Daniel stepped closer, towering over both brother and sister. “You see the engravings? They represent the peacock. The plate was not meant for the use of a senator’s wife. Rather, it was meant to be used for ceremonies. When I traveled to Pompeii three years ago, I saw another example.”
Even though she felt uncertain around him, Lucy was deeply fascinated. Her eyes went wide as she asked, “Was there another use for it, other than being symbolic?”
“Of course, it is nothing but symbolic,” Joshua grumbled.
“Yes,” Daniel replied, ignoring the Earl. “They truly believed that they were winning the goddess’s favor by letting the plate capture the sun.”
“Thank you for sharing, Your Grace. The books do not tell us as much as we would like.”
“Perhaps you are not reading the right books,” Joshua chimed in.
“That is certainly true, the books do not tell us as much as we would like. I can think of a few books to suggest to you. You might not get much from writers of leisure, but you will get enough from men of science.”
Joshua had become very quiet, undoubtedly nursing his bruised ego, but Lucy did not care at this point. She listened to everything Daniel had to say. She knew her brother might feel ignored, but they had spent their lives as if he were the only one who had a say, and she was tired of it.
When a business associate motioned for him to approach, she could not hide her relief. He cast one last suspicious look at Daniel before taking his leave.
“Would you please excuse me,” he said. “Lord Warwick wants to have a word with me.”
Perhaps Daniel did not want any more trouble with her brother because he also took his leave, but not before giving her a slight bow.
She felt deeply disappointed, questioning whether her dress had any effect on him at all. Again, she reminded herself that this was a man who was used to seeing the most beautiful ladies in London, even on the Continent. She could not compete, and probably should just face reality.
“That’s quite a bold choice for a dress for a spinster who hides in the shadows,” Lady Catherine commented, her approach so sudden that it startled Lucy.
The woman seemed to always find some issue with her, and tonight was no exception. It wasn’t even a ball.
“Did the Earl of Marsleigh’s tastes drastically change, or are you rebelling, Lady Lucy?”
“Sometimes, even the shadows get tired of corners, Lady Cecily,” Lucy responded with her head held high. “I do believe, however, that one must focus on the knowledge that can be gained from an antique exhibition. It is far more productive and several times less petty than scrutinizing other people’s clothes.”
Lady Cecily’s jaw dropped. She clearly had not expected Lucy to respond, much less be harsh. She did recover quickly, though. A cruel smirk curved her lips.
“Knowledge? How quaint! How virtuous!” she mocked, her voice rising on purpose, drawing a few ladies to her side. “Tell me, dear, where did you get it? There is no way the Earl would have bought a dress with a low neckline.”
Whispers began. If the Earl did not buy the dress for his sister, then the implication was clear: someone else must have. Some guests drew closer at the scent of a possible scandal.
“I cannot recall where I bought the dress,” Lucy lied, trying to keep her voice steady. “It was a long time ago.”
“Don’t tell me you kept such a lovely dress hidden all these years?” Lady Cecily asked, shaking her head in mock disbelief.“It looks in fashion, suspiciously Parisian. Could it be true? Could it be a secret gift?”
“Is someone other than her brother providing her with fine things?” Lucy heard another lady whisper to her friend.
She felt cold all over. She felt trapped.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“It is certainly strange that you have started wearing such fine clothes,” another lady added.
“You see, Lady Lucy?” Lady Cecily drawled. “It is not just me who sees the significant change. It is very obvious that you are wearing a new dress that was not bought by your brother.”
The gossips were arriving, having sniffed blood. They were like a pack of wolves, trying to find something to entertain them when most could not understand the value of the artifacts on display. Any impending scandal seemed a far more compelling topic.
Lucy felt the heat of their gazes upon her. She tried not to show how her hand trembled around her fan. Her midnight blue silk dress suddenly felt like a target.
“Lady Cecily,” a deep voice cut through the murmurs.
Lucy had not known that Daniel was still nearby, but he was. He looked even more handsome, not that she could better appreciate him without her brother standing next to her. The authority oozing from him had everyone stop talking. A few ladies gaped at him.
