Dahlia was well aware that she was having quite a wonderful time. To the world, she thought, they probably presented theimage of an amiable couple. But itwastrue, they were, both of them, being very amiable. She remembered her promise to herself at the start of their betrothal—she would find joy wherever she could. And indeed, she was glad to say that there was joy to be found in this new friendship.
“I have it,” Peter said. “It involves, my friend?—”
“Matteo.”
See how you like it!
She gave him a sweet smile.
Peter laughed and chucked her gently under the chin.
They purchased velvet bonnets, caps trimmed with fur, scarves, muffs, kid gloves, and a variety of other winter accessories. The apothecary was visited after that. Peter was constantly surprised at how many things were required for a lady’s wardrobe and toilette.
Still, he accompanied Dahlia and his sisters with patience and indulgence. Mary and Claire looked at him in surprise on more than one occasion. Was his being amiable that big of a surprise to them? He felt guilty over this, and as if to make up, he indulged them that day even in the smallest of things.
Now, as they headed back to the castle, he watched as his twin sisters, sitting in front of him, leaned back against the carriage seat and drifted to sleep. Beside him, Dahlia also had her eyes closed.
He recalled their conversation as they walked behind Mary and Claire when he had asked her about her family.
“Papa and Mama are very social. They love going out and being with their peers. They also take trips very frequently.”
“So, you’ve been to see a number of places.”
“Oh, no, not me. I rarely come with them.”
“They leave you?”
“Well, they had to. Especially when I still had my schooling.”
“On the summer holidays then?”
“We usually went to Cosgrove, my family’s country estate. They had a large group of friends there, too.”
“What about when you were of age?”
“I did not go then either.”
“Whyever not?”
“Well, they never asked me to.” Dahlia looked away at this. “And besides, I was out in society by then, so I had to establish my own social life. I had my friends too.”
“I see,” Peter said. But he did not see. He understood that her parents had been very much in love, but it seemed to him that in their devotion to each other, they neglected their only daughter.
“Who were you left with when they went on their trips?”
“My governess, when I still had one. Then Biddy kept me company when I was already of age. John and Benson would accompany me when I needed to go out.” She smiled then. “When my parents came back from their travels, they always had interesting gifts for me.”
Peter imagined her as a girl bidding her parents goodbye, knowing they were off to see the world, and she was left behind to wait their return. Perhaps losing a parent was worse, but having absent parents did not seem so far behind. Again, that feeling of wanting to protect her made him clench his hands closed.
“I was very busy, you see. I had Celine and Helena; I had my own hobbies and my—” She hesitated. “—projects.”
Peter barely prevented himself from rolling his eyes.
Your Penelope Lovelace books you mean.
“I have led quite a busy life really.”
Perhaps it was true in recent years. But before that? When she did not yet have the freedom of adulthood, how did she cope with being alone? A tenderness for the young girl that Dahlia had been grew in Peter’s heart.
