Unfortunately, Aunt Sophie had a difficult pregnancy and birth nearly a year ago. She had been unwell since. The babe died shortly after birth, and Aunt Sophie scarcely left her room in the months since.
Jules delayed her entrance into society to care for her stepmother. Though I was glad that Aunt Sophie was being so well looked after, I couldn’t help but wish Jules had been by my side the other night. I could not imagine I would have made such a poor showing with her to assist me.
Unlike me, Lady Juliet Dalton was the picture of a debutante. Lovely in both form and person, she mastered all the expected accomplishments and a few more besides. Were she less kindhearted, I should hate her a bit for her perfection.
The single greatest advantage that London has to offer was proximity to both Jules and Aunt Sophie. I had spent as much time at Dalton place as I was able in the weeks since my arrival to town.
As a regular visitor with a standing invitation to the sickroom, a footman ushered me straight there. I wasn’t familiar with the man, but they did seem to go through staff at an alarming rate here.
I was pleased that today appeared to be a good one. Aunt Sophie was upright in bed and the drapes were open to allow light into the room while Jules read to her.
“Kate! Darling, how was your debut?” Aunt Sophie urged me closer.
I perched at her side on the bed. Even though she was much improved today compared to recent days, she was still a shadow of the woman I remembered from my youth, and it saddened me.
I gave her a half smile. “I danced with a duke.”
She pushed herself more upright against the pillows. “Oh, tell me everything!”
“He was very charming and handsome. We danced a quadrille. He was everything a young man ought to be.”
“Which duke?”
“Rosehill, his mother was the hostess.”
Juliet fussed with the bedding while we chatted.
“I thought he was already married?”
“Oh, no. Unfortunately, his elder brother passed away a few years ago, and his father died a year or two after that. I had the good fortune to meet his widow. The younger brother is now the duke.”
“Oh, dear, how sad for the family. You say he was charming and handsome?”
“Yes, and so kind.”
“Oh, I’m so happy for you, dearest! Now, I think I would like to rest a bit, why don’t you and Jules go and giggle over all the romantic details. The ones you don’t wish to share with your ancient auntie.”
“Aunt Sophie!”
“Go.” With that dismissal, she slid down on the pillows, turning off to one side.
“Do you want me to close the drapes?” Juliet asked.
“Yes please.”
Following her instructions, Jules followed me out, closing the door softly behind us. She dragged me down the hall to her room. She flopped on the settee beside me in an uncharacteristic display of pique.
“I was so hoping she would make it to luncheon today,” she whispered.
“She’s not improving, is she?”
Jules shook her head sadly in response. “I do not know how to help her.”
She lolled her head onto my shoulder, and I wrapped my arm around to rub her back soothingly. It was surely an uncomfortable maneuver; she was more than half a foot taller than me. But she seemed unbothered.
“What does your father say?”
“Nothing.”
