Page 9 of The Viscount's Promise
This could prove interesting, a scientific study of sorts. A bit like grooming one of his horses to ensure the proper temperament for the job they were to do. Surely his emotions would not be involved if he went about it in such a way.
No, he would make sure they were not involved. His sanity depended upon it.
• • •
Emily had not taken into account the very real problem of getting her sister alone in a house that held nearly two score people. Especially when said sister seemed determined to make friends with every person present.
All through the day, Daphne was like the busy sedge warblers that flitted about the bushes along the bank of the River Spratt. She mingled with natural talent, jumping from guest to guest with dizzying speed. Now nearing dinner, everyone having retired to their rooms to prepare for the evening ahead, Emily finally ran her to ground.
After quickly donning a nondescript slate blue dress and twisting her hair into a serviceable bun, she hurried down the hall to her sister’s room and rapped sharply on the door.
“Come in,” Daphne sang out, her voice muffled through the thick wooden panel.
Emily slipped inside. Daphne, seated at her dressing table with a veritable jumble of jewelry before her, beamed when she saw her. She dropped the pearl necklace she had been holding up for inspection and spun in her seat. “Dearest, I’m so happy you’re here. I could use your clear head right now.” She rose and kissed Emily on the cheek before taking her hand and leading her to the seating area before the hearth.
The space might have been welcoming, but the delicate white-framed chairs with their embroidered pink cushions were nigh invisible, buried as they were under a mountain of discarded clothing. Daphne busied herself for a moment, throwing shawls, bonnets, and pelisses aside before, with a sigh, she sank down onto one of the seats.
Emily followed suit, squeaking in surprise as she came down on something hard. Reaching beneath her skirts, she pulled out a well-worn gothic novel. She handed it to Daphne, who took it excitedly. “I had wondered where that had got off to. Brilliant, I may finish it tonight.”
Emily stopped an exasperated sigh from escaping. Her sister was a vibrant, energetic soul. That trait was reflected in a not-so-complementary way by her tendency to create havoc in her inner sanctum. Their mother had given up trying to change her ages ago. As long as the mess was confined to Daphne’s bedchamber, the marchioness turned a blind eye to it.
“You have been incredibly busy today; I’ve scarcely seen you at all,” Emily said.
“It’s glorious having so many people here. I cannot remember a time Willowhaven was so lively.”
That managed to decimate Emily’s happy mood in an instant. Ah, yes. There was a reason she had searched Daphne out, and it was not to exchange pleasantries.
But as she strove to calm herself enough to beg off the trip to London next spring, Daphne grew quiet as well. Soon the ticking clock on the mantle was the only sound in the room. Unused to such a hush while in her sister’s presence, Emily pushed aside her encroaching anxiety and peered closely at her.
Daphne appeared happy, excited even. Even so, there was something not quite right. Her color was high, her eyes too bright. And, even more noticeably, her slender hands were almost manic as they smoothed the pristine pale green silk of her gown.
Leaning forward, Emily laid a hand over hers. “Daphne, are you well?”
“Of course, I’m fine. Absolutely fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” She laughed as if it was ridiculous to think otherwise.
Emily knew her sister well, however, and heard the strain in the seemingly carefree sound. “Daphne, you know I will get it out of you eventually. You may as well tell me.”
Daphne’s smile fell from her face as she eyed Emily ruefully. “You always were much too observant for your own good.” She let out a breath and slumped back. “Very well. I am a touch...overwhelmed.”
Emily blinked. “Overwhelmed.”
“Not that I don’t love the house party and all it brings,” her sister hastened to assure her. “This is what I have waited for. So many elegant people, with their fashion and manners, full of all the latest news from London.” She sighed in ecstasy. “It’s like a dream.”
“But?”
Daphne cast her a rueful glance. “But it is exhausting! Goodness, I never realized what it would be like. And this but a fraction of the people we will meet?”
A twinge of unease started up in Emily’s spine. And not just at the reminder of the crowds they would face in London. “Er, Daphne—”
“I mean, can you imagine? There will be hundreds of new faces in the capital. No, thousands! And while I’ve always longed to throw myself into the fray, so to speak, it has grown somewhat daunting. We have had no exposure to something of this caliber. I feel a veritable country bumpkin amidst such refinement as we have seen. It is one thing to attend the local assemblies with people we have known all our lives. It is quite another to be at the center of such an elegant affair.”
Daphne was growing impassioned. Emily had certainly never expected this reaction from her sociable sister. She suddenly felt if she did not voice her intentions this minute, the moment would be lost forever. “About that—”
“I can see it will be no easy thing, ingratiating myself with so many people. Oh, I’ve no doubt it will be amazing once I’ve settled. But in the beginning, it is sure to be nerve-wracking. I am so glad you’ll be there with me.”
A ringing started up in Emily’s ears, her stomach going sour. She could almost see her plans floating out of her grasp and straight out the open window. “You are?”
Daphne turned wide, innocent eyes on her. “Of course. Oh, my sweet sister, you have always been my rock, though you may not know it.” She let out a relieved breath, her face relaxing in a smile. “Already I’m feeling better; your level head has that much of an effect on me. And so, you see, I could not go to London without you.”
