“But I do. I know what you all think of me, and I will change that. I want you to all see me as a lady, rather than a child, so I will have to make the effort for that to be the case.”
She left without another word, and Margaret watched her as she went. It was true that they all saw her as little other than their baby. She was the most precious thing as a little girl, and even as an adult she was filled with a kindness that Margaret envied. She wished she shared in her sister’s gentle nature and naivety. She wished she could be ignorant to the problems around her, but if that were the case they would have been cast out of their home long ago.
To Poppy’s credit, Margaret saw the following evening that the efforts were already being made. When she entered her room to prepare her, she was wearing her most expensive gown, and was sitting perfectly upright. Margaret took a hairbrush and began tending to her. Fortunately, no questions were ever asked about why she was the one to prepare her sisters for outings, as they had always preferred it that way. Emily took the lady’s maid, while Margaret had Poppy.
“You look lovely,” Poppy sighed. “I do not know how you do it yourself.”
“A lot of practice. Besides, I enjoy it. That is why I do yours, too.”
“Do I look presentable? I do not wish to do too much.”
“It is perfect. You should trust yourself more often. Now, are you ready?”
She fastened the last pin, and Poppy admired herself before turning to her with a firm nod. They descended the stairs, and even their mother gave her approval. Margaret pretended not to notice just how happy that made her sister.
Ravensmere House stood on a wide Mayfair street, its pale stone frontage plain but well maintained. Tall windows faced the road, evenly spaced across three storeys, and a short flight of stone steps led up to a black front door. It was not larger than its neighbours, but it was clearly of better quality, and Margaret wondered if it garnered much envy.
Her heart thudded as they approached the door. She had been to the house, but this was different. She was truly a guest this time, which meant she had to be proper. She hoped that the Duke had told his staff to act as though they were meeting for the first time, for there was only so much she could hide from her sisters.
“Welcome,” the butler greeted, bowing as though he had never seen her in his life. “Do come in. His Grace has asked that you go to the dining room upon arrival.”
They did not argue, though Margaret did not doubt that Emily would have wanted to see more of the household. She was always curious about them, claiming that it said anything you could possibly want to know about a person.
They took their seats, and minutes later the Duke arrived. He wore dark red, his hair more properly fixed than it had been when they met. He was trying to make a good impression, and it meant more to her than she had expected it to. She did not want to care, but she did. Here was one of the highest ranking members of society, and he was trying to impressher.
She watched as Poppy went to speak excitedly only to stop herself.
“My apologies, I was hoping to meet you in the foyer.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, Your Grace,” Lady Fairleigh replied. “We are most grateful for the invitation.”
“And I am pleased to see you all. I have been looking forward to this.”
“Why is that?” Emily asked, and Margaret’s attention snapped to her.
They all looked at Emily, in fact. It was unlike her to speak out of turn like that,but she did not seem surprised to have said it.
“I rather think it necessary to meet the family of the lady one courts,” the Duke replied, grinning slightly as though amused. “I had been hoping to see you when I visited, but you were on a walk. Do you do so often?”
“Indeed,” Poppy nodded. “We like to spend time in the open air, for it gives us a change in scenery. Do you like to walk, Your Grace?”
“I certainly do. I was actually going to propose that we all promenade in Hyde Park two days from now.”
“That will be after a ball,” Emily said bluntly. “It shall be Poppy’s first, so I do not think it wise to plan something for the following day. She may be tired.”
“Enough, Emily,” their mother hissed.
“Very well. The day after?”
“We would be delighted to,” Margaret accepted before her sister could say anything more.
Their first course arrived, and at last Emily quietened, though she continued to watch the Duke with one eye. Margaret did not know what she was doing, nor what had gotten into her, but it had to be something. Emily had never been one to be disrespectful, let alone dismissive.
They finished their dessert after more pleasant conversation. Poppy’s choice to become a lady slipped away from her, and she asked the Duke about his home, his life, his interests, the things he hated, and by the end of the meal Margaret expected him to have them hastily pushed out of his house again.
When he asked them to join him in his parlor room, she almost fell to the floor in surprise.
They went across the house, but he gently took her wrist and asked if she could speak with him in the drawing room for a moment. She followed him without question, and as he closed the door behind them she waited for him to say something about what had happened.
