Holly had been listening as well. “So, will you marry one of the gentlemen the duchess has invited to the party, then, Rho?” Rhoda couldn’t help smiling at her youngest sister’s naiveté. Holly, half girl, half woman at fifteen, would likely outshine both Rhoda and Coleus. Rhoda just hoped Holly didn’t make the same mistake that she had.
In fact, she’d do everything she could to prevent it. Quite possibly as a ruined spinster, left on the shelf to live out her years.
Who would marry her now? Certainly not Lord Blakely, and Lord Carlisle was far too pure for her. Rhoda feigned excitement. “I’m hopeful, Holly.” If such a man existed—one who didn’t care about her past—were to ask, then perhaps…
They came to a stop in front of the mansion and waited for one of the grooms to set down the step. Glancing up as she climbed out, gladness filled her when she spied Sophia rushing outside toward the carriage. Cheeks flushed, she greeted them with a broad smile. Rhoda embraced Sophia as though they hadn’t seen one another in months before stepping back.
Mrs. Mossant and the two younger girls dropped into curtsies.
“Are you getting used to all of this duchess business yet?” Rhoda whispered into Sophia’s ear.
Sophia didn’t answer her but instead laughed and then graciously invited everybody inside.
Lucy followed behind and was led upstairs by the housekeeper. Rhoda’s mother and sisters were anxious to settle in and decided to follow as well. Once they’d disappeared, Sophia dragged Rhoda into a grand drawing room on the second floor.
“We arrived a few hours ago.” Sophia seemed more fidgety than usual. Perhaps she felt guilty for hosting guests right now, after all. Rhoda would put her concerns to rest.
“I realized why you thought it so imperative to throw this house party. At first, I thought you’d simply gone a little batty, but I understand now.”
Sophia stilled and then raised her brows. “You do?
“Emily.”
“Uh…”
“The dear girl is destined to be sent to Wales with that dreadful aunt of hers again if we can’t find her a husband. I’m sorry for being obtuse about this earlier. Anyhow, I know the perfect man for her!”
Rhoda pulled them both down onto the settee while Sophia stared at her in some odd sort of fascination. She seemed confused for a moment but then began nodding effusively. “Who? Have you met Lieutenant Landon before then?”
Rhoda waved a hand in the air, dismissing this Lieutenant Landon, whoever he was. “Lord Carlisle! Mr. White. He’s coming this week, isn’t he?” He’d mentioned that while at the garden party. Rhoda knew Sophia would never forget how Mr. White had behaved so chivalrously when Harold had met with his accident.
Sophia blinked those bright blue eyes of her. “I hadn’t really considered Mr. White forEmily, but now that you mention it. He is such a kind man, after all, and he is an Earl now.”
Rhoda held up her hand and, using her fingers, began listing all the reasons for her decision, already feeling more like herself. “Number one, he’s sweet and charming. Not at all rakish. A man such as he would be tolerant and understanding of Emily’s… er foibles. Number two, he’s new on the marriage mart and, despite his good looks, hasn’t yet become enamored with himself. Thirdly, he’s good looking. Did I mention that yet? Quite dreamy, really. And fourth, but most importantly, he’shere. And there are no other simpering debutantes to fight over him. I think with a few carefully orchestrated situations between the two of them, he’ll be offering for her within the fortnight.”
Sophia began nodding in agreement. “You mentioned his good looks twice.”
“What?” Surely not! “No, number two was not about his looks. That was about his current mindset toward matrimony. He hasn’t yet had a chance to raise his defenses, so to speak.”
“Ah.” Sophia bit her lip and then seemed to come to a decision. “I think it’s a marvelous idea. How shall we proceed?”
Rhoda rose from the settee and began pacing back and forth. She did her best thinking while walking. Always. And it helped to focus on Emily’s troubles. Give her brain a rest from her own.
“Who else is here, then?” First, she needed to understand the situation clearly.
“Lieutenant Landon, Dev’s military friend, Dev, Emily, and Blakely, of course. And then there are your mother and sisters. Cecily and Mr. Nottingham won’t arrive until tomorrow, and I just received a letter from her. She’s persuaded her father to join them.”
“So, but for my sisters, we have even numbers. We need to keep Emily separated from Coleus and Holly. If she gets caught up in their silliness, she’ll do nothing to try to attract a man. After supper, Mama will send the girls to their chamber. Let’s play parlor games. The interesting kind. But we’ll fix the game from the beginning so as to throw Carlisle and Emily together somehow.”
Rhoda stopped pacing and tapped her finger on her bottom lip.
“What about charades?” Sophia supplied.
“No, too tame.” Rhoda tapped three more times and then gasped. “I’ve got it. Bridge of Sighs.”
Sophia twisted her mouth up somewhat disapprovingly. “The one where a lady rides around on a gentleman’s back, on the floor? And then asks each of the gentlemen present for a kiss?” She sat up straight and placed her hands in her lap demurely. “I don’t want Dev kissing other women, Rhoda.”
Rhoda laughed. “Dev and Mr. Nottingham can kiss the ladies on their cheeks. That leaves three other bachelors who can play in earnest. We’ll have Emily go first and then, after that, I’ll announce that I’m exhausted and ready to retire for the evening. It will be perfect! We can see how each of the gentlemen respond to her!”
