“There’s no chance of our agreeing on this, Dorothea. Mama and I have your best interests at heart, of course. But this continued antagonistic behaviour has led to something neither of us would prefer.” He glanced at his mother, who gave a brief nod.
“What?” she frowned.
“We have decided to select your husband for you, since you are incapable of doing so yourself, and we have prepared a list of candidates who meet our approval. Your engagement will be formally announced at the end of the Christmas holiday, and the wedding will take place in the spring. You and your new husband will then be sent on a European tour lasting six months or so,after which it is hoped you will return an obedient wife, and possibly carrying a grandchild for Mama and Papa.”
“Dear God,” Dorothea stared at them both. “You would do this? You would actually do this tome?”
Her mother stared back, her face revealing nothing of her emotions. “Yes. Without question. It’s time you grew up, and recognised your position and responsibilities as the only daughter of a Duke. Since you have thus far failed to do so, we must take steps to ensure your future actions are more in line with the Renslowname, and your heritage.”
Randolph’s next words were simply a murmur to Dorothea’s ears. She was shocked to her toes by her mother’s declaration, a threat of the worst punishment possible. And yet she knew, much as it pained her, that those steps would inexorably proceed. That her wishes and desires would be flattened like a brick of steel beneath a steam hammer.
Spinning on her heel, she turned her back on both of them, striding to the door and flung it wide, only to see Wallace the butler on the other side with a somewhat surprised expression on his face.
“Lady Dorothea?”
“Out of my way, Wallace. I need to get away from my coggleblasted family. Far, far away. Before I say something we’ll all regret.”
He blinked as she whisked herself past him and bowed. “My Lady.”
“Send Maria to my room as soon as possible, please,” she tossed over her shoulder.
“Of course, my Lady.” Wallace sighed.
There wasn’t one servant in the Renslow household who hadn’t seen this day coming. Lady Dorothea was a handful, they said, but she was a lovely young woman who never forgother manners, and who treated them all with friendliness and affection.Why, only two weeks ago, she’d managed to obtain a few days off for poor Sally, the undercook, when her mother had fallen ill.
Wallace quietly closed the door behind her, and hoped that this storm would blow over, as had so many in the past. Although a little voice whispered that today there was something different in Lady Dorothea’s expression. And that troubled him...
Chapter One
“Maria, where’s my linen nightshirt?” Dorothea’s words were slightly muffled as she spoke from inside the large bureau where she was rummaging with all the enthusiasm of a ferret in search of a rabbit.
“In the lower drawer, Miss Doro,” answered her maid with a sigh.
“Oh yes, I have it.” She produced the garment, shook it out, and then walked to her bed, laying it on top of some of the other clothing she’d stacked there.
“Are you doing something with this lot?” Maria looked at the pile. “It’s clean, you know. And I can’t see anything that doesn’t fit, so you’re not throwing it all away, are you?”
“Great gears, no.” Dorothea managed a quick laugh. “These are my most favourite clothes.”
“Yes...and...?” Maria waited, a wary eye on her mistress.
“And I thought, if I were to take a trip to visit, ooh, let’s see, my dearest friend Amelia Hatch, perhaps? Then I would certainly need an overnight bag with me, wouldn’t I?”
“Well, yes, Miss...”
“There, you see? Nothing like being prepared.” A petticoat was added to the pile. “And Amelia told me that she was going to invite me to stay for a while before Christmas, so I thought it best to be ready.”
“Ah.” Maria stared at her.
“Really, Maria.” Dorothea sighed and sat on the bed. “I will tell you a secret if you promise to keep it to yourself...”
“Of course, Miss. You know you can trust me.”
“I do indeed. Well, Amelia actually sent me an invitation a few days ago, but because Mama and my brother had alreadyinvited some guests, I had to tell her I would be delaying my arrival.” She sighed somewhat theatrically, then caught herself and straightened, then leaned forward and lowered her voice. “It was unavoidable, Maria. The guests were gentlemen that my brother deemed appropriate suitors.”
“Oh, Miss,” Maria clasped her hands together over her heart. “And did you accept one?”
“Well, not exactly. A girl needs time to consider this sort of decision, you know. It is most important. So, I have decided to spend a few days with Amelia. She is so sensible about these things. It will be an enormous help to me to be able to confide in her and hear her thoughts on the matter.”
