Page 17 of The Lady Was Lying
“Seems like she had an agreeable afternoon,” Sebastian commented.
“Hopefully she’s tired herself out.” Emmeline laughed quietly before nudging Sebastian with her shoulder. “Well, don’t leave us in suspense. What happened at the Duke of Avondale’s?”
Belinda tuned her brother out as she sank to the ground next to Arianna and let her niece crawl all over her. Romping about with Arianna was a welcome distraction from her thoughts. Disappointment from another failed kiss should not leave her distraught. Neither should the rejection from the night before. Why was she suddenly so sensitive?
Sebastian prodded her with his foot. “Belinda.”
Startled, she sharply replied, “What?”
“Arianna needs a nap.”
“Oh.” She rose gracefully to her feet as Emmeline picked up Arianna and carried her into her bedchamber.
Sebastian ushered Belinda and Jane out of the nursery. Once they were in the hallway, he said, “You cannot say anything to anyone about Avondale’s true relationship to Emmeline and the rest of her family. It would unleash a scandal that benefits no one.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You weren’t listening?” he asked.
“I was entertaining your daughter.” And trying to distract herself from her thoughts.
“The Duke of Avondale is Emmeline’s brother,” Jane interjected, her voice full of excitement, as they walked down the stairs.
Belinda squinted at her brother. “How could that be?”
“Emmeline’s father and Avondale’s mother had an affair,” Jane replied.
Emmeline’s family was entirely respectable, so a bastard brother was unexpected. The fact that he was a duke made it all the more shocking. She could not fathom what he must be like. He’d been at the ball, but she didn’t recall meeting him.
“He’s coming for dinner tonight,” Sebastian added. “I’ve given him my word that we will keep his secret.”
“Who would I tell?” Belinda asked.
“Hopefully no one,” Sebastian replied.
“You don’t need to worry. My lips are sealed.” She wasn’t the sort to spread gossip.
“I won’t tell anyone either,” Jane said. “I know how to keep a secret.”
“Do you?” Belinda asked. Her sister loved to talk. It didn’t seem like a stretch to imagine Jane accidentally telling someone.
“Of course.” Jane’s hand fluttered in the air. “I can’t believe a duke is joining us for dinner.”
“It will be an informal meal. A chance for Emmeline and him to converse without an audience.” Sebastian rubbed his chest. “He’s not coming as a potential suitor.”
“That doesn’t mean he cannot become a suitor. He is unmarried and a duke.” Jane twirled in a circle when they reached the landing. “Did you know we danced last night? He seemed distracted, so I assumed he wasn’t particularly interested, but now that I know why he was preoccupied, I have another opportunity to catch his eye. You do realize that I am eminently eligible to be a duchess?” She spun another circle. “If he chose to marry me, he’d have an excuse to socialize with Emmeline as frequently as he wished. No one would have any reason to suspect they were siblings.” She spun a third time, her gaze snagging on Belinda again. “Imagine if I became a duchess.”
“Imagine,” Belinda echoed halfheartedly. She had no problem with her sister becoming a duchess, but it frustrated her how easily her sister assumed she was compatible with the duke. Could Jane successfully marry any gentleman of a certain standing?
Sebastian frowned at their sister. “You’re getting ahead of yourself. It’s only the day after your debut. You need to meet more gentlemen before you fixate on a particular one.”
“I’m not fixating. However, I refuse to ignore the opportunity to present myself to the duke again in a more casual setting. It would be foolish if I didn’t consider him as a potential husband. He’s a duke.”
While Jane kept chattering, Belinda walked away.
The last thing she wanted was to listen to her sister explain how to woo a duke.
“You should join us at dinner,” Jane said early that evening, stepping in front of the mirror in Belinda’s bedchamber and rotating her head from side to side as she studied her reflection.
