Letitia stood abruptly, fanning herself.
“I feel a bit unwell,” she announced. “You will have to excuse me. I need to get some air.”
“Of course. Do take your time,” Rachel said, laughing now. Letitia had reached her limit. There was only so much that her poor, jealous heart could handle.
Letitia stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
She got to yelling at the staff straight away, likely trying to vent out her frustration.
Marina gave Rachel a sideways glance and rolled her eyes.
“Ignore her,” she said, shaking her head. “She cannot handle seeing you so happy.”
“I suppose she will have to get used to it. Now, we must also take our leave,” Rachel said gently. “It’s been a long evening.”
Marina looked relieved as she stood, casting a careful glance at Christopher, who merely grunted in response.
“Will you accompany us to the carriage?” Rachel asked her sister, who nodded and followed the couple out.
Once they were out of earshot, Marina laughed loudly.
“Oh, God.” She shook her head. “I loved seeing that. Letitia was thoroughly upset. You’d think she was being tortured in there.”
“I’m fairly certain she’d have preferred that to sitting through my pregnancy announcement.”
“She was green with jealousy,” Marina said, “and trying so hard not to show it that I thought she might actually explode.”
“If she gives you trouble,” Rachel said, looping her arm through her sister’s as they descended the steps, “you must write to me. I’ll come back and finish what I started.”
“I doubt she’ll try anything again—not after today.” Marina grinned.
“Perhaps. But Letitia has never taken defeat gracefully,” Rachel noted.
“She’d better learn,” Marina smirked. “You’ve set the bar far too high now. There’s no keeping up.”
“I did not want to ask this in front of Father and Letitia,” Rachel pulled Marina to the side, “but you must tell me if there has been any progress on your side. Is there anyone you’ve taken a liking to? A gentleman who’s caught your eye?”
Marina seemed to jump at the question, but then calmed herself again.
“No,” she said quickly. “No one in particular.”
“Are you sure?” Rachel questioned, raising an eyebrow, but Marina only blushed and waved her hand in the air.
“I am, I am,” she said. “Now please—your carriage is waiting for you.”
Rachel found her sister’s behavior suspicious but decided not to press further. If there was someone, then she would tell her eventually.
Instead, she nodded and gave Marina’s hand one last squeeze. “Write to me if anything changes. Or even if it doesn’t.”
“I always do,” Marina agreed.
They said their goodbyes and stepped into the carriage. The moment the doors shut behind them, Rachel allowed herself to relax.
Simon watched her closely.
“What?” she asked, finally.
“Nothing.” A playful smile formed on his lips. “Just that you were magnificent in there.”
