She quickly fixed her hair and washed her hands and face, but that did nothing to improve the pallor of her cheeks. Perhaps she could slip into Freddie’s room and use some of the rouge she kept hidden in a drawer. Phoebe crossed the hall, knocked, and pressed her ear to the door. It didn’t sound like Freddie was in. She then opened the door to the empty room and walked over to her sister’s vanity. Mother banned Freddie from using any cosmetics, but that only made her very good at hiding them. Just as Phoebe finished dapping her cheeks and lips with the pot of rouge, someone turned the doorknob.
She slipped the rouge back in its hiding place just asAlexmarched into the room.
“Freddie, did you take my—” She stopped dead when she saw Phoebe, but her usual stony expression didn’t register surprise. “Oh. It’s you.”
“You’re back,” Phoebe said dumbly.
“Mother didn’t tell you? We came home early.” Alex then cocked her head and narrowed her dark brown eyes. “I suppose you aren’t here to offer an olive branch, then.”
Phoebe swallowed, but before she could respond, Alex crossed her arms and looked away. “Father made friends with an American manufacturing magnate and his son,” she explained. “Andtheywanted to come to London, so here we are. Father’s off showing them the sights as we speak.”
While she had been left at home with the ladies. It appeared that Father did have some limits where Alex was concerned.
“Oh Alex—”
“It’s fine,” she said curtly as she snapped her gaze back to Phoebe.“They are interested in a partnership that could be very fruitful. And, since according to you all I care about is enriching already wealthy men, I’minordinatelypleased.” Phoebe bit her lip. This reunion was not going well at all. “So then,” Alex continued briskly. “Mother says your school is bankrupt.”
Just then their mother bustled into the room looking more harried than usual. She spied Phoebe and threw out her arm. “There you are! Come down at once. Everyone has started to arrive and Lydia Margrave has brought the duke.”
“Will is here?” Alex asked at the same time Phoebe bleated, “Her son?”
Their mother shot them an exasperated look. “Whoelsewould I mean? Now come on, the both of you.”
Alex turned to Phoebe and raised an eyebrow. “Am I allowed to attend?”
“Oh Alex, stop being difficult andmove,” their mother said as she left the room. But Alex remained in place and stared at Phoebe.
“I’d like that,” she replied quietly and met her sister’s eyes.
More than a few cutthroat businessmen had crumpled under Alex’s formidable stare. After a strained moment, she gave a single nod and exited the room. Phoebe let out a breath and followed. But as she entered the light-filled drawing room her parents used for company, her ordeal had only just begun. Will rose from his seat beside his mother, tall, imposing, and irritatingly handsome in his charcoal day suit. His dark eyes immediately fixed on her and Phoebe’s stomach fluttered. Beside her, Alex cleared her throat and Phoebe realized the room had gone quiet, awaiting her greeting. She tore her gaze away from Will and cast a smile to the other guests.
“Good afternoon,” she trilled. “Thank you all so much for comingtoday. And Your Grace, what an unexpected pleasure.” She curtsied as Will advanced on her.
His expression darkened at her use of his honorific but he dutifully bowed over her hand. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Phoebe,” he said smoothly, with a slight emphasis on her name.
A shiver ran down Phoebe’s spine, and she hoped to God no one else noticed the flush working its way up her neck. Will then turned his attention to Alex and Phoebe felt a prickle of jealousy at the fond look in his eyes.
“And Miss Atkinson. You survived your trip to New York, I see.”
“More or less,” Alex replied. Her tone was only slightly warmer with Will, but he smiled anyway.
“Well, I’m happy you’re back.”
Just as the prickle began to grow, his mother joined them. Phoebe noticed that Will’s smile completely vanished as his mother took his arm.
“When I told my son where I was off to today he insisted on coming along.”
“Really?” Phoebe turned to Will with an exaggerated look of surprise. “I had no idea the education of young ladies was of such interest to you, Your Grace.”
“I contain multitudes, Miss Phoebe,” he said, returning her cloying tone while his dark eyes glinted with amusement.
She opened her mouth to respond tothatbut her mother interrupted. “Everyone, sit please. Let’s begin.” She then shot Phoebe a significant look.
Phoebe joined her mother on the sofa and launched into her little speech, explaining how the school had greatly benefited from the proceeds generated from Lady Montgomery’s annual garden party, but the loss of that funding was felt even more greatly nowbecause the landlord decided to raise their rent without warning. Her eyes inadvertently met Will’s and he gave her an encouraging nod that made warmth bloom in her chest.
“So we’ve decided to hold a bazaar in two weeks’ time to generate additional funds,” she continued. “My mother has generously offered to help, but we are looking for more volunteers. Admittedly my colleagues and I are not very experienced with planning and executing such endeavors.” A few ladies nodded their heads or murmured sounds of recognition. “Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.” Phoebe then gave a demure smile as she looked around the room. Hopeful but not desperate. Expectant but not presumptuous.
“And if you fall short?”
