“The color is the same as my father’s and brother’s.” She followed his lead as though she was an extension of himself. The sensation proved unusually satisfying as he spun her in a twirl. “My sister’s eyes are brighter.” She told him from over her shoulder.
“Flutter your lashes,” Greys said, shaking his head. “And say ‘thank you, my lord’.”
“What?”
“That is the proper way to acknowledge a gentleman when he compliments you. Didn’t your governess teach you anything?”
She stiffened beneath his hand but didn’t miss a step. “Our governess taught us history and math and languages. In between that, we cared for my mother and our youngest sister, Sarah.”
Greys nodded. “But of course. My mistake. Your mother and youngest sister have removed to Chaswick’s country estate, have they not? How are they faring?” The youngest of Chaswick’s three sisters had been born without her sight. Greys had met her on a few of those same occasions when he’d first become acquainted with this one.
“My brother has hired Sarah a special tutor who is going to teach her how to read from raised dots on paper, and she has a specially trained dog.” Miss Diana spoke as though all of this was for the best, but some of the light seemed to leave her eyes.
“You miss her.”
She sighed, but continued floating along, nonetheless. “Although I’ve no doubt the country air suits them both, Sarah is only nine and I worry that she will be lonely without Collette and me.”
Greys experienced an unfamiliar softening toward her. She was unruly and exuberant, but she was young, and it was evident that she’d never been allowed to cultivate the expectations a genteel lady would have grown up with naturally.
“But she is with your mother.”
Miss Diana nodded.
“And Chaswick would have hired only the best. Nine is a good age for your sister to learn some independence.” He found himself wanting to alleviate her worries.
“I know.” Her voice came out clipped sounding—proud little minx.
“Of course, you do.” Greys performed a more complicated step, almost hoping to catch her off guard, but alas, she responded perfectly.
Chaswick might have had more success finding his sister employment at the new ballet theatre operating near St. Martin’s Street.
