“Good idea. I could do with some refreshment.” The dowager sprang into action, striding ahead and into the shop.
“By refreshment she means cake,” Marianne said, pulling Lucinda along with her.
Once inside and seated, they were served an assortment of petit fours and hot tea. “Oh, no milk for Miss Sterling. She cannot have the stuff,” the dowager informed the server.
Lucinda smiled. The dowager duchess made a fuss over the cakes and insisted on pouring the tea. The dear lady was a goodmother to her children, even if her intentions did not always turn out the way she intended them. It was clear how much she loved them.
Lucinda sipped her tea and tried not to think how disappointed Tony’s mother would be if she found out what Lucinda and Tony had done. She would no doubt drag Tony by the ear all the way to the altar. No doubt she would never speak to her again. And the thought of losing the friendship of Marianne made her lose focus for a moment. She had to keep herself in control.
The dowager studied her over her teacup. “You are very quiet today, dear.”
“Ever since the opera, Mama,” Marianne chimed in with a frown.
“What insensitive thing did that boy say this time? I noticed he did not stay for the second half.”
“I heard him scold her for drinking the champagne,” Marianne said. “Really, he can be an ogre sometimes.”
“I did drink too much of it though. Good heavens, the duke had to carry me upstairs.”
Marianne took her hand. “Edward thought it amusing, let me assure you.”
Lucinda tried not to picture the duke carrying her half unconscious body up the stairs. “I don’t know why I kept drinking it after he left.”
“It does not matter why,” Marianne said. “In any case, you learned your lesson. May said you were quite miserable the next morning.”
“We do not hold it against you,” the duchess said. “If that is what concerns you. Everyone overindulges the first time they drink champagne. I think it is the bubbles; they are quite addictive.”
“That must have been it.” Lucinda did her best to smile and sipped her tea and ate her cake and listened to the casual, comfortable chatter of mother and daughter. Would one day she and her own daughter have such a relationship?
Tony was justcoming out of the parlor when they arrived home. He saw Lucinda look at him, but she did not smile at him and hurried away. His sister grabbed his arm.
“Tony. I need to speak to you. In private.”
Oh God, had she told Marianne? “Of course,” he said and led her into the parlor. “What is it?”
“It’s Lucinda. Something has happened. She is not herself. She has been withdrawn all day. I think she is embarrassed about the champagne incident at the opera.”
“What champagne incident?”
“After you left she… imbibed quite a few more glasses. Edward had to carry her to her room.”
He knew she had been more than a little tipsy when she had fallen on him in the library. “I tried to warn her, but she took it as an order, which she obviously did not take well.”
“Is that why you left?”
“I didn’t want to be the one to ruin her fun.” Which was partially true.
She took his hands in hers. “Will you talk to her? Put her at ease and let her know there are no lasting consequences for that night’s folly.”
Oh, but there were consequences to his heart. “I will do my best.”
“Thank you. I know this whole thing has been hard on you. You are not used to being responsible for another person, who essentially was a stranger. It must have been difficult.”
“Are you feeling sorry for me, sister?”
“Not at all, you big cabbage head. Lucinda has become dear to me, and I cannot bear that she is unhappy. It is your duty to fix it.”
“Fine. I will go and see her.”
