“The peacock?” Hollis asked.
“The peacock!”Caroline burst into laughter. “Katherine Maugham! You do recall that she desperately wanted an offer from my husband, do you not?”
“And Eliza’s. In fairness, she has long wanted an offer from anyone with a purse, Caro—you know that. This would be the opportunity to do something entirely in vogue and show her you’re still very much a part of this society.”
“But Caro isnota part of this society, and frankly, I doubt any of our old friends would come if this bit of scandal does the inviting,” Beck said, jerking his thumb in the direction of his sister. “Do you think anyone has forgotten what happened last year? If there is any inviting to be done, I will do it.”
“Thank you!” Caroline cried, and leaned over the arm of her chair in an attempt to hug him, which Beck easily rebuffed. “Hollis and I will give you the guest list.”
“I didn’t say I woulddothis.”
“I think you did,” Hollis said lightly. She sipped her coffee then forked another piece of bacon.
“That was the last bite of bacon,” Beck huffed.
“Still, Hollis, I’m a bit suspicious,” Caroline said. “Why do you want to have this party here? Andwhydo you want to invite Douglas? Whatever you said to him, I’m certain he deserved. There is no need to make amends. Unless...” Caroline suddenly surged forward. “Unless you’ve come toesteemhim?”
“No!” Hollis cried, horrified by the thought. That would be akin to esteeming someone’s pesky little brother.
“Remember who you are speaking to, Caro,” Beck said as he made a serious study of a new plate of bacon the footman slid onto the table before them. “I would wager her desire to have it here has to do with that blasted gazette. Doesn’t everything? I sometimes imagine what my dear friend Percy would make of all his hard work being turned into a women’s gazette.”
“He’d be terribly proud,” Hollis said. He would have been...after an acceptable period of being scandalized. But when he saw the figures of copies sold and the money brought in, he would be quite proud. He’d been a man who’d responded well to facts. “Shall we say Saturday?” she asked lightly as a footman placed a poached egg before her.
“Say Saturday for what?” Beck asked, examining the bacon.
“The tree party.”
“Saturday?”Beck exclaimed, looking up from the plate. “Where am I supposed to get a tree, for God’s sake? And I suppose I am to feed these friends and acquaintances, as well, is that it? Does no one have a care for my purse or my wishes in this?”
Caroline very gently laid her hand on her brother’s arm. “No.”
Beck yanked his arm away from her.
“Hollis will send Donovan to chop down a tree, won’t you, darling? It should be tall, shouldn’t it? How tall was the queen’s?”
“Donovan is a bit under the weather. I rather thought the Earl of Iddesleigh might have one sent from his estate.”
“Mrs. Honeycutt, you simply cannot glide into my home and demand a party and a tree from my estate. I’ll have to send a messenger and ask for the tree. What do you think? It will mysteriously appear?”
“Then we’ll have one brought up from Bibury,” Caroline said. “Leopold will be delighted! It is a custom in Alucia, you know, to decorate a tree for Christmas. Oh! I just thought of someone else we ought to invite.”
“Who?” Hollis asked.
“Lady Blythe Northcote!”
Beck dropped his fork to his plate with such a clatter that everyone in the room jumped a foot. “I swear by all that is holy, if you mention her name one more time, I will stuff a napkin into your mouth.”
“I’ve forgotten this name, Caro. Will you remind me? Is she Beck’s beau?”
Beck pointed a finger at Hollis. “Don’t you dare play at this game, Hollis. If you want your tree so badly, you will think twice.”
“If I promise never to mention her again, will you concede?” Hollis asked.
“Done,” he said.
Caroline and Hollis exchanged a look. Blythe Northcote would certainly be invited.
“Shall we set the invitation for eight o’clock?” Hollis asked.
