Oh, dear. When Joanna got excited, that usually meant trouble was forthcoming. “I doubt I know my horses any better than your stableman knows yours. I’ve just spent more time with mine than you have.”
“Exactly.” Joanna started to pace across the drawing room, her blue skirts swishing against her legs with her long strides. “You know your horses, but you also know horses in general, their temperament, the best training for them, even the best horse for the best task.”
Once again, she felt her stomach tighten. When Joanna had an epiphany and wished to act upon it, there was usually nothing to be done but hope all would turn out well. That Joanna’s focus had turned to her was of great concern. “I do not know why that would be of any import.”
Her sister turned and stopped in midstride. “You could breed horses!”
“What?” Horror filled her at once. “I’m a lady. Ladies do not breed horses. How could you think of such an endeavor for me? It’s just not done.”
“Oh, come, Mariel. It’s not done for a lady to open a school for ladies of the peerage and to educate them on anything men are educated on. But I’ve done just that.”
“You are a duchess. Allowances are made.”
Joanna opened her arms wide. “What about Amelia? She’s becoming famous because of her paintings. That’s certainly not done.”
She shook her head, placing her napkin to the side of her plate. “Amelia exhibited with other female artists, so it is becoming accepted, and I don’t believe that selling a few paintings makes her a famous artist.”
“Sixteen.”
“Sixteen?”
“Yes. Amelia has sold sixteen paintings in mere weeks to three different lords.”
Why hadn’t she known that? Probably because she’d been so focused on a particular viscount who had risen from the dead, or so it seemed. “Joanna, I’m not like you and Amelia. I don’t wish for something beyond being a wife and a moth—lady. That is who I am.”
Joanna’s shoulders slumped.
Now she felt like she’d just told her sister there would never be another bowl of mascarpone ice cream made for eternity. “I would posit that Belinda and I were alike in this.”
“Perhaps.” Joanna returned to her seat. “I just want to see you happy.”
“But I am happy.” At Joanna’s doubtful look, she explained further. “I have two wonderful sisters, both our parents, and even a bit of independence as a widow.”
“Is that truly enough?”
Joanna’s look of disbelief almost made her laugh out loud. “Poor Joanna. Your mind just never rests. It is impossible for you to understand. No, it’s not enough.” She had dearly wished for a house and children of her own. “I also need Zephyrus and my stable of horses.”
Her sister’s hazel eyes immediately lit up again.
“To ride. Not to breed.”
“Very well, I will yield to your better knowledge of yourself…for now.”
“Thank you.” She smiled warmly. She was very happy for both her sisters and looked forward to being an aunt to their children. Maybe one of their daughters would need lessons in arranging dinner parties or embroidery. That would be enough for her.
Joanna lifted the tea pot and poured them more tea. “I suppose we should discuss when to go to London. Though James is happy to stay here or at Burhleigh Park, we do have students in Town who are being tended to by Lady Astor, so I will have to insist that we take over those duties.”
“It would also be remiss of me to not be at Craymore Hall to help Mother with her dinner parties and ball.” Even as she mentioned it, she found herself yearning to be of help once again.
“And we will need to attend to our wardrobe for the season, of course.” Joanna winked.
That warned her they’d be having many fittings when they arrived in Town, which she would quite enjoy. “Now that you are wed, will you change your preferred dress hues?”
“Whatever for?”
Part of her wished to wear the jewel-colored tones her sister wore, but they did not look as well on her. “You are a proper duchess now.”
“But as you mentioned, not so proper as to be head of an experimental school. Actually, I believe my color choices will fit much better with my new matronly status. But what of you? You do not need to wear such somber shades anymore.”
