“This is not my fault, and you know it,” Joanna said quietly.
Her mother sighed and rubbed her temples with the tips of her fingers. “I know, my dear. Forgive me. I just do not wish to talk about this now.”
They were silent for a moment as they ate their breakfast. Joanna savored the bread as slowly as she could. She was not seeing Penelope today, and she certainly hadn’t received any other invitations for tea by anyone else in theton, so she would be eating nothing until that night, when she would have a small bowl of stew. She could not help but remember the scones from the tea shop with a strong sense of longing. They were almost as memorable as the man she met that day. He was so frightening and dangerous, but he was also exciting. Despite herself, she had enjoyed her conversation with him, even though she would never admit it. Even Penelope would think her to be insane ifJoanna confessed how much it thrilled her to be threatened by him. I can think of more than one way to be a menace, my lady.
As if she needed a reminder that he didn’t need ice powers to ruin someone. What she didn’t understand was her own reaction to the threat, as if he had said something sensual. But he would never. The Duke of Ice was many things, but she was sure he was not a rake and would never say something sensual to a young lady, especially one he had only just met.
After Joanna had finished her bread, she started sipping her weak tea while glancing at her mother. Finally, she broke the silence. “Even if I cannot find a husband, I can still help,” she said. “It’s not too late for me to find employment as a governess or a lady’s companion.”
Her mother’s lips flattened into a fine line. “Not this again.”
“Please, Mother. Penelope was gracious enough to pay for Aurelia’s debut dress, but we both know that is only the beginning of the expenses. If I can earn money as a governess or a companion, then she could have a real Season. Her dresses will be modest, to be sure. And her dowry will hardly do her any favors. But she will still?—”
“Absolutely not,” her mother snapped. “I will not have my daughters working.” She stood up quickly. “Perhaps you should spend your time on some charity work if you cannot endure being idle for so long. But I will hear no more discussion of you finding employment.” She glared at her daughter. “If you wish to help Aurelia, then I suggest you find yourself a husband thisSeason. One who is gracious enough to overlook your lack of a dowry. Then I will be able to focus all of my attention on Aurelia instead of worrying about you becoming an old maid.”
Joanna watched her mother storm out of the room and sighed. This was a conversation they had a few times before. Joanna was happy to venture into a life of employment if it meant Aurelia would have a chance of having a proper Season, but her parents would not hear of it. “It hardly matters,” she muttered to herself. “Even if I earned money, it would not go to Aurelia. Not if Father got his hands on it.”
She stood up from the breakfast table and carried the dishes to the kitchen. Even though the housekeeper, Mrs. Lucas, was working today, she would have enough to do keeping the dining room and drawing room in order without worrying about clearing the table.
She planned to go to her room and write a letter to Aurelia, but before she had the chance, there was a knock on the front door. She went to answer it, but found Mrs. Lucas was already there. “I will get it, ma’am,” the middle-aged woman whispered to her. “It is unbecoming for a lady to answer her own door.”
I cannot work. I cannot answer my own door. What am I supposed to do? Curtsy and waltz away my family’s troubles?Joanna nodded graciously at the housekeeper before retiring to the drawing room.
Only a moment later, Mrs. Lucas joined her. “Lady Penelope Atwood is here to see you, my lady.”
“Please, send her in,” she said. “If you can bring us a pot of tea and our best cups, then I will be most grateful.”
The housekeeper nodded and left.
“Joanna!” Penelope entered the drawing room, clutching a note in her hand. “He sent this today,” she said. She sat across from Joanna at the table and held out the card.
Joanna took it even though she already knew what it would say. The Duke of Blackwell had not come to his senses after all. She skimmed through the contents of the note. “He wants to take you to an art gallery. Interesting choice.”
“My mother has already accepted on my behalf. She is quite excited about the duke wanting another date with me. I almost hate to disappoint her.”
Mrs. Lucas entered just then with the tea cart. It looked frightfully bare, with no cakes or biscuits to be served along with the tea. Their best china set was a plain blue teapot and cups with no embellishments to be seen. However, it was their best because there were no cracks or chips in the cups.
The two ladies were silent as the housekeeper served the tea. Joanna smiled gratefully at Mrs. Lucas. “Thank you. That will be all.”
“Yes, my lady,” the woman said as she left.
Joanna poured tea for both of them, breathing in the rich aroma. At least the tea was made with fresh tea leaves, so it was much stronger and more flavorful than the watery brew she drank with her breakfast that morning. They really only used fresh tea leaves when the old leaves truly lost all of their flavor and color, or when there was company coming over. Years ago, Joanna would have taken a strong cup of tea for granted. Now it felt like a wonderful treat.
Penelope didn’t appear to notice the sparse offerings. “You must meet him and end things once and for all,” she said as she picked up her teacup. “I do not know how long we can keep up this charade. I have an emerald necklace that I never wear—it looks horrible with my complexion. I will give it to you if you can end it permanently.”
Joanna shook her head. “No. I cannot. Perhaps you should go in my stead. You can pretend to be a friend of yourself, or even a lady’s maid. Explain that you don’t want to see him.”
“I cannot! Someone will recognize me and then the entire scam will be exposed. He will ruin me and my family.” She frowned. “What’s wrong? Is it the necklace? It is rather garish. I have a sapphire one that is much better. And ruby earrings that would look beautiful on you.”
“It’s not the necklace.” She sighed. How was she to explain to Penelope that the duke was dangerous in more ways than just the ruthless way in which he yielded his power? She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him and feeling all sorts of emotions that she didn’t know how to untangle.
Seeing him again, knowing it will be under false pretenses, felt unbearable. “It’s too hard, Penelope,” she said. “I don’t wish to hurt him.”
She frowned. “Is he even a man capable of being hurt?”
“Everyone is capable of being hurt.” She sighed. “I never should have agreed to this foolish scheme in the first place.”
Her friend smiled softly. “You have always been so soft-hearted, Joanna. It’s one of the things I like about you. But he won’t be the first man who was rejected by a woman, and even though you made an impression, it was only one date. He doesn’t need to know the messy details.” She frowned. “Of course, it is entirely possible that he is the sort of man who doesn’t let a lady’s rejection stop him. You must be careful to keep Lydia with you at all times so he doesn’t have an opportunity to ruin you.”
