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Authors: Lynn Collum
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social world. But the expense of dressing a young lady other than her daughter was not to be considered. “She will simply have to remain out of sight in Town.”
“But Mama, you know how servants gossip. It would soon be all around that you had some niece being hidden away from Society, then we would be thought to be harboring a Bedlamite.” Dorinda watched the horror come on her mother's face with satisfaction as she fed Princess bits of cake.
“We cannot have someone thinking there is madness in the family. But I cannot leave the girls here, for I intend to take much of the staff with me to London to save the expense of hiring people there.”
Setting her beloved pug on the floor, Dorinda rose and walked to the window. “Was it your intention to provide for Karis and Anthea for a lifetime?”
“Your papa and I had thought when Karis turned one and twenty that a position as governess might be found for her. You know she is acting as such to her own sister.” Lady Westerly gazed dotingly at her daughter who looked positively angelic in the glow of light from the window.
“Mama, Karis is the cleverest lady I know. You have said yourself she is practically a bluestocking. Why wait and bear the expense of housing her for two more years? I am certain any of your acquaintances would welcome a governess as intelligent as my cousin. As for Anthea, I can set a program of studies for her to follow which would be more fitting than all that Greek and Latin that Karis thinks so important.” Dorinda smiled innocently as she looked back at her mother.
Lady Westerly was amazed. Why, for her daughter to be offering to do such for her small cousin warmed the baroness's heart. “You would be willing to take on such a responsibility?”
Coming back to take a seat by the fireplace, Dorinda picked up her tea. “To be sure, Mama. Besides, Anthea can take over Karis's duties as my companion. While she is but a child, she could be quite as useful to me as her sister has been.”
The baroness nodded agreement, while she liked her nieces she knew what a savings it would be to be rid of her brother's oldest child. In truth, she'd more than done her Christian duty for Karis. “My old friend, Anne Handley, wrote me that her governess was leaving at Christmas and she would be required to seek another. I shall write to her this very afternoon.”
“An excellent suggestion, Mama.” Dorinda sipped her tea, relishing her victory. She promised herself she would be present when the news that Karis was to be separated from her beloved sister was broken to her meddling cousin.
* * *
A knock sounded at the nursery door, then the housekeeper entered. Her eyes grew round as she surveyed the room cluttered with ropes of garlands. “I do believe you've enough decorations to string from Whiteoaks to Birmingham and back.”
The marquess, seated at the table with his daughter and Anthea, watched Miss Lockhart put the finishing touches on the final decorations. He laughed at the older woman's observation. “Binx was just saying the same thing, but her belief was that it would stretch all the way to London.”
Karis shook her head at their teasing. “It is not as much as it appears. But we will soon know, for everything is ready.”
The housekeeper came forward to look at the Kissing Bough which sat completed on the table. “`Tis quite lovely, Miss Karis, and very original, if I do say so. You've all been workin' so `ard that I've made a special treat for your tea.”
Karis's gaze flitted nervously to the mantel clock. She was surprised it had grown so late. “Serve the girls, Mrs. Shelby, I have not the time at the moment. Anthea and I shall be quite late returning home as it is and I do want to supervise the hanging of the garlands before we go.”
“Must we have to leave so soon?” Anthea frowned.
“I fear so, my dear, or we shall be forced to walk through the woods in the dark.” Karis, like her sister, wished they
“But Mama, you know how servants gossip. It would soon be all around that you had some niece being hidden away from Society, then we would be thought to be harboring a Bedlamite.” Dorinda watched the horror come on her mother's face with satisfaction as she fed Princess bits of cake.
“We cannot have someone thinking there is madness in the family. But I cannot leave the girls here, for I intend to take much of the staff with me to London to save the expense of hiring people there.”
Setting her beloved pug on the floor, Dorinda rose and walked to the window. “Was it your intention to provide for Karis and Anthea for a lifetime?”
“Your papa and I had thought when Karis turned one and twenty that a position as governess might be found for her. You know she is acting as such to her own sister.” Lady Westerly gazed dotingly at her daughter who looked positively angelic in the glow of light from the window.
“Mama, Karis is the cleverest lady I know. You have said yourself she is practically a bluestocking. Why wait and bear the expense of housing her for two more years? I am certain any of your acquaintances would welcome a governess as intelligent as my cousin. As for Anthea, I can set a program of studies for her to follow which would be more fitting than all that Greek and Latin that Karis thinks so important.” Dorinda smiled innocently as she looked back at her mother.
Lady Westerly was amazed. Why, for her daughter to be offering to do such for her small cousin warmed the baroness's heart. “You would be willing to take on such a responsibility?”
Coming back to take a seat by the fireplace, Dorinda picked up her tea. “To be sure, Mama. Besides, Anthea can take over Karis's duties as my companion. While she is but a child, she could be quite as useful to me as her sister has been.”
The baroness nodded agreement, while she liked her nieces she knew what a savings it would be to be rid of her brother's oldest child. In truth, she'd more than done her Christian duty for Karis. “My old friend, Anne Handley, wrote me that her governess was leaving at Christmas and she would be required to seek another. I shall write to her this very afternoon.”
“An excellent suggestion, Mama.” Dorinda sipped her tea, relishing her victory. She promised herself she would be present when the news that Karis was to be separated from her beloved sister was broken to her meddling cousin.
* * *
A knock sounded at the nursery door, then the housekeeper entered. Her eyes grew round as she surveyed the room cluttered with ropes of garlands. “I do believe you've enough decorations to string from Whiteoaks to Birmingham and back.”
The marquess, seated at the table with his daughter and Anthea, watched Miss Lockhart put the finishing touches on the final decorations. He laughed at the older woman's observation. “Binx was just saying the same thing, but her belief was that it would stretch all the way to London.”
Karis shook her head at their teasing. “It is not as much as it appears. But we will soon know, for everything is ready.”
The housekeeper came forward to look at the Kissing Bough which sat completed on the table. “`Tis quite lovely, Miss Karis, and very original, if I do say so. You've all been workin' so `ard that I've made a special treat for your tea.”
Karis's gaze flitted nervously to the mantel clock. She was surprised it had grown so late. “Serve the girls, Mrs. Shelby, I have not the time at the moment. Anthea and I shall be quite late returning home as it is and I do want to supervise the hanging of the garlands before we go.”
“Must we have to leave so soon?” Anthea frowned.
“I fear so, my dear, or we shall be forced to walk through the woods in the dark.” Karis, like her sister, wished they
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