“I do not believe for one moment that you have failed,” Christine said stoutly. “You always think your world is ending after one bad day, but things are not so precarious.”
“My world did end after one bad day,” Selina said with a little more heat in her voice than she meant. “At least, that is what I saw when I was your age. One day, I was worrying about a stupid ball—I do not even remember who was hosting it. The next thingI know, my brother is missing and the entire ton hates him. Father died shortly after, and we lost our home. So forgive me if I think it is possible for one horrible day to destroy my life.”
“I remember that day,” Christine said impatiently. “Just as well as you do. No, I was not as hurt by it as you, but I remember. It was not just one day. Charles spent months hurting everyone. We just did not realize until the very end. Life has been very precarious for you for a long while, but it does not have to be that way anymore. The duke will not turn you out because of one argument. That little boy still loves you, even if he misses the late duchess.”
Selina swallowed. She wanted to believe it was true, but it was difficult. “The duke said I was a mistake,” she whispered.
“Then he will come to regret that,” Christine said. She smiled at her sister. “I think it is time we took our minds off things. Let us do something fun today. Lady Gillray might be possessive of her carriage, but she would not dare object to a duchess requesting access to it. We can take the carriage into town and enjoy ourselves for a while.”
Selina nodded and smiled shakily. After all, she had not come here to fight with her sister. Christine might be right about her needing to relax and distract herself for a while. “That sounds wonderful.”
The two of them went shopping in London. People stopped to curtsy at Selina and talk with her. She was still not accustomedto everyone calling her ‘Your Grace’, but it no longer felt as uncomfortable as it had at first.
She was happy she had changed and powdered her nose before leaving for town. The dowager duchess had not been exaggerating when she said all eyes would be on her when she was in public.
She and Christine visited a modiste together. Selina used her pin money to buy Christine a new ballgown, a delicate gown made out of blue silk.
“This is not necessary,” Christine said. “I have gowns from last Season.”
“That will simply not do,” Selina said. “You must have new gowns. Besides, what is the point of my having so much pin money if I cannot spoil you now and then?”
Christine smiled. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
Selina could not help but giggle at her sister calling her that. “That is Selina to you, dear sister.” Her mood felt much lighter as they left the modiste to walk to a nearby tea shop for some refreshments.
After tea, the sisters returned to Gillray Manor, where Selina discovered the bedroom next to Christine’s had been prepared for her. At least she was not sleeping in the servants’ quarters this time.
“I do hope our godmother will come to her senses,” Christine said as they sat down in Selina’s room together. “If she starts tormenting you in public, then you will have no choice but to act.”
“I can handle her,” Selina said. “Luckily, I think she has just enough sense not to publicly insult a duchess, no matter how much she dislikes me. How has she been treating you?”
Christine smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. “Lady Gillray knows I will write to you if she mistreats me too harshly.”
Selina studied her sister, wondering how truthful she was being. “Do you promise you will write to me? I do not want you to think you are inconveniencing me. I need to know if she continues to mistreat you.”
Christine smiled and grabbed her sister’s hand. “You were always a protective older sister, and I love you for it. But you no longer have to worry about me.”
“I will always worry about you. Especially while you live here.”
Christine chuckled. “I appreciate it, but it is unnecessary. She has already found a lady’s maid instead of using me.” Selina was still not sure, but it was clear Christine did not want the subject pressed. She sighed inwardly as she gave in to her sister’s wishes.
“I am glad I could give you that little amount of protection from her. Although I cannot wait for you to be out of her clutches. Perhaps you can spend next Season at Greystone Manor.” She felt a pang of sadness at the thought of her home. “At least, if I am still living there next Season.”
“You will be,” Christine said. Her brow furrowed. “Unless you wish to live separately from them?”
Selina thought about it for a moment and shook her head. “No,” she said. “I do not wish for that. I have come to love them all very much. But I do not wish to live in a place where I am not wanted. Perhaps I would be better off living elsewhere.”
Christine reached out to grab her hand. “I cannot imagine a sweet little boy like Percy not wanting you around.”
Selina arched an eyebrow. “What about Dominic?”
“I do not know the duke very well,” her sister said carefully. “But if he had any sense in him, then he would go to the ends of the earth to get you back.”
Selina smiled softly, even though she knew Dominic would never do that.
Lady Gillray made herself scarce that night, even during dinner. Selina was glad of it, much preferring to visit her sister without that unpleasant woman looming over her.
After dinner, Selina and Christine bid each other goodnight and retired to their respective rooms. Alone in her room, Selina felt a pang of homesickness for Greystone Manor. She wondered how Percy and Dominic were doing. How was the dowager duchess faring?
