be selling very well,” Juliette countered. “And whether or not the two of you wish to continue, I intend to.” The baby had fallen asleep in her arms, and she cuddled him close.
“And just how will you sew the garments? You can’t even darn stockings,” Margaret said.
“The same way we did before. I’ll pay the crofters’ wives to make them. They still have the patterns Victoria created.” Her face was flushed, and there was a new light in her eyes that startled Amelia. It was the first time she’d noticed any excitement at all from Juliette in the past few months.
“You want this to be successful, don’t you,” she said. “It’s important to you.”
“Yes,” Juliette answered. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to visit Madame Benedict’s shop and find out which garments are selling the best.” She stood, careful not to wake the baby.
“Wait.” Amelia stopped her before she could go. “We haven’t finished our discussion about husbands.” She regarded both of her sisters in all seriousness. “Can I have Viscount Lisford?” Despite everything, Amelia was convinced that he would make an excellent husband.
Juliette nodded. “As long as Margaret doesn’t want him first.” With a wicked glint in her eyes, she added, “Sheisolder than both of us.”
Margaret let out a heartfelt sigh. “Only if I can have the earl.”
Amelia leaned back with a satisfied smile. “If you like handkerchiefs, he’s all yours.”
