Page 22 of A Virgin for the Duke of Depravity
“Nobody told me this estate was haunted by ghosts,” she said, letting a shudder run through her body at the thought. “I suppose I will have to take my leave without even getting dressed to escape the spirits.”
She reached for the door at the same time the wardrobe opened and the twins tumbled out of it.
“Maybe ghosts aren’t real. Just these two noisy children,” she laughed, tipping her head back.
The girls were so troublesome and naughty. They reminded Margaret of herself as a child.
“I didn’t get to introduce myself to you earlier. My name is Margaret.”
“My name is Annie, and my sister’s name is Kitty. We’re very sorry to have hidden from you, but it was such good fun.”
“I hope that we will have an opportunity for much fun together, but perhaps no more hiding while a lady gets ready. I have the feeling that the three of us are going to be friends,” Margaret said, crouching to the girls’ eye level.
“What were you doing?” Annie asked, looking around the room.
“I was trying to decide what to wear to dinner tonight.” Margaret gestured to the two dresses as she placed them on the bed.
Annie and Kitty walked over to the bed, looking very serious. Both girls felt the fabric and looked between Margaret and the dresses.
“You should choose the red one,” Kitty said.
“How come?”
“Red is our uncle’s favorite color. And the dress is pretty. It will match your red hair.” Annie smiled and held the gown out to Margaret, who took it and considered their words.
“Is that so? Did he tell you so himself?”
She could not picture Leo having a conversation with anyone about his favorite colors. She did not think he would have a favorite color, as his entire wardrobe seemed to be nothing but blacks and greys.
“We just heard it was his favorite,” Kitty said. “We have been staying with him for months, but we don’t talk much.”
“He said he is throwing a house party.” Annie jumped to Leo’s defense. “We talksometimes. Have you been to many house parties, Margaret?”
“I have never been to a house party. I come from somewhere far away, outside of London. We don’t have parties there much.”
“Do you like to dance?” Annie asked, and Margaret had to hide a smile at the question. Obviously the little girl wanted her to keep talking with them.
“I do,” Margaret said, though she doubted that the dancing she did in the convent would be the same as the dancing at this party. She would likely have to watch from the shadows rather than participate. “Does your uncle like to dance?”
“We don’t know. Never seen him dancing,” Annie replied.
“But we have never seen him before our parents went to heaven, either,” Kitty added. The young girl looked very serious, her brow furrowed and a frown on her little face. “Do you miss your parents?”
“I do, very much.” Margaret felt a pang in her chest, thinking about the last time she saw her parents.
After all this time, it was still a very visceral pain.
The two girls exchanged a look. Their eyes grew a bit glassy, and their smiles turned into frowns. Annie reached out and took Kitty’s hand in her own, squeezing it reassuringly.
“I assume you miss your mother and father?” Margaret asked gently.
“Yes, but we also missed them when they were here, so it really is not that much different.” Annie paused, her mouth half open as if trying to decide whether to ask her next question. “Do you think Uncle is mean? I heard some maids in the kitchen call him a Beast.”
Margaret took a moment to think about how to answer their sincere question. On one hand, Leo had offered her his protection. On the other hand, he had been rude to her and refused to listen. She had practically thrown herself at him, asking about his book clubs, and he had turned her away!
And he refused to see her as anything more than a nun.
Surely, that had to mean he was not so beastly as the ton made him out to be.
