She grasped her mother’s hand and pasted on a warm smile, not wanting to spoil her parent’s experience. “I think you can appreciate it more than I since I have not seen the represented city before.”
Her mother patted her hand. “Trust me, Paris is breathtaking. This brings to mind so many fond memories.” Her mother’s eyes sparkled with happiness before she lowered her brow. “Of course, when I visited, there was no wooden monstrosity called theArc de Triomphe, but the rest is as I remember it.”
“I’m very pleased you are enjoying it.” She squeezed the hand in hers before letting go. “Amelia seems unusually content with the artistry as well. Based on that, I feel as if I’ve been to Paris.”
Her mother laughed. “The views are only half the city’s charm. I hope someday you can travel there.”
She had no interest in going to Paris, especially not now that she had a school to start. But even that thought couldn’t calm the roiling in her stomach. Her mother continued her stroll and Joanna fell behind, not wanting to engage in conversation when her thoughts whirled about in irritated turmoil. The audacity of Lady Caroline’s assumptions had her questioning the woman’s fitness to be James’ wife. Not that it was her concern, but for all his arrogance, he was intelligent, and she couldn’t imagine him being happy with a woman who could be so horribly mistaken.
As her mother stopped before a scene of extended gardens, Mariel stepped back. “Joanna, is something amiss?”
She looked her older sister in her eyes and couldn’t lie. She gave her a brief nod. For some unknown reason, the sympathy in her sister’s gaze made her eyes sting with unshed tears.
“Would you like to leave? Teddy has his carriage and can bring Mother home when she’s ready.”
“Yes, I think I’ve seen and heard enough.”
Though her sister gave her a quizzical look, she didn’t ask. Instead, she spoke to their mother and in no time, they were both well ensconced in their coach on the way to Craymore Hall.
“We are in private now.” Mariel’s soft gaze welcomed any confidence.
She growled. “I’m infuriated and insulted by the Lady Caroline.”
Except for a slight raising of her brows, Mariel didn’t react. “Tell me.”
And she did, everything, even about the school. Everything, that is, except what was inthe book.
Chapter Fourteen
Joanna paced furiouslyacross her bedroom. “The chit can’t even tell when someone is teasing her. How dare she pretend to know what I am feeling.”
Mariel had taken a seat on her settee and inclined her head. “Whatareyou feeling?”
She narrowed her eyes at her sister as she approached. “I think it rather obvious.”
“No, not about Lady Caroline. I mean about Lord Northwick.”
She stopped on her way back to her dressing table and turned. “What do you mean?”
Her sister took time to smooth out the skirt of her dress before answering. “I mean, what is your relationship to Lord Northwick?”
“My relationship? I don’t have a relationship.”
Mariel shook her head. “Yes, you do. After his dinner party, you thought him the most antiquated, arrogant, closed-minded man you had ever met.” She lowered her head slightly and looked up at her for confirmation. “That is what you said, if I recall correctly.”
She moved to her bed and grasped the bed post. “I may have been wrong about him at the time, but that was the impression he made upon me that night.”
“So your opinion of him has changed. In what way?”
“For one, I’ve discovered that despite being a bit antiquated in his thoughts, he is intelligent enough to be open to new ideas.”
“So he’s not closed minded then?” Mariel’s green gaze was direct.
She nodded. “No, I was wrong about that.” She held up her hand to postpone any interruption. “But I still believe him arrogant. However, now I see he has reason to be. Not only is he a duke, but he is the most learned man I know.” She frowned at her sister. “You won’t tell Father, will you? He’d be so hurt.”
Mariel waved away her concern. “Don’t I keep all your secrets?”
It was true. If Mariel knew a secret, she never revealed it to anyone. It made her the perfect confidant. “He’s also very supportive of my school idea. He is allowing Elsbeth to attend.” She hopped up on her bed, her feet dangling over the side. “I’m not sure what Teddy will think of that once he learns of it, but that the duke let it be Elsbeth’s decision tells me that he is willing to allow her to choose her future husband as well. I will admit, at first, I didn’t believe him when he said he would. He did stipulate that the man must be acceptable to him, meaning family, money, and good character, which Teddy has.”
