Page 20 of Finding Hope
Hope shook her head. “I do not want to know how you learned that so quickly.”
Patience laughed and Hope and Grace joined in. It felt good to be silly again.
“In all seriousness, Hope, I do think you need to plan out your campaign. Certainly, the other ladies and their mamas are doing so,” Patience advised.
“You make it sound like a battle! Too much time with your army court, I have no doubt. But I have the advantage of being friends with him.”
Patience shook her head. “That will only go so far at a house party. Yes, the country is more relaxed than Town, but there are still planned activities where the gentlemen are together most of the day, and the ladies have their own amusements. In the evenings, there will be dinners and balls or games.”
“I am afraid to ask, but what do you think I should do?”
“I can tell you what I think. I think he wants to see your suitability to be a duchess, which is not at all the same thing as being his wife.”
Hope’s excitement was short-lived. Her spirits sank. “Do you mean I have to behave like his mother?”
“No, silly. Just show that you could play hostess or manage the household.”
“I can hardly push myself forward in such a vulgar fashion! His sister is his hostess, and he has a perfectly formidable housekeeper!”
Patience laughed. “That is not what I meant. Perhaps just showing understanding of the little things will be enough.”
“You mean that we are the last to go in to dine at every meal?” Hope asked rhetorically with no end of sarcasm.
“Well, yes. That is what I mean.”
“I refuse to put on airs. I think that would be worse—and have them all gossip about me as though I’m above myself.”
“No, you wouldn’t want to do that,” Grace agreed.
“Just be mindful of it. And I could be wrong, but from Rotham’s perspective, he might wonder if you’d even want him, knowing what came with it.”
“I doubt he has even thought about it. It is so natural to him, he must think everyone lives like this,” Grace said.
“I am certain the Duchess has pointed out my many flaws and unsuitability,” Hope added.
There was a knock on the door and their maid entered. “The Dowager sent me to help you change,” she said. “Jenkins is waiting to help you, Miss Hope.”
“Is it so late already?” Hope asked.
“It is three o’clock, miss,” she answered.
“I just want to stay in this room forever,” said Grace, who was the most introverted of the three, with a heavy sigh.
“My room also has a lovely view,” Hope said with understanding.
“I am certain the other guests will be all that is delightful,” Patience said reassuringly as if she understood their hesitation. “Just think about one thing at a time. Tea on the terrace is not so daunting, is it?”
Hope went to her room, where Jenkins had already laid out a dainty jonquil muslin for the afternoon. She wondered if the maid had even realized she was matching the bedchamber.
Once Hope was dressed, Jenkins styled her hair with soft curls wound with a matching ribbon at the nape of her neck.
After Jenkins had left her, she stood at the balcony looking out, contemplating her next move. She’d never been one for scheming and did not want to have to sink to such measures, but if she wanted Rotham, would she have to fight for him? How easy had things been between them before that she had taken for granted!
Suddenly, she was a bundle of nerves, feeling as though she’d have to put on a performance. Hope wanted to be herself, but perhaps that was the point. Was being a duchess presenting two faces to the world?
As long as you can be with Rotham, her conscience whispered.
Would he be different as duke? She had often seen a softer side to him when they’d been amongst only friends. Perhaps that was the price she’d have to pay. It was definitely something she needed to consider while she still had the chance. If only they could just be Hope and Max, she did not need anything else but him.
