She peered coyly over the edge of the fan.
‘You really do sound like Phoebe!’ Matilda declared, grinning.
‘Phoebe didn’t want to marry at all,’ Sophie replied, ‘whereas I can’t imagine not marrying! But that doesn’t mean I’ll settle for just anything either. I know it seems that only gentlemen can be ambitious or have aspirations in this life, while we are required to play a much milder role, but I wish for as much success with my husband’s heart as I do his situation. And if it is not to be that I am woken up with violent protestations of love and devotion every day, I shall move to Paris and become a famous modiste instead!’
‘Good grief!’ Josephine exclaimed, pushing her loose spectacles up her snub nose. ‘Does Thomas know about your ambitions in the fashion industry? And surely all that devotion, violent or otherwise, is going to get very wearisome after a while? I mean, I’m happy you’re my sisters of course, but some days I could quite easily go without seeing any of you.’
‘Charmed, I’m sure!’ Sophie glared at her sister.
‘Ditto!’ Matilda called in a muffled voice. ‘And I’m most definitelynotgoing to marry anyone disagreeable, or violently in love, or anything in the middle if I can help it.’
‘Why? Who are you going to marry then?’ Josephine quizzed. ‘Or are you going to be an old maid, like Harriet?’
‘Harriet seems perfectly happy to me!’ Matilda flashed. ‘And Phoebe says we should have as much choice as our brothers so if I can’t marry Misty I’m not going to marry anyone. I shall simply play the game until I’m much too old and toothless for anyone to want to marry me,’ she added, finally rolling out of her hiding place.
‘Hush Matty!’ Sophie said, laughing in a scandalised tone. ‘I think marrying a Dartmoor pony might be a stretch, even for you,’ she continued, ‘and young ladies don’t get to play the game. Wearethe game.’
‘All the more reason to change the rules then!’ Matilda retorted.
Sophie sighed.
‘Who knows, perhaps one day we will, but for now we must content ourselves with ensuring that those who seek only to trifle with our affections do not succeed.’
‘How?’ Matilda challenged.
‘Ah well that,dearest,’ Sophie said reassuringly, ‘is where you are fortunate to be a Fairfax, with more than your fair share of fearsome sisters to help you navigate the marriage mart. Although, in practice I do believe it is not at all difficult to know a true gentleman from a cad. Take Sir George Weston, for example. He has a respectable title, good connections and the last time we saw him he tipped his hat at me– twice! Perfectly gentlemanly behaviour.’
‘It was windy,’ Josephine qualified, readjusting her spectacles. ‘It looked as though he was struggling to hang on to it. Though, I do believe thereissomething of a Mr Bingley about him, is there not?’
Sophie glanced at her bookish sister and was surprised to see a faint blush stealing into her pale cheeks.
‘He has the most sensiblecountenance,’ Josephine continued, unaware of her sister’s continued study, ‘and appears to have avoided the silly, foppish ways most gentlemen adopt. He also has a quiet air of authority that neither seeks attention nor shies away from it, and his manner always suits the occasion. He neither tries too hard, nor not hard enough, and always knows just what to say too… In truth, he seems to me to be to beexactlywhat a real gentleman should be!’
She looked up then to find Sophie regarding her with such an owlish expression, while Matilda feigned vomiting, that she flushed and hid behind her book.
‘Nowyou’rethe pigwidgeoned dunderhead!’ Matilda declared, snorting with laughter. ‘Any gentleman who ties his cravat in the mathematical style is a veritable fop. Alex said so, so it must be true!’
‘Matilda!’ her sisters chimed in protest.
‘You really mustn’t call Viscount Damerel Alex!’ Sophie remonstrated. ‘It’s so improper even if we are family– and no, it wouldn’t make any difference if you were a pirate either!’
‘Well, itwaswindy the day we saw Sir Weston, because I almost lost my bonnet too,’ Matilda returned mulishly. ‘Also, I think appearances can be very deceptive! Alex sayshe was considered a rake before he married Phoebe, which just goes to prove you can never be sure what gentlemen are really like until you’ve known them for a quadrillion years!’
It was Josephine’s turn to snort.
‘That’s a pretty long engagement by anyone’s standards, and Harriet says a lady shouldn’t keep any gentleman waiting too long for anything.’
‘Pah! Well, this is wheremygeneration will be different!’ Matilda declared, snatching up Sophie’s parasol and lunging at the curtains.
‘We won’t be afraid of offending a few old cronies at Almack’s, just because we’ve no desire to be a trophy for some fortune-hunting rake!’
Sophie threw her gaze to the ceiling as Matilda proceeded to make short work of the thick, chintz folds.
‘Heavens dearest, I shall find you donning Fred’s breeches and heading to a London theatre next!’ she exclaimed.
‘Though you need not concern yourself too greatly,’ she added. ‘Thirteen is still a little young to be attracting the rakes and libertines of Georgian London. And in truth, I fully intend this season’s triumph to be mine and mine alone.’
She flicked open her brise fan and brought it to her face with her most determined smile. ‘Without a single, pigwidgeoned dunderhead in sight!’
