“I feel like Lady Liberty plays a bigger part in all of this. However, as you have more than enough to deal with considering Florence is arriving shortly, I will leave that for now,” Anthony said.
“There is nothing to discuss. Now shut up. Look, it is the chocolate house.” If there was anything that could distract his friends, it was food, drink, and most especially chocolate.
Chapter Nine
“Good morning, mylady.”
Liberty groaned at Helen’s overly cheerful greeting. Then winced as she threw open the curtains and allowed the sun to stream in.
“Gah,” was all she could muster.
“Are you well, my lady? It is not often I have to rouse you from your bed,” Helen said.
Liberty forced herself upright and into a seated position. “Is there a reason you are waking me with the sun?”
Helen deliberately looked from Liberty to the window, where the sun had clearly risen.
“Oh, very well. I read late into the night as I could not put my book down,” Liberty said. “But in fairness that does not happen often.”
“Not anymore, but it used to,” her maid said.
The problem was she’d had to stay home due to the injury on her head, and that had allowed her time to think about Tobias, which she’d not wanted to do. Therefore, she’d read.
Liberty thought she’d dealt with her feelings toward Tobias Corbyn. Stomped down the anger and resentment over what he’d done to her, but spending time in his company once again had brought it back to the surface.
For years she’d seen him, but they’d not spoken a word to each other. She’d been more than happy with that. Now, however, that hadchanged. He’d carried her to his carriage and looked after her.
Perfidious man.
“Your family is at present sitting down for their morning meal, and your father wishes you to join them,” Helen added.
“Is my house confinement over, then?”
“It would appear so,” her maid added.
She washed and dressed. Helen looked at her head and declared it was a great deal better. Liberty left her room and went to see her family.
Elegant and stately, as befitted a duke’s household, her father’s townhouse was decorated in the subtle tones of celestial blues and soft creams with touches of gold. Her mother had commissioned the renowned decorator Ludlow last year to completely redecorate the entire house.
Passing the two tall windows that looked down to her favorite garden seat, Liberty saw the day was at least fine, even if her mood was not. Opening the door, she walked into the breakfast parlor.
“She’s frowning. Everyone, run for cover,” her brother Edward said by way of a greeting.
“Very amusing,” Liberty said, poking out her tongue.
“Manners if you please, children,” their mother said. “How is your head this morning?”
“Much better, thank you.” Liberty loaded her plate from the sideboard and sat next to Edward.
“Excellent. It is the Potter ball tonight. You can attend.”
Shorter than her daughter, the Duchess of Talbot had a sweet round face, and gentle nature unless she wanted something. Then she was tenacious. She laughed often and was more than happy with her life exactly as it was. And who wouldn’t be when you had pots of money and servants to run hither and yon for you?
“Wonderful, I can hardly wait,” Liberty said.
“Such enthusiasm, sister.”
Edward was younger than Liberty by eight years, and a surprise to the entire family when he’d arrived. Their father had been ecstatic, of course, that he had an heir.
