“I have a feeling that such attitudes shall change soon enough,” the dowager smiled.
Jackie hoped that it would be the case. She was no longer considering marrying the duke simply to please her sister, but she had to admit that it was important, nevertheless. Everything that she had ever done was for Elizabeth, and she hoped and prayed that at last, when it was all over with, Lord Greene’s parents would accept her.
“The sister of a duchess,” Elizabeth sighed gently. “I cannot believe it!”
The ladies then received a visitor, the butler allowing her to enter with an almost apologetic look on his face. It was, of course, none other than Lady Ophelia, basket in tow, smiling as if she had been invited to begin with.
“Do excuse my intrusion,” she greeted. “I have been in want of female companionship of late. Being an only child has always been rather lonely, and now that I am aware of other young ladies in my vicinity, well, it would be a shame not to take advantage of it!”
Jackie looked to Elizabeth, who seemed to simply shrug and look to the Dowager Duchess for a response. Jackie wondered if she wanted to say no, but was being a good hostess, or perhaps she pitied the girl. It was quite evident that her family was facing some struggle or other, and even though Jackie could not stand her, she had to admit that she felt for her. After all, she knew what it was like to be in such a position.
Perhaps that was why she allowed herself to be led out into the garden.
It was a warm day, and Jackie blamed that for the strange feeling inside of her. Then again, she had always loved the warmer days where she could sit in the sun and forget all of life’s trialsand tribulations. She was not a fool; she knew that it was Lady Ophelia’s presence that was causing her troubles, but she did not know what else to do but play the part of the welcoming hostess.
She shook herself briefly. It was not her house, not yet at least.
They all sat on a blanket that the Dowager Duchess had told a maid to fetch, and Ophelia began serving them all, though Jackie picked gingerly at hers. There was an unease within her that made the thought of eating all too unpleasant.
Her sister, however, finished everything in minutes and accepted more with a smile. In truth, it did look good; jams, confectionery, breads and cheeses all arranged neatly, but that only made Jackie feel worse. Ophelia was good at such womanly duties, better than Jackie, and that was a simple fact.
“I used to love making picnics for the duke,” she sighed. “Even as children, we had them often. As a girl, I always looked up to him and wanted to please him, and this was the best way that I knew how.”
Jackie thought back to the picnic that the duke had prepared for her all that time ago and felt a chill. Had he simply been trying to recreate what he once had?
“You certainly have a talent for it,” the dowager smiled. “As does my son, who prepared a wonderful one for himself and Lady Jacqueline from what I have heard.”
“Truly, it was marvelous,” Jackie nodded, grateful for the change in focus. “He always knows exactly how to give me those little surprises.”
“He knows a lot,” Ophelia quipped, a smirk on her face. “He knows me better than anyone else in the world, and thanks to our fathers we shall always be tied to one another in a way. I, for one, am glad that of all men to be linked to for the rest of my life, it is one that is so wonderfully dedicated to those he cares about.”
“And he most certainly cares about my sister,” Elizabeth snapped. “I find that they complement each other very well.”
The dowager nodded in agreement, and Jackie could see the look of displeasure on Ophelia’s face, but she paid it no mind. She knew what her point was; that she was not going anywhere and would not be so easy to be rid of, but the duke had promised her that Ophelia was in the past. She had to trust him, and he had made it quite easy for her to do so.
“Oh!” Ophelia gasped suddenly. “There he is now!”
The ladies turned to see the duke and Lord Montague approaching them. Jackie had wondered why Lord Montague had been there so often of late, but she hadn’t thought much of it. After all, he was Philip’s friend and therefore had as muchright to be there as she did. Before they could come too close, Ophelia was putting a plate of food together.
“I know precisely how he likes it, too,” she grinned, laying pieces of cheese, cold meat, and preserves together.
Jackie tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her chest. Whether she liked it or not, Ophelia was right. They had spent their lives together, knowing each other on a deeper level than Jackie ever could. It was no use trying to compete.
Then again, Philip had told her that there was nothing to worry about. She repeated his words over and over in her mind, hoping that it would ease her frustrations.
“I can take it to him,” Jackie offered. “As it would be good for you to sit a while. You have done more than enough for us.”
“Nonsense! I am nothing if not a good hostess, and it is important for me to use such skills, as my future shall require it.”
“Will you be fixing a plate for Lord Montague too, in that case?”
“Of course not! If you wish to help, perhaps you could do so yourself?”
Jackie shared a look with Elizabeth, and Ophelia jumped up with the plate and went running off.
“Does she truly think that the duke will take her back?” Elizabeth asked.
“I do not know,” Jackie sighed. “But I have the most terrible fear that it will work.”
