your stepmother. But I believe you had better apologize to her just the same.”
Dulcie handed Simon’s leash to the stranger and went to stand in front of her frazzled, scowling stepmother. “Yes, it was quite rude of me, Mother, to speak to you that way. I forgot my manners.”
But you were just as rude, Dulcie thought . You weren’t here to welcome me even though I did my best to get here as rapidly as you demanded.
“I am sorry, but I will not send Simon away. I’ve raised him up from a pup. He is very well behaved.” Dulcie’s lips twitched into a smile unconsciously. “He is probably better behaved than I am. I am totally to blame, so forgive me. I assure you Simon will be no trouble to anyone while he is here. I will keep him out of your sight as much as possible.”
The countess stared at her stepdaughter and read the determination in the girl’s eyes. “What of my darling cats? I know he will terrorize them!”
“I don’t believe so, Mother. Simon is quite fond of cats and they get along fine. We have several at home at Bonne Vista, and he has never hurt them.”
“Very well, then,” Agina released an annoyed huff but gave in because it was necessary for her to do so if she were to get the hoydenish chit married and hang onto the luxuries she enjoyed in life. “See that you watch him, Dulcina. He’s not to torment my babies. If he does, I shall do something worse to him.”
Shifting her attention elsewhere, Agina said, “Griff, take that … animal out to the hallway and give him to a footman to care for. I won’t have that detestable beast in the same room with me. Then return to us, and we’ll go in to supper.”
Dulcie said to the stranger, “You might ask the footman to take Simon for a brief outing. It’s time, I think. Thank you.” She smiled as Simon trotted nicely beside the person her stepmother had called Griff.
The countess turned to her stepdaughter again. “Well, then, let me look at you, Dulcina.”
Dulcie stole another sideways glance at her stepmother. The countess was still lovely, her golden hair unadorned by a widow’s cap. The shiny tresses coiled into a loose knot at the back of her head. A pair of magnificent blue eyes dominated her oval face. Dulcie saw one reason why her father fell under the woman’s magical spell. It had to be because of her angelic beauty, certainly not her warm, charming manner.
Agina eyed her stepdaughter’s appearance. Dulcie knew her stepmother was seeing all the detrimental things about her—her unexciting looks, her slightly robust physique, and her dowdy clothes. Even she knew she was plain-faced. Nor did she assume her figure was the least bit attractive. Her breasts were too generous and her hips were too wide. But she did know her legs were long and shapely from all that walking. She had inherited large, brown eyes and an unruly abundance of wavy hair from her mother’s side of the family. When Marnie had showed her what she could do with it, Dulcie was surprised that a hairstyle could so change one’s appearance.
“Where in the world did you purchase that gown?” the countess commented. “It’s disgraceful. It has no style, no flair whatsoever. It will never catch a man’s eye.”
“My clothes are meant to keep me warm in winter and cool in summer. I have no wish to catch a man’s eye,” Dulcie replied tartly. Then she remembered not be so mouthy and tempered her reply. “But I believe I will purchase a few new things while I am in London. For that, I will be glad of your help, Mother. I am ignorant of what is in fashion and would rather not look the frumpy, country mouse while I am here.”
“Oh, I shall expect you to spend the Season here, my dear girl, until I procure you a suitable husband.”
Oh Lord, there she goes again with those false endearments and her talk about marriage.
“I already explained, Mother,” Dulcie said, emphasizing the word, “that I don’t wish to marry anyone. Not
Dulcie handed Simon’s leash to the stranger and went to stand in front of her frazzled, scowling stepmother. “Yes, it was quite rude of me, Mother, to speak to you that way. I forgot my manners.”
But you were just as rude, Dulcie thought . You weren’t here to welcome me even though I did my best to get here as rapidly as you demanded.
“I am sorry, but I will not send Simon away. I’ve raised him up from a pup. He is very well behaved.” Dulcie’s lips twitched into a smile unconsciously. “He is probably better behaved than I am. I am totally to blame, so forgive me. I assure you Simon will be no trouble to anyone while he is here. I will keep him out of your sight as much as possible.”
The countess stared at her stepdaughter and read the determination in the girl’s eyes. “What of my darling cats? I know he will terrorize them!”
“I don’t believe so, Mother. Simon is quite fond of cats and they get along fine. We have several at home at Bonne Vista, and he has never hurt them.”
“Very well, then,” Agina released an annoyed huff but gave in because it was necessary for her to do so if she were to get the hoydenish chit married and hang onto the luxuries she enjoyed in life. “See that you watch him, Dulcina. He’s not to torment my babies. If he does, I shall do something worse to him.”
Shifting her attention elsewhere, Agina said, “Griff, take that … animal out to the hallway and give him to a footman to care for. I won’t have that detestable beast in the same room with me. Then return to us, and we’ll go in to supper.”
Dulcie said to the stranger, “You might ask the footman to take Simon for a brief outing. It’s time, I think. Thank you.” She smiled as Simon trotted nicely beside the person her stepmother had called Griff.
The countess turned to her stepdaughter again. “Well, then, let me look at you, Dulcina.”
Dulcie stole another sideways glance at her stepmother. The countess was still lovely, her golden hair unadorned by a widow’s cap. The shiny tresses coiled into a loose knot at the back of her head. A pair of magnificent blue eyes dominated her oval face. Dulcie saw one reason why her father fell under the woman’s magical spell. It had to be because of her angelic beauty, certainly not her warm, charming manner.
Agina eyed her stepdaughter’s appearance. Dulcie knew her stepmother was seeing all the detrimental things about her—her unexciting looks, her slightly robust physique, and her dowdy clothes. Even she knew she was plain-faced. Nor did she assume her figure was the least bit attractive. Her breasts were too generous and her hips were too wide. But she did know her legs were long and shapely from all that walking. She had inherited large, brown eyes and an unruly abundance of wavy hair from her mother’s side of the family. When Marnie had showed her what she could do with it, Dulcie was surprised that a hairstyle could so change one’s appearance.
“Where in the world did you purchase that gown?” the countess commented. “It’s disgraceful. It has no style, no flair whatsoever. It will never catch a man’s eye.”
“My clothes are meant to keep me warm in winter and cool in summer. I have no wish to catch a man’s eye,” Dulcie replied tartly. Then she remembered not be so mouthy and tempered her reply. “But I believe I will purchase a few new things while I am in London. For that, I will be glad of your help, Mother. I am ignorant of what is in fashion and would rather not look the frumpy, country mouse while I am here.”
“Oh, I shall expect you to spend the Season here, my dear girl, until I procure you a suitable husband.”
Oh Lord, there she goes again with those false endearments and her talk about marriage.
“I already explained, Mother,” Dulcie said, emphasizing the word, “that I don’t wish to marry anyone. Not
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