Juliet clapped her hands together, excitement radiating from her. “Let us go to the May-Day festival in the village.”
“Oh, no.” Emma shook her head.
Lady Louisa leaned forward, her expression full of intrigue. “I should love to go.”
“Me too,” Lady Elizabeth smiled, her blue eyes full of excitement. “Surely I am not too young for a village festival.”
“Not at all, Lizzy, but you are too high born,” Lady Catherine said, dashing her youngest siblings’ hopes.
“Poppycock.” Juliet waved a dismissive hand, her smile broadening. “We can go if we choose to. High-born men do it all the time.”
“Please, Olivia,” The ladies Elizabeth and Louisa turned pleading eyes on their guardian.
Juliet slid closer to Olivia, her eye sparkling with mischief. “You know it sounds fun.”
“It sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.” Catherine exhaled a long-suffering breath.
Emma could scarcely disagree with Lady Catherine’s assessment. May Day was for the villagers. Farmers and milkmaids celebrated while townspeople overindulged in strong drink and made merry. Proper ladies most certainly did not attend.
She sat her teacup on the mahogany table beside her with an audible thump and said, “We would stand out in the crowd. The village people would recognize us straight away and be none too happy that we’d come. Our reputations would be tarnished if not ruined.”
Pulling in a breath, Emma met Lady Catherine’s intelligent blue gaze and smiled. “Lady Catherine is correct. It could only end in disaster.”
Juliet chewed the inside of her cheek, her gaze turning speculative as Lady Louisa and Lady Elizabeth sank back against the settee they shared.
Emma inhaled a calming breath, trying to dispel the sense of impending doom gripping her insides. If she knew her friend at all, Juliet was plotting. Such plotting scarcely ever ended well.
Emma better come up with another idea before Juliet worked out her problem and drug them all into a harebrained scheme. She glanced out the window, then returned her attention to the group. “How about lawn bowls?” Emma asked.
“It is a lovely day for a game.” Olivia strolled over to the window and peered out. “I can have the footman set it up at once.”
“I’ve got it!” Juliet sprang to her feet, and Emma’s heart sank. “We can dress like the villagers. People see what they expect to see. If we dress as they do, we will blend right in,” Juliet said.
“How perfect.” Lady Louisa clasped her hands as if she were in prayer and turned hopeful green eyes on Olivia. “Don’t you agree?” She asked.
Olivia turned back to the group, her brow creased in thought. “The idea is not without merit.” She tapped her finger against her cheek. “It could work.”
“Of course, it will work.” Juliet gave a triumphant smile. “And if we hur—”
“What will work?” A male voice sounded from the parlor door, drawing everyone’s attention.
The ladies turned at once to find Olivia’s husband, William, the Duke of Thorne leaning against the wooden door frame, one sandy-blond eyebrow arched in question.
Lady Louisa strolled over to her brother and hooked her arm through his. “We are going to the May-Day festival in the village.”
“Are you now?” He asked, his brow rising further.
Lady Louisa had the grace to blush as she turned her attention toward the other ladies. “Well, that is to say… We would like to attend.”
Emma hid her grin behind her hand. She ought to be ashamed to find herself happy when her friend’s hopes were about to be dashed. All the same, she couldn’t muster any regret. They did not belong at the festival, and whether they were in disguise, hardly signified.
Emma exchanged a knowing look with Lady Catherine. Surely the duke would put an end to the nonsense. Then they could forget all about the festival and find something more appropriate to do with their time.
Preferably something that would keep them all out of trouble and preserve their reputations. As the duke spoke, Emma slid her attention back to Lady Catherine, who sat calmly hiding her own grin behind her teacup.
It would seem the two of them had a great deal in common.
“I am sure you would.” The duke patted Lady Louisa’s hand, then looked to Olivia. “What is your opinion on the matter, Duchess?”
