“Two months is an awfully long time to wait for furtherdivertissement,” Aunt Genevieve says. The whole circle turns to look at her and Aunt Genevieve grins. “Tell me, do you ladies paint as well as you play pianoforte?”
“They do,” Mother says quickly. “Goodness, it’s been ages since we’ve gotten Rosalie’s friends together to paint in your back garden, hasn’t it?”
“It certainly has,” Aunt Genevieve says.
“Lady Tisend, I recall attending a most exciting competition at your parents’ home in our season,” Mrs.Pine says, surprising everyone. “Are you thinking of reviving it? It was marvelous fun.”
Aunt Genevieve and Mother exchange a look while Rosalie watches, surprised. MissPine glances over at her, and Rosalie raises a shoulder, as in the dark as she appears to be.
Mother and Aunt Genevieve’s nonverbal conversation is quickly reaching comical heights. Rosalie used to think they were all rather good at subterfuge, but perhaps she’s been mistaken. This is ridiculous.
Aunt Genevieve claps her hands together. “I declare we shall hold a portrait painting competition in my back garden in two weeks’ time. Provided our esteemed gentlemen callers will stand as subjects?”
She looks around the group at Mr.Fortes, Mr.Rile, and Mr.Dean. They all nod slowly.
“Of course, Lady Jones. Anything for you,” Mr.Fortes says. He looks a little too eager, honestly.
Amalie frowns as he stares at Aunt Genevieve. Rosalie will have to find a way to punish Mr.Fortes for that one.
“Excellent. Lady Rosalie will send out invitations. Now, I have people to watch your mother intimidate. If you’ll excuse us,” Aunt Genevieve says, curtsying to the group before dragging Mother off.
Miss Pine is staring at her, her eyebrow raised. Rosalie stares back. It washermother who formally instigated this.
Mr.Rile leans over to tell MissPine how wonderfully she played, and Henrietta bites at her lip. Two weeks is too long to leave this girl to her own devices.
“MissPine, would you like to join MissRaught, MissLinet, and myself on a day of shopping next week?” Rosalie asks, cutting Mr.Rile off. Mrs.Pine frowns over at her, but MissPine meets her eyes, surprised. “I could use a casual outfit for this competition, and I’ve promised MissRaught and MissLinet a whirlwind of ribbons. Surely you might like to join us?”
She’ll gather information while they shop, look for weaknesses. The woman must have them.
MissPine glances at her mother, who gives her a quick jerk of the chin. She looks entirely unsure of Rosalie’s invitation—suspicious, really. But MissPine looks intrigued.
“I would be delighted. You’ll send a note?”
“I will,” Rosalie says, smiling brightly at the two of them. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Me too!” Henrietta says.
“It will be nice to get to know you better,” Amalie adds, her voice much cooler. Amalie may already be in on Rosalie’s plan, then.
“Thank you very much for the invitation,” MissPine says, smiling at Rosalie’s friends before meeting Rosalie’s eyes again. “It’s deeply appreciated.”
And there’s just something in her tone that makes Rosalie think MissPine will be using the outing for reconnaissance as much as she will. Something in her beguiling eyes.
Achallenge.
Chapter Six
Catherine
Catherine stands in the foyer, wringing her cream gloves between her fingers. She’s wearing a matching cream dress beneath her light blue pelisse. Their lady’s maid, MissTeit, arranged her curls beautifully beneath her bonnet, which has a blue ribbon woven into the hood. All of it will be easy enough to take on and off throughout a day of shopping.
She looks lovely. Mother said so. Father said so. MissTeit said so.
Catherine wishes she felt as confident about the day as everyone else does about her outfit. But she’s about to go shopping with Lady Rosalie, MissRaught, and MissLinet. She’ll be alone with them for hours, rather than a few scattered minutes at a large function. They’re intimidating among a crowd. On their own, they seem insurmountable.
MissTeit comes out of the hallway to the kitchens, buttoning up her spencer jacket. She smiles at Catherine, her brown eyes bright, round cheeks dimpling in amusement at Catherine’s obvious distress.
“We are going to have a marvelous time,” MissTeit says confidently, stepping up to Catherine and slowly prying the gloves out of her hands. She hands them to Catherine one at a time to slip on. “They’re just girls.”
