Page 3 of A Fake Courtship with the Duke
“Try to enjoy yourself this evening,” she said.
Anne shrugged.
“I can pretend to try,” she said.
With that, Anne descended the staircase, her skirts billowing gracefully around her. She had learned to never wear dresses with long trains, and she kept her hems as far off the ground as was considered appropriate by society. By the timeshe reached the first floor, Reeves, her family’s butler, had materialized at the bottom of the staircase.
“Miss Anne,” Reeves said, folding his tall, thin frame into a deep bow. “Your family awaits you in the carriage just outside.”
Anne dipped her head and offered the kind butler a warm smile.
“Thank you, Reeves,” she said.
She saw herself out, taking the moment alone to breathe and put on her best fake smile. She was miserable, but she couldn’t let it show, even in her eyes. Ever since her incident with the champagne flutes the year before, her parents made it a point to watch her closely at the few events she had attended since then. The only thing more embarrassing than the whispers of the gossipers of the ton was the fact that most of them were gossiping because of the way her parents would never take their eyes off her.
The footman stepped down from his place at the rear of the coach to help her in when she approached. She gave him a silent nod of gratitude, immediately finding herself in the arms of Charlotte, her younger sister.
“Sister, you look so beautiful,” she said, tugging Anne toward the seat beside her.
Anne sat beside Charlotte, grateful that her younger sister had recently debuted in society so that she could attend social events, too.
“Thank you, Char,” she said, kissing her sister on the cheek. “Your purple dress looks ravishing on you.”
Charlotte, who looked almost exactly like their mother with her darker red hair and lighter green eyes, blushed.
“Thank you, Anne,” she said shyly. “I am so excited for tonight. I cannot wait to meet a nice gentleman that might turn out to be my husband.”
Anne nodded, giving her sister a warm smile. Anne herself had little hope of marrying, especially not for love. But she was thrilled that Charlotte was hopeful and delighted with the prospect of finding love.
The viscount gave his elder daughter a firm, pointed look.
“Anne, remember the importance of proper decorum tonight,” he said sternly. “We don’t need any unnecessary disruptions.”
He said nothing further, but the look in his eyes was clear enough. Sweet, naive Charlotte was of age to seek a match. But Anne’s scandalous escapades could damage her pool of potential prospects. Deep down, Anne knew that her incident the previous year had already had an impact on Charlotte’s social life. Anne cared not for the opinions of the snobs of the ton. But she did care about how her dear younger sister might be affected by any missteps on her part.
The viscountess nodded in agreement with her husband. Her eyes were softer, but only marginally, and Anne felt sure it was only because Charlotte was present.
“Please, darling, do not let us down,” she said.
Anne cheeks reddened, but she nodded. The invisible weight she was carrying on her shoulders grew heavier, and she wanted to leap out of the carriage, even though it was now moving. Instead, she fixed her gaze outside the window, fighting to keep her composure. She knew she had to remain calm, even though she wanted to say something in her own defense. It always seemed as though her parents missed the things that led up to one of her so-called disruptions. Like the rest of society, they only seemed to see her acting out and accidents. But in her twenty-two years, she had learned to not try to speak up. Women were expect to be compliant and silent, no matter what the situation was.
“Mother, Father,” Charlotte said, sounding offended. “Don’t be so hard on Anne. She is a wonderful young woman, and she never means to cause trouble.”
Anne looked at her younger sister, giving her a small, grateful smile. Charlotte was the sweetest young lady Anne had ever known. She thought again about how her antics were hurting her little sister, and she vowed silently that she would be on her best behavior that night, no matter what, if only for Charlotte’s sake.
The viscount and viscountess said nothing, but they exchanged a silent look. Anne blushed again, but she kept her eyes on her sister.
“It’s all right,” she said. “Tonight will be a wonderful night for us all. You’ll see.”
About half an hour later, the Huxley family arrived at Dunbridge Manor. Anne's heart quickened as she stepped out of the carriage. Elizabeth and her husband, James Ashford, stood at the door of the mansion, their smiles shining brilliantly in the fading evening sun.
“I am so glad you all came,” Elizabeth said, embracing first her parents and then her youngest sister.
“Thank you all for coming,” James said, bowing as he, too, greeted the Huxley’s. As James and the viscount shook hands and exchanged mild pleasantries, Elizabeth reluctantly embraced Anne.
“How are you, Sister?” she asked, her voice carrying the same wariness that her parents’ had.
Anne tried to smile, but she knew it was more of a grimace.
