woman. “Did the garden designer join you? I understand that my cousin has formed quite the . . . friendship with him.”
Perhaps it was beneath her to hint that her cousin was carrying on inappropriately with her father’s hireling, but Edith couldn’t help herself.
Thynne showed no adverse reaction. “Yes, she has learned quite a bit from Mr. Lawton about his plans for the grounds. In fact, I have asked him to draw up a proposal for redesigning the gardens and park at Greymere Hall.”
Edith almost stamped her foot, but stopped herself by shifting her weight and digging the nail of her thumb into her palm. “How lovely.”
Lord Thynne launched into a boring recitation of all the changes he hoped to make to his home, both inside and out. Edith leaned forward, widened her eyes a bit, and nodded occasionally.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Doncroft and Radclyffe watching. The two leaned their heads together for a whispered conversation, then Doncroft left the room.
She controlled her smile of satisfaction. No doubt Doncroft left to warn Oliver that Lord Thynne was flirting with her.
“If you will excuse me, Miss Buchanan. I have an engagement to keep with your father.” Thynne inclined his head again and, without waiting for her permission, walked out of the sitting room, leaving Edith standing alone, in full view of all her guests.
Dorcas’s laugh rang out and Edith’s skin crawled at the sound of it. She marched over and insinuated herself between her sister and the three men standing near her chair, looking down on her with undisguised appreciation.
“Do excuse us, gentlemen.” Edith wrapped her hand around Dorcas’s forearm and squeezed. Dorcas let out a small squeak, but one look from Edith quelled her from complaining about the firm grip. “I need to speak with my sister.”
Dorcas pulled her wrist from Edith’s grasp, but followed her meekly out into the entry hallway. Edith could not believe she needed to speak to her sister again this afternoon about her inappropriate behavior.
“What is it this time?”
Edith spun around at the exasperation in her sister’s voice. Dorcas stood there, arms crossed, looking quite put out.
“I saw you openly flirting with those men. Laughing aloud. You aren’t even out yet. You should not be carrying on conversations with them at all. I warned you about your inappropriate behavior during the walking party this morning.”
“ My inappropriate behavior?” The organdy flounces of Dorcas’s pink dress quivered and fear whitewashed her face. “Unlike you, Sister, I do not actively seek to flirt with the men. I cannot help it if they choose to come to me after they—” Dorcas’s face flamed dark red.
Edith set her fists to her hips, fury building in her stomach. “After they what?”
“After they walk away from you.” Dorcas’s eyes widened and she seemed to have trouble catching her breath.
Edith found breathing hard too. Never before had her sister spoken to her like this. “I beg your pardon?” She enunciated each word as if it were separate from the others.
Moisture pooled in Dorcas’s eyes, but she swallowed and took a step forward. “I am not the only one who has noticed, Sister, that the men may pay obeisance to you, but they do not stay by your side long. I am also not the only one who has noticed that many of them choose my company over yours.”
Edith wanted to slap her. Wanted to tear her hair out of the perfect coils and ringlets. Wanted to scratch at the fear-filled blue eyes gazing at her from the pretty, heart-shaped face. “You know nothing. You are a simpering fool who will never be able to keep a man’s interest long enough to elicit a proposal from him. You would do well to keep your mouth closed and follow in my footsteps.”
She turned and started up the stairs, unwilling to let Dorcas have the upper hand in this argument.
“Follow in your footsteps?” Dorcas’s voice echoed in the hall, followed by her light
Perhaps it was beneath her to hint that her cousin was carrying on inappropriately with her father’s hireling, but Edith couldn’t help herself.
Thynne showed no adverse reaction. “Yes, she has learned quite a bit from Mr. Lawton about his plans for the grounds. In fact, I have asked him to draw up a proposal for redesigning the gardens and park at Greymere Hall.”
Edith almost stamped her foot, but stopped herself by shifting her weight and digging the nail of her thumb into her palm. “How lovely.”
Lord Thynne launched into a boring recitation of all the changes he hoped to make to his home, both inside and out. Edith leaned forward, widened her eyes a bit, and nodded occasionally.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Doncroft and Radclyffe watching. The two leaned their heads together for a whispered conversation, then Doncroft left the room.
She controlled her smile of satisfaction. No doubt Doncroft left to warn Oliver that Lord Thynne was flirting with her.
“If you will excuse me, Miss Buchanan. I have an engagement to keep with your father.” Thynne inclined his head again and, without waiting for her permission, walked out of the sitting room, leaving Edith standing alone, in full view of all her guests.
Dorcas’s laugh rang out and Edith’s skin crawled at the sound of it. She marched over and insinuated herself between her sister and the three men standing near her chair, looking down on her with undisguised appreciation.
“Do excuse us, gentlemen.” Edith wrapped her hand around Dorcas’s forearm and squeezed. Dorcas let out a small squeak, but one look from Edith quelled her from complaining about the firm grip. “I need to speak with my sister.”
Dorcas pulled her wrist from Edith’s grasp, but followed her meekly out into the entry hallway. Edith could not believe she needed to speak to her sister again this afternoon about her inappropriate behavior.
“What is it this time?”
Edith spun around at the exasperation in her sister’s voice. Dorcas stood there, arms crossed, looking quite put out.
“I saw you openly flirting with those men. Laughing aloud. You aren’t even out yet. You should not be carrying on conversations with them at all. I warned you about your inappropriate behavior during the walking party this morning.”
“ My inappropriate behavior?” The organdy flounces of Dorcas’s pink dress quivered and fear whitewashed her face. “Unlike you, Sister, I do not actively seek to flirt with the men. I cannot help it if they choose to come to me after they—” Dorcas’s face flamed dark red.
Edith set her fists to her hips, fury building in her stomach. “After they what?”
“After they walk away from you.” Dorcas’s eyes widened and she seemed to have trouble catching her breath.
Edith found breathing hard too. Never before had her sister spoken to her like this. “I beg your pardon?” She enunciated each word as if it were separate from the others.
Moisture pooled in Dorcas’s eyes, but she swallowed and took a step forward. “I am not the only one who has noticed, Sister, that the men may pay obeisance to you, but they do not stay by your side long. I am also not the only one who has noticed that many of them choose my company over yours.”
Edith wanted to slap her. Wanted to tear her hair out of the perfect coils and ringlets. Wanted to scratch at the fear-filled blue eyes gazing at her from the pretty, heart-shaped face. “You know nothing. You are a simpering fool who will never be able to keep a man’s interest long enough to elicit a proposal from him. You would do well to keep your mouth closed and follow in my footsteps.”
She turned and started up the stairs, unwilling to let Dorcas have the upper hand in this argument.
“Follow in your footsteps?” Dorcas’s voice echoed in the hall, followed by her light
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