“Is it that bad?” Deena was afraid of the answer, and Miss Waldron’s expression said it all. “Oh, heavens.”
Miss Waldron patted her knee and opened her mouth to say something, but she was interrupted by the high-pitched voice of Lady Ann.
“Well, Lady Deena. I must say, you have courage returning to London at all.” Lady Ann and her mother towered over, smirking and rejoicing at her downfall. “One would think five years abroad might have taught yousomemodesty.”
“You know what they say, darling. Once ruined, always ruined,” her mother added.
The two ladies laughed and turned to leave when Miss Waldron stepped in front of them.
“That’s rich coming from a lady who’s been attending the Duke Hunt for almost three unsuccessful years. I can only imagine why the men run from you.”
Lady Ann stood stunned as her mother pointed a crooked finger in Miss Waldron’s face. “How dare you?—”
“Oh, hush! You two can’t even live without each other. Nobody wants to marry a womanandher mother. Go eat your breakfast and worry about your own daughter’s reputation.”
Deena gaped as Lady Ann and her mother flushed bright red in front of Miss Waldron.
“Come, Ann. We shouldn’t waste our time with another good-for-nothing spinster,” Lady Fairchild muttered.
“Do not speak of her like that!” Deena rose abruptly. She couldn’t let another friend get crushed under the words of entitled scum. “Thank you, Miss Waldron, but I don’t need anyone to fight my battles.”
Lady Ann chuckled.
“Is something funny?” Deena glared at her.
“I just wonder, Lady Deena, that perhaps you should allow yourself to be saved this time.” Lady Ann leered at her.
“Enough!” The dowager’s voice cut through the air like a blade. No one had noticed her arrival because all the attention was on Deena. “This is my house, and my guests will behave with civility.”
A reluctant and resentful silence fell.
The dowager’s gaze swept the room, then settled on Deena.
“My dear,” she said gently, “come sit with me.”
Deena looked at Miss Waldron apologetically, but she shook her head as if saying there’s no need for that. She gave Lady Ann one last glare before she walked towards her grandmother unsteadily. The dowager guided her to the head of the table, then turned to address the room.
“My darlings, although it is with great sadness that I say this, but due to… personal reasons the Duke Hunt ends early today,” she announced.
The room filled with angry murmurs.
“B…but the Duke of Windemere is choosing his lady today!” Lady Amelia stood up and squealed like a spoilt child.
Deena caught her grandmother rolling her eyes.
“Lady Amelia, I apologize for inconveniencing your plans, but I am sure of it that you were not the Duke’s first choice, anyhow.”
Lady Amelia gasped and burst into tears. Her friends gathered around her to comfort her as she sobbed dramatically.
The dowager sighed and whispered in Deena’s direction, “That was a bit harsh?
“Too harsh, Grandmother,” Deena whispered back.
The dowager shrugged before she continued. “All guests are required to depart now. I believe we have had quite enough excitement.”
The murmurs rose again; it was the first time the dowager ended the Hunt early, and it shocked even Deena. She knew how much her grandmother loved the hunt, and for her to shut it down for Deena’s sake made her realize just how much she meant to her grandmother.
The dowager hit her cane against the floor to silence everyone. “That is all.”
