The one hint as to why she had offered left Margaret very curious indeed.
“The master does not like many people to be in this house. Something about too many memories being here already.”
What did she mean by that?
“Of course.” Theodore nodded. “See what your sister says. She may already have plans.”
“If I know Louisa, then she is making plans to get out of it. You’re much more likely to find her hiding in a library than a ballroom.” Margaret sighed. “She has little liking for dancing, singing, playing the piano, any of those sorts of performative skills. She prefers her scholarly books and her quiet.”
“Then I feel sorry for her. No debut will please her.”
“I fear you are right.” Margaret nodded. Yet determined to make Louisa’s debut at least something good, she would offer all the same to host the debut party.
She stood from the breakfast table and turned to face Theodore who had opened the paper once again to finish reading.
“Thank you, by the way.”
“For what?” He didn’t look up from the paper.
“For last night,” she whispered.
He halted, his chin now jerking upward.
“There is no need to thank me.”
“There is.” She laid a hand briefly on her shoulder as she passed him. “It meant a lot to me.” She let her hand drop away, the residual heat from touching him still filling up as she parted from the room.
“They’re in the music room, Your Grace.”
“Thank you.” Margaret smiled at the housekeeper and pulled off her fine warm gloves as she bustled quickly through the house.
She heard her sisters long before she reached the music room. They were talking loudly, and perhaps unsurprisingly, no music seemed to be emanating from the room.
Margaret opened the door to see the room as she expected to find it. Louisa sat in a nook in a corner, reading a very large tome indeed. Alexandra was on the piano stool, though her lap seemed to be full of what could have been an accounts book rather than a book of music. In a far armchair by the fire, Penelope was drawing in a sketchbook.
“Margaret!” Penelope gushed, putting aside her sketchbook and standing up.
Margaret walked toward her sister, embracing her tightly. Over Penelope’s shoulder, she caught a glimpse of the sketch that she had been working on. With worry, Margaret realized it was a picture of their father, but perhaps not as he was. He waspresented in a more idealistic way, the picture of health and happiness.
“Twice in one week? We are honored!” Alexandra declared, discarding the accounts book she had been reading on top of the piano. “It’s lovely to see you.”
“And you.” Margaret sat down as the housekeeper brough them tea. They caught up, talked about their father’s latest escapades, before Margaret dared to turn the conversation to anything more serious.
“Louisa.” She leaned toward her sister who had moved to her side, though it was not difficult to see how much Louisa wished to be back with her back. She repeatedly glanced toward its position left in the nook in the corner of the room. “Have you made any more preparations for your debut?”
“Oh, goodness!” Louisa flung her hands in the air in dismay.
“Ah, she said the forbidden word,” Alexandra whispered mischievously to Penelope.
“Shall we run and hide for cover now, do you think?” Penelope leaned toward her.
“Agreed. I’ll dive under the piano, you go for behind the settee. Then Margaret is the only one she can strike with that massive tome.”
“She is not going to hit me with a book,” Margaret insisted. Though when Louisa looked sorely tempted, Margaret shifted a little to the side on her seat. “I’m sorry to bring up a subject that doesn’t exactly entice you –”
“Entice?” Louisa spluttered. “The thought disgusts me! Yes, let us go prancing around a ballroom. Let me pretend to be airheaded and think of nothing but my bows and how fine my hair is, meanwhile, I could be at home reading a good book.”
“And do you think that is what Evelina and I did on our debuts?” Margaret asked pointedly, much to Penelope and Alexandra’s amusement, who were now sniggering.
