Page 29

Freddie gave Pippy one last look over his shoulder. She wished she knew him well enough to know what it said. Did he wish for her to speak up? Or was he telling her she would be fine?

Lady Arabella shut the door in her brother’s face and then skipped to the settee. “Now, let us dispense with formalities. Please call me Ari. And what shall I call you?”

Pippy was taken aback by the girl’s plain speech.

Lady Evangeline let out an exasperated sigh. “Ari, really. Your manners would appall Aunt Lindy.” She smiled apologetically at Pippy. “I beg your pardon, my lady. My sister is still very young⁠—.”

“Almost thirteen,” Lady Arabella countered.

Lady Evangeline gave her sister a pointed look. “And is sometimes impertinent.”

“But we are sisters now. Who calls their sister ‘Lady Weymouth’?” Lady Arabella whined.

“I don’t know, but I’m certain it is done…in some families.” Lady Evangeline glanced at Pippy, as if trying to discern if hers was such a family. “But you must not assume she is comfortable with the informality.”

Pippy looked from one girl to the next, waiting to see what they would say. It was as if they were content to have the whole of the conversation in front of her and without her contribution.

But when they both turned their gazes on her, she licked her lips and resisted the urge to lift her finger to her mouth. “I should love to call you Ari. And please, call me Pippy.”

Ari gave her sister a superior smile.

Lady Evangeline rolled her eyes but scooted closer to Pippy. “And you may call me Evie.”

Pippy nodded. She’d always wished to have a sister. Now she had two—lawks, three, counting Grace—and she thought it entirely possible that they might be better than anything she could have dreamed up.

Ten

Freddie waited in their sitting room for Pippy to finish dressing. He clasped his hands behind his back and paced in front of the fireplace. Things were going as well as could be expected. Pippy kept to her side of the bed each night. Indeed, she stayed so close to the edge, he had more than half of the bed to himself. He knew eventually that would change—it had to, did it not? But he didn’t wish to push his wife further than she was ready.

He sighed. If only things were going as well with his father.

Freddie had hoped once the earl learned of their marriage and had a chance to accept it, things would become less tense…less strained. But his father had yet to accept it.

The previous evening at dinner, he’d done nothing but scowl at both Freddie and Pippy every time their gazes connected. From Freddie’s point of view, it was improper and quite childish.

He’d done as his father asked. Why was he angry over the results? If he’d had a specific sort of woman in mind, why had he not told Freddie of it? Not that he would have complied.

His mouth twitched to the side. Perhaps his father had been more specific than Freddie admitted. He’d asked that she be from among those attending the party. His father knew, as Freddie did, that any lady invited to Lady Dalmeer’s party was acceptable in the eyes of the ton.

He glanced toward the closed bedroom door. Pippy had not been on that list. But not every eligible lady was in attendance.

He rubbed at his brow.

Still, she was the daughter of an earl, blast it all. Should that not make her eligible?

He knew the answer.

But he did not care what the ton or his father thought. He was pleased with his choice.

Evie and Ari had reacted just as he’d imagined. It was almost as if the ladies had been long-time friends. Indeed, they were even calling her Pippy.

Freddie frowned. First Grace and now Evie and Ari. Why had he not been given leave to use the nickname? He was her husband. Should that privilege not have been given to him before the others?

The door opened, and Pippy stepped out. His breath caught in his throat. Lud, she was handsome. Would that always be the first thing he thought when he saw her? “Good afternoon, my dear.” He stepped over and took her hand, placing it to his lips. “You’re looking well.”

She smiled, but there was a hint of a question in her eyes. Did she not believe him? His mind flashed back to her confession in the garden. Was that what he saw? Did she still not feel it?

It was likely because of his father and his inappropriate behavior at dinner.