“What was it like?”Rose asked in a low whisper, glancing at Lady Stark, where she was speaking with the shopkeeper about bonnets for Bridget and Charlotte.They’d barely been able to speak privately during the day, so they took every opportunity for Johanna to catch Rose up on what had transpired between her and the duke.
It was all Johanna had to offer to get Rose to speak to her, once she’d admitted to Rose the real manner in which the duke had found her.Her cousin and best friend had been furious to know that Johanna was going to offer herself up in such a manner, and that she had not even tried consulting with Rose on other options.Despite the fact that Rose had not been there to consult with.
If Mr.Blash was smart, he would stay well away from the Falmouth household from now on.The duke seemed very displeased with him, but it was Rose’s retribution he would really need to fear.
Telling Rose about the duke kissing her last night was the first thing that had broken through her cousin’s icy façade.Neither of them had been kissed before yesterday.
“It was…” Johanna groped for the right description.‘Wet’ did not nearly do it justice despite its accuracy, because it did not encompass any of the emotions or the reaction she’d had.‘Hot’ had the same problem.“Magical.”
Both of them giggled, and Johanna flushed from head to toe with the remembered sensations.Her body still felt as though it was buzzing.Especially after seeing him at breakfast this morning.She’d barely been able to look at him.When she had, he’d winked, and she’d felt like hiding under the table.
“Then there should be no problem on the wedding night,” Rose said, sounding relieved.
Though neither she nor Johanna had been kissed, they knew a bit about what to expect between a man and a woman.Women had come seeking Johanna’s mother for certain herbs and potions to help keep them from getting with child, as well as for assistance with births.Not the normal occupation for a countess, but Johanna’s mother had been happy to assist.As such, Johanna knew the basics of what went on between a man and a woman.
But she had not known that it would feel so… so…
Good.
Especially because there had been instances for the young women visiting her mother where it had certainly not been good for them.A sobering thought, but also a relief that she would not experience such a thing.Because of her knight.Her duke.
“Rose.Come here.Gloves.”Lady Stark beckoned.
Rose obeyed with a sigh and a sardonic look at Johanna.
She shrugged.
She was certainly not going to apologize for sharing her good fortune with her cousin and sisters.If Lady Stark wanted to outfit them all, then Lady Stark would outfit them all.
A tug on her sleeve made her look down.
Charlotte.Clad in all light grey.With her light coloring, the effect was very… creepy.As Johanna had told Matthew.Though she had not admitted that she’d always rather liked that about Charlotte.Her youngest sister walked to the beat of her own drum, and Johanna admired that about her.
“Yes, darling?”she asked gently, leaning down so Charlotte would not have to raise her voice to be heard.She liked to speak softly, when she spoke at all, perhaps because Micah and Bridget tended to make enough noise for all of them.
“Mama’s wrong,” Charlotte told her quite seriously.“You need to marry the duke.”
Turning in place, though she did not seem to actually move her feet when she did so, Charlotte glided away.A shiver went down Johanna’s spine.Yes, her youngest sister was a touch eerie at times.As if those violet eyes knew things other people did not.Even though Johanna knew the same was occasionally said about her, with Charlotte… she was not certain they were incorrect.
“What was that about?”Bridget asked from behind Johanna.Straightening, Johanna turned and cast a gimlet eye at her middle sister.
Charlotte could be unsettling just by being herself, but Bridget would deliberately work to discombobulate a person.
“She’s glad I’m marrying the duke,” Johanna said simply, rather than getting further into what Charlotte might have meant and what she might have overheard.
“So am I.”Bridget preened, holding out her hands, which were covered with a fetching pair of kid gloves, a fawn color that nearly matched her hair.“Look at these gloves!We have whole new wardrobes, Johanna!”She spun in place, too delighted to remember to be ladylike.
Johanna could not help but laugh.It had been so long since her sisters had anything to be happy over, especially when it came to their clothing or fripperies.And Bridget did love her clothing and fripperies.
“Do not be gauche, Bridget,” Lady Stark said.“It is not done to rub others’ noses in your good fortune.”
“I am sorry, Lady Stark.”Bridget beamed at her, not appearing sorry at all.“I am just so happy.Thank you so much for your generosity.Today is the best day of my life.”
Happy and winsome enough that the shopkeeper and other ladies in the shop were all smiling at her, some with sympathy after the set-down Lady Stark had given her.Even Lady Stark was not immune to Bridget’s charm, though she did her best to hide her smile.Johanna could have told her it was not worth the attempt—even the hint of a smile and Bridget became incorrigible.
If she was not also sweet, generous, and genuinely appreciative, she would have been insufferable.
“Gunter’s,” Lady Stark declared.“For ice cream.”
