Page 21 of Without Pride and Prejudice
“That’s great,” said Macey.
“I’ve always wanted to go on a wellness retreat,” I said. “One of my students’ moms swears by them.”
“What do you teach?” Macey asked.
“Piano and voice. I own a little studio in Overland Park.”
“Nice.” Macey grinned. “I’m an admin assistant for a creative art center, and I live in California.”
“A Cali girl. I like it.”
“Um ...” Calliope seemed reluctant to join in the conversation. “I play the piano too. Not very well,” she added.
“I’d be happy to help you during those scenes. We could practice on one of the pianofortes in the house—you know, like the one in Mrs. Jenkinson’s room, since we would be in nobody’s way in that part of the house.” I winked at her.
She smiled at theP&Preference and then bit her lip. “You’d really help me?”
“Of course. We are sisters, after all.” I grinned. “Which also means you should pick a dress off my rack.”
“I don’t know.” She shook her head warily. “I don’t want to get in trouble.”
“Don’t worry.” I waved my hand around. “I’ll take all the blame. Lady Catherine would be so happy to have something else she could berate me for.”
“I think she’s just jealous of you,” Macey surmised. “She has a crush on the duke.”
“Who doesn’t?” I quipped.
Calliope raised her hand, surprising me and, I think, surprising herself too. “I kind of think Mr. Collins is cute.”
“Uh, yeah he is,” Macey agreed. “It seems so wrong that he’s playing Mr. Collins.”
“And that he ends up with Charlotte,” Calliope whispered.
“I’ve always thought that too. He and Mary totally belong together.”
“Yes,” Calliope said emphatically, letting down her guard. “She would have appreciated him more. I know I would, now.”
We all giggled.
“Too bad romantic pursuits are against the rules this week,” Macey lamented.
I pursed my lips together, an evil glint in my eye. “What Lady Catherine doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
“’ello, ladies,” the woman playing Lydia interrupted us with her cockney accent—definitely a native Brit. “I’m Carla, and this is my sister, Ava.” She sounded like she was introducing her girl gang.
Ava waved, looking us over and sizing us up.
“Hello,” Macey, Calliope, and I said politely.
“You’re the one’ooking up wif the Duke of Blackthorne, aren’t ya?” Carla asked with blunt force.
“Uh ... no.” Not that it was any of her business, but I worried she would hurt me if I didn’t answer.
“So, is he still up for grabs?”
“He most certainly is not.” Winnifred crashed the party, holding a royal-blue velvet gown, her nose up so high in the air, it had to hurt her neck. “Alastair and I are meant to be together.”
I had a feeling Fitz didn’t share her sentiment. “Then why aren’t you already?” I sported a smug look. The more I thought about it, the more I realized there was nothing holding Fitz back from pursuing a relationship with Winnifred, so why hadn’t he yet?
