“I’m terribly sorry,” she said politely. “You have a squirrel?”
“Sir Reginald.” Rosemary patted her shoulder. “He usually sits here, but I left him at home this morning. I did not want to make a poor first impression.”
Evie edged her chair back a few inches. “I see.”
“Sir Reginald sounds delightful,” said Joanna with a reproachful glare at her sister, whose eyebrows rose as if to say, “What would you have me do? She has a petsquirrel”. “When is the ball, again?”
“Tomorrow night. Which is why you cannot leave yet!” Rosemary gazed anxiously between them. “I always sit in the corner by myself. And Grandmother said this time I have to leave my book at home. But if you were there with me, it would be entirely different! I’ve always wanted a sister. But surely cousins are the next best thing! Oh,pleasesay you’ll come. Please?”
Joanna looked at Evie.
Evie looked at Joanna.
“Yes,” they said in unison. “We’d love to.”
*
Unfortunately, it seemedattending a ball wasn’t as easy as saying “yes”.
According to Evie, none of the dresses they’d brought with them were suitable. Which meant Joanna spent the rest of her day traipsing about London in search of a gown that was not only within their meager budget, but ready to wear.
Finding the Holy Grail would have been a far easier task, but at least it provided a welcome distraction from her constant thoughts of Kincaid. Never mind that they were soon to be at the same ball. She wasn’t going there to see him. Definitely not. She was going there to spend time with her cousin, and to possibly catch a glimpse—or mayhap even meet—her brother, the Earl of Hawkridge.
Truth be told, Joanna didn’t knowhowshe felt about her newfound family.
It was, in a word, overwhelming.
And difficult to fully comprehend.
Joanna did not care that her father was titled or “one of the most wealthiest and powerful men in England”. She would have been pleased if he were a baker or a blacksmith or a candle maker. Such an occupation certainly would have lent itself to fewer complications.
Showing up on the doorstep of a baker and announcing herself as his long-lost daughter was one thing.
But arriving at the private estate of a marquess…well, that was something else entirely.
Add to that an earl, and a duke!
It was almost too much.
Itwastoo much.
What did she know about British aristocracy? Their rules and rigid propriety. Their customs and traditions. When—if—they were introduced, she wasn’t going to fit in.
She, an American who hated bonnets and didn’t have the foggiest idea of which fork to use for dessert, would stick out like the proverbial sore thumb. Having already been rejected once, she didn’t know if she had it in her to face rejection again.
But therewasalways the chance, however slight, that she would be welcomed with open arms. Which was why she was attending the ball. To catch a glimpse of her half-brother from afar and see if he was someone whom she might get on with, as she had with Rosemary. Well, that, and if she didn’t go, Evie would murder her in her sleep.
Joanna hadn’t seen her sister this happy since they’d left Somerville. All she’d wanted this entire time was to go to a ball. And Joanna wasn’t going to be the one to deny her that small pleasure. Especially given how well Evie was handling everything.
To Joanna’s surprise—and relief—her sister hadn’t been jealous, or put out by the revelation that her sister had noble blood running through her veins. Quite the opposite. She was absolutelythrilledby the news, and saw this ball as the first of many.
But first, they needed gowns.
After walking for what felt like hours, they found a small, inconspicuous shop tucked away off the main thoroughfare. It didn’t look like much from the outside, but the windows were clean and someone had taken care to plant flowers along the edge of the short walkway. Joanna hoped it was a promising sign of what awaited them inside, for her legs were beginning to tire and her head felt heavy on her shoulders.
She wanted a bath, and a nap, and a glass of wine. Not necessarily in that order. But Evie was determined to find the perfect gown, and when she got that certain glint in her eyes, no one could dissuade her.
Especially not Joanna.
