Lady Sommerset’s eyes widened. “That is quite unexpected. Are you sure he was serious?”
The woman nodded, but Mariel smiled softly. “Perhaps our Teddy has found someone who has made him see the error of his ways.” Sommerset shook his head. “I doubt that.” The man nodded to him to confirm the assumption that the continent was not a place where one fell in love. He silently agreed with that sentiment, but didn’t respond. His experience there had been nothing short of hell.
Mariel clasped his hand, bringing him back from his dark thoughts as if she sensed his emotions, a trait he thoroughly appreciated. “Did you ask James about Lissette?”
Before he could explain that he had not, the duchess spoke. “Who’s Lissette?”
Mariel answered for him. “Her name is Lissette Fontaine. You met her grandmother in the churchyard on our first attempt to be married.”
He squeezed her hand, silently communicating how happy he was that their second attempt in the upstairs solar with Anthony in a wheeled chair and been successful.
The duchess’ eyes rounded. “She’s the woman that saved Lord Blackmore’s life, correct? She has a granddaughter?”
“Yes, she does.” He knew it was a large favor, but only by asking could he know what his options were. “Madame Fontaine has found that her granddaughter is too interested in social events, but too young to understand the ways of English society.” He looked to his wife, who gave a nod of encouragement. She knew her sister far better than he. “She feels that Mademoiselle Lisette needs further education to distract her from her primary focus.”
The duke’s eyebrows rose. “And that is?”
Mariel answered. “Men. Madame is afraid that Lissette would be too easily swayed without having a better education.”
“And you think Belinda’s School for Curious Ladies would be the place for her?” The duchess crossed her arms, which was not an indication of her sympathy.
“Yes, I do.” Mariel released his hand. “First, the young woman needs a distraction.” She tapped the palm of one hand with her other index finger. “Second, she needs to be among young ladies who are curious about other subjects.” She tapped two fingers into her palm. “Third, she has already had the typical education of women of status in France, so she needs more than a finishing school.” Mariel tapped three fingers into her palm and closed her hand around them. “She needs Belinda’s school.”
The room was silent as both the duchess and the duke appeared to contemplate the matter. Lady Sommerset looked at her husband and they both grinned.
His wife was truly amazing. First, she had opened their home to Madame and Lissette whenever they wished to visit, and now she’d argued on their behalf. He couldn’t believe he once thought he could live without her.
Finally, the duchess nodded. “You make a good argument. I can find no clear objection.”
“I can.” At the duke’s words, everyone froze, but his wife.
“You can?” The duchess’ eyebrows rose in disbelief. “Pray tell, what could it be beyond proof of her lineage.”
His satisfied smile that he’d thought of something his wife hadn’t was not appreciated. “Payment.”
Lady Sommerset rolled her eyes. “Truly, James?” She waved at Mariel and himself. “Do you not think they have already made arrangements?”
The duke shrugged. “It is still a consideration.”
Having seen a similar exchange a few days ago, Marcus knew it was no more than a simple intellectual challenge between the couple. That they enjoyed it was obvious, but he preferred his and Mariel’s mode of communication.
The duchess’ smug look turned serious. “As long as the young lady follows the school’s rules.”
“Have you had any problems with your students?” Mariel’s concern for the school was clear in her tone. “I don’t remember you mentioning anything after the season started.”
The duchess glanced at her husband, who was also no longer smiling. “We haven’t. But we have been asked to call upon one student’s mother tomorrow. It appears one of our curious ladies is not curious enough, and the mother wishes to discuss it with us.”
Sommerset frowned. “Did she say what the problem was?”
“No. But we will do whatever we can to help.”
Lady Sommerset genuinely smiled at her sister. “With two of the most learned people in London helping, I’m sure everything will be fine.”
The sisters’ affection for each other was strong, and as he’d seen, they would do anything for each other. He looked to his wife, thinking he had married the best Mabry sister by far but found her holding her stomach. It wasn’t the first time, and his smug happiness turned to worry in an instant. He lowered his voice, knowing his wife would not want to be embarrassed. “Elle, what’s wrong.”
She waved him off with her other hand. “Nothing important. I imagine my stomach didn’t care for the mutton I ate at dinner.”
That was not the first time she’d said something she ate made her uncomfortable. In fact, he’d lost count of the number of times she’d said that lately. He turned to the duchess, whose gaze had already fastened onto her sister.
