CHAPTER ONE
London, England
“Margaret? Margaret!” Evelina called as she entered the room.
Primly, as properly as she could, Margaret turned her head interestedly to her older sister and forced a smile, even if a smile was the last thing she felt like doing.
Elegantly, Evelina scurried forward between her guests in Margaret’s direction. Every now and then she was intercepted by a guest who wished her well, prompting Margaret to stand much longer with this forced smile in place than she would have liked.
It struck Margaret how well Evelina belonged in this environment. Since she had married Gabriel and become Duchess of Dunmore, Evelina had never been happier. Her elegant ways and manners fitted the room perfectly, and therewas not a soul whose eyes did not light up when they looked at her.
Those same eyes when they turned on Margaret narrowed in suspicion.
Even now, Margaret was aware of a group of three ladies who had just arrived for the stay at Evelina’s house standing nearby. They shared sherries and looked at Margaret over the ornate glass rims with clear suspicion.
“There you are,” Evelina declared as she reached Margaret’s side. “What do you think?”
“Of what? Your party that is to last three days?” Margaret whispered, taking a quick sip of the sherry in her own grasp. “I think it three days too long.” Evelina giggled and tapped her on the wrist in reprimand.
“Such events as this are imperative now.” Evelina looped arms with her. “If we are to recover your reputation and introduce you to the ton in the best light, then this is an excellent start.”
“Is it?” Margaret said uncertainly, glancing back to the three young ladies who were plainly now whispering about her behind cupped hands.
The busy parlor did nothing to hide the suspicious glances. Just as it did little to hide the fact that more than one guest was seenstuffing a scandal sheet into their reticule or into a man’s jacket pocket.
I know what is in that scandal sheet. I have seen it all before.
Margaret swallowed around a lump in her throat.
There had been a time when the scandal sheets had talked about her with high praise, saying she was quite a desirable lady. A particular line came back to Margaret’s mind, printed after her debut.
‘…tall and slender, Lady Margaret has a beauty to her that few other ladies can hope to have. Green eyes and brown hair sit in a pretty face, and any eligible suitor will surely be flattered by her elegant manner and prim ways. Yes, Lady Margaret has come to impress the ton!’
That was not the way the sheets spoke of her now. The latest one that she saw stuffed hastily behind a cushion on a nearby rococo settee had been particularly scathing.
‘The Duchess of Dunmore must be particularly delighted to have left her father’s family behind. Having practically raised her younger sisters as a second mother, there is no doubting the Duchess’ fine virtues, but she has now left a family that is drowning without her.
‘One needs only to look at Lady Margaret’s threadbare clothes and the number of times her petticoat has been darned to knowthat their father does not have the money to cover his four remaining daughters’ dowries. Perhaps Lady Margaret offers up only herself in marriage? A poor prize indeed considering the latest scandal to her name!’
Margaret consciously adjusted the skirt of the pale blue gown she wore. It was true she had darned this dress many times before arriving at Evelina’s house today. It was even a gown she had worn to her debut, though she prayed none remembered it.
“Evelina, I thank you for your kindness, I truly do, but I am not convinced this is a wise idea.” Margaret gripped her sister’s arm tight and stopped her from walking any further into the room, for she feared Evelina had some plans to introduce her to others in the room. “You belong in this world now. It would be a greater kindness to leave you to this world and for me to leave, so I do not stain your reputation.”
Margaret turned to put down her sherry and leave, but Evelina was too fast. Expertly, Evelina had collected the glass and returned it to Margaret’s grasp, then shifted her to escort her around the room once again.
“You know I would never leave you alone in this world,” Evelina whispered protectively in her ear. “Have I not always vowed to protect you?”
“Dearest sister.” Margaret smiled indulgently at Evelina. “You have always taken care of all of us. Of me, Louise, Alexandra, and Penelope. Is it not high time that you looked to your own familyand your own happiness? I daresay it’s high time we all stood on our own feet without relying on you.”
Evelina smiled, too. Since she had married Gabriel, there was no denying that much had changed in her life. She had a stepdaughter she was quite devoted to, Eliza, and judging by the small bump she was trying to hide with a large fitting gown, it would not be long before she had her own daughter to run around after, too.
“You have been the epitome of kindness to me,” Margaret assured her sister, “but you have done enough. Look to your family, and I…” She sighed, looking around the room. “I will look after myself from now on.”
It was plain in the way that Evelina chewed her lip that she was not fond of this thought.
“We are family. We always protect each other,” she said urgently, her pretty eyes downcast.
“Of course we do.” Margaret nodded in earnestness. “Yet I do not wish to be a burden.”
