“Bother,” Charlotte said. “How ever are we to entice Mr. Beaumont looking like Carmelite nuns?”
“By the grace of your personalities,” Judith said. “He will certainly understand, under the circumstances.”
“These fabrics for the funeral and these for the day dresses,” Ann said handing the samples back to Madame Hortense and indicating which fabrics they had selected.
“Excellent. I shall get to work onzeedresses immediately.” She turned to Judith. “Your Grace, good day. I shall bringzeedresseszeemorning of the funeral. And am I to include a new gown for you as well?”
Judith struggled with the answer but finally said, “Not for me. I shall make do with what I am wearing now. However, I should like several day dresses later.”
“But you must still be in deeper mourning than your daughters, you understand.”
“Yes, yes…” Judith said testily.
As Madame Hortense was leaving, and before her Grace left with Lucy, Ann pulled Lucy aside and asked, “When do you expect your engagement to be announced?”
It was as though Lucy was struck with a bolt of lightning. “What engagement? I do not understand.”
“Why, you and...” Then Ann stopped.
Lucy could barely speak. “There must be some misunderstanding. There is no engagement.” Lucy’s heart was racing, and her mind was confounded by questions.
Ann appeared to be flustered. “But he said…” Then she stopped herself.
“What did who say? Are you talking about George? Beaumont? Who?” Lucy pleaded.
“Nothing. I must have misunderstood, as you said.” And she glared at Lucy and turned away.
“Come, Lucy, I need my drops,” Her Grace commanded.
Even though Lucy followed, she continued to look at Ann as they left the room, hoping for some clarity. But, as they headed back toward the Duchess’s sitting room, Judith complained how her new puppy was still piddling on the rug and Lucy had no time to do anything but attend to her Grace.
* * *
Ann found George in their father’s study going through his desk and sorting the papers he found.
“What is going on, George?” she demanded in an agitated voice.
He looked up at her with some surprise.
“I am going through Father’s desk trying to make sense of his papers—if it is any of your business, Ann.”
She stood for a moment, staring at him with her arms on her hips. “Not that. What about the engagement?”
“Engagement? What are you talking about? Has Beaumont finally proposed to one of you?”
“No. Your engagement to Lucy.”
George appeared to be agitated. “There is no engagement. Father died and…”
“But you said you were going to marry Lucy. And if that were the case, then Beaumont would most likely propose to one of us. And he has not.”
“Well, I did not ask Lucy to marry me. I am much too caught up in Father’s passing, the assumption of the title, needing to run this damned estate, and taking care of all of you to think about marriage just now. In case you have not noticed.” He seemed to realize he was angry and calmed himself before continuing. “Oh, Ann… I can sympathize with your situation, but please, this is not the time to be thinking about such things. We are to bury our father the day after tomorrow, and this should be a time of mourning and reflection on his life. Not moaning about your own.”
That sobered Ann. “You are right. I am sorry.” She turned to leave but stopped and turned back and asked, “But are you going to ask her? Yes?”
George sighed. “Oh, Ann…”
Then she turned and left the study.
