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Caroline settled on the other side of me. “I thought it would be nice if you stayed with us while you were searching for a house to rent instead of moving into a boarding house with strangers. We are friends now, after all.”

My gaze went to Lord Kendrick. “I wouldn’t want to impose, my lord. If you have any reservations at all, I’d understand.”

He grinned, and there was something in his expression that told me he was vastly amused by the entire situation. “I wouldn’t dream of having you go anywhere else.”

Caroline was beaming. “You see, you are most welcome here. It might take a little bit of time to find somewhere to stay since society hasn’t vacated London this summer. You’re welcome to stay here as long as necessary.”

My head was almost spinning with this new turn of events. One week ago, I was Claire Sullivan, the spinster stepdaughter who’d never had a season and whose name society had never learned. Now I was about to gain my independence and would be living, albeit temporarily, with one of the Legends and his wife.

I turned to look at Greyson. I was also beginning to think that I could count a second Legend a friend.

“What do you say?” Greyson asked.

“I think I would be foolish to decline such a generous offer.”

Caroline clapped. “Oh, this is wonderful. We are going to have so much fun.”

I had a sense I might be in over my head with this lot, but I couldn’t help agreeing.

Chapter 15

CLAIRE

It was impossible not to worry about what could go wrong when I told my stepmother I wouldn’t be returning to the country with her and Georgiana. The days spent at the school offered a welcome distraction from my worrying. Just because I couldn’t be forced to go with them didn’t mean I relished the confrontation that would take place when I refused to enter the carriage.

I almost felt guilty for not telling Georgiana about my plans, but I knew she wouldn’t have been able to keep such an important secret. My stepmother’s casual cruelty was something I’d grown used to, and her cutting remarks no longer affected me. But when Georgiana made a snide comment about how Greyson had clearly grown bored of me, I felt a measure of satisfaction in how I was taking control of my own future.

When that final morning dawned, the sky was overcast. Experience told me that my stepmother was already fretting over whether it would rain. She was looking out the front window, frowning, when Georgiana and I entered the drawing room.

I took a deep breath and braced myself for the worst as I approached my stepmother, but my confession died on my lips when she turned to glare at me. For a moment, I feared Mr. Tomlinson must have contacted her about the fact she would no longer be receiving the money he’d been sending her. My money.

“Is something the matter?” I asked, managing to stop myself from taking a step back. I refused to give her the satisfaction of knowing she intimidated me.

She tilted her head back to peer down her nose at me. We were the same height, so the effect was more ridiculous than anything else. “I’ve decided, given how uncomfortable our trip is going to be, that Georgiana and I will travel in the first carriage. You can travel in the second carriage with the maids.”

I knew this woman disliked me, but she’d never been quite this hateful. I turned to look at Georgiana, relieved to see the frown on her face. This was obviously the first she was hearing of this.

“Mama, that is where the servants travel. Claire should be with us.”

“It is fine,” I said, placing a hand on my sister’s arm. “You know how upset your mother gets while traveling in the rain. And if the two of you decide you want to take a nap at some point, you can lay down on the benches.”

It was cowardly, I knew, but my stepmother’s overt attempt to let me know she tolerated me as little more than one of the staff was an unexpected advantage. I wouldn’t need to tell them I wouldn’t be joining them. I stifled my smile as I thought about how my stepmother would react when they arrived at our country home and she learned I’d remained in London.

Georgiana opened her mouth to insist, but I drew her into a hug. “I don’t mind. Please, don’t worry about me.”

She frowned at her mother. “But it isn’t right. I know I was annoyed with you because you had gone out with Lord Greyson, but you’re still my sister.”

The footman stepped into the room then, and I breathed a sigh of relief. This would soon be over.

“Is the carriage ready?” my stepmother asked.

“Yes, my lady. The first carriage is ready now, and we are just putting the last of the trunks into the second carriage.”

“Go ahead,” I said, giving Georgiana another hug. “I’ll oversee things here, and then the second carriage will be along shortly. Never forget that I love you.”

“See?” my stepmother said, pulling her daughter away from me. “She knows her place.”

Georgiana looked over her shoulder at me, and I smiled reassuringly at her.