Mariel harrumphed. “Maybe he did, but lately Teddy has become ridiculously mawkish.”
“You noticed that too?” She clasped her hands. “Maybe I should talk to him.”
“No.” Mariel leaned back. “Never interfere with affairs of the heart.”
She swallowed her reply. She may have much book knowledge, but when it came to art, she listened to Amelia, and when it came to love, she listened to Mariel. “I hope he doesn’t put himself in a bad light.”
“As do I. But we weren’t talking about Teddy. We were talking about you and the Duke of Northwick.”
She started at that. “I am not in league with the Duke of Northwick. Until just recently, when he finally accepted that I had a point about women of the peerage being allowed to learn what they wished, all we did was debate.” She threw one hand in the air. “And I can tell you we don’t agree on anything else.”
Mariel didn’t say anything to that. Obviously, she’d made her point.
“That’s not to say I don’t enjoy debating with someone who has read far more books than I have. Father concedes too quickly, but the duke holds onto his stand as long as possible, using many debate tactics such as appealing to emotion or distracting with related topics. It forces me to be constantly assessing and thinking. It’s quite exhilarating.”
“So I see.” Mariel smiled, staring pointedly at her hands.
She quickly brought them back to her lap. “Yes, I flap my arms about when I get excited. Father calls me a goose when I do that.”
Mariel chuckled. “I thought I heard him call you that, but I thought I was mistaken.”
“I like it.” She shrugged. “He always says it with affection.”
“Father does like to give nicknames.”
She grinned. “Yes. He even dubbed Northwick’s library as ‘heaven’ in front of Northwick himself.”
Mariel’s hand came to her chest. “Oh my. When did he do that? Was that when the duke invited you and Father to see it?”
She shook her head. “No. It was when Father insisted on coming with Teddy and me when we visited to instruct the duke and Elsbeth on how to waltz.”
Mariel’s intake of breath warned her that perhaps that hadn’t been the most appropriate gathering, but she didn’t particularly care about appropriateness. She waved one of her hands before Mariel spoke. “It was nothing. Though Father was in the library, Lady Astor was there.”
Mariel studied her silently.
“What is it? What are you thinking?
Her older sister rose and walked to her. Then she took both her hands. “Did you enjoy dancing with the duke?”
“At first, no. The man is far too tall and doesn’t take instruction easily.”
“But then?”
She wasn’t sure what Mariel was trying to discern. “Then eventually he mastered it. I understand he and Elsbeth have been practicing for her ball.”
“Joanna, though I dislike immensely how upset Lady Caroline made you, she did make one legitimate point, as you would phrase it.”
She very much doubted that. “And that was?”
Mariel squeezed her hands. “You need to reflect on your time with the duke and decide exactly what your true feelings are.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but Mariel let go of her hands and pressed a finger to her lips. “No, do not dismiss the idea out of hand. You once told me that only the brave can reflect upon themselves and not shudder at what they find. You need to discern the truth of your feelings. Only you can do that.”
When her sister removed her finger, she didn’t know how to respond.
Luckily, Mariel didn’t appear to expect an answer. She moved to the door. “I promised Mother I would help her with the dinner planning for next week. I hope you will take time to reflect before you next see the duke.” With those final words, Mariel slipped out of the room and closed the door softly.
She jumped onto the floor and started pacing. Mariel didn’t understand that there was nothing to reflect on. She and the duke currently agreed on something, and so at this moment in time, she enjoyed his company. That he was handsome just made that activity easier. That he moved with grace and smelled exotic made teaching him easier. That her heart thudded when he held her close and she wanted to kiss him…
