Josie, for one, felt nothing other than abject misery. Paul’s Cathedral felt the same mixture of anticipation and wild affection that the Duke of Holbrook’s wedding inspired in Mayne. “As do I,” said Gabe with an uncharacteristic chuckle.Īnd Mayne, looking at Rafe and seeing the smile in his eyes, came to the same conclusion. It’s been so long since the man was bedded, I’m afraid he’s forgotten the process.” “I’m about to lecture Rafe on the trials and tribulations of the wedding night. “Forgive us for interrupting,” Lucius said with his usual imperturbable gravity, “but Brinkley asked us to make our own way to you.”
The door opened, and Lucius Felton walked in, followed by Rafe’s brother Gabriel. “Wards are bad enough, are they?” Mayne said with a grin. It’s enough to make you rethink the whole idea of having daughters.” “I tell you, Mayne, I bloody well can’t wait until this season is over. The following season she came back as if nothing had happened, and people were tired of the game. As if the poor girl was to blame for her father making so much money sheep-farming. Remember how everyone made fun of the Wooly Breeder one year? That was Darlington as well. “These things never last more than one season. “Do you think that her sisters haven’t tried to teach her to look confident? Why, Imogen drilled her in holding her chin up and not looking miserable until I felt as if Josie were being kitted out for the Royal Fusiliers. She has a French air of disdain that Josie can copy.” “The pariah of one year can be the belle of the next. “Next year will be different,” Mayne said slowly, remembering the many seasons he’d drifted in and out of balls. Her husband told me he would like to return to Scotland, but just that Annabel flatly refuses to leave until the season has drawn to a close.” Annabel will attend our wedding ball, though her babe is hardly four months old. Tess and Felton have been going to Almack’s every week. “Her sisters have not allowed her to go anywhere alone. The very thought of anyone insulting Josie, with her shining eyes and funny, cynical little remarks made him so enraged that he felt breathless. What the hell can I do for Josie?” His voice was rough because he was angry. “This isn’t as simple as when you asked me to accompany Imogen to Scotland. I have no doubt but that there are many men who would like to have greater acquaintance with her-as you say, she is beautiful and funny-but they are not braving the eyes of the ton.” But she isn’t asked to dance, and she has no suitors of her own age. “They’ve turned on her.” Mayne had seen this sort of thing happen before. “If Josie had laughed in the face of curiosity, or carried herself with dignity, it would have faded into nothing. “It spread before we even knew of it,” Rafe said.
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