Sapphires Are an Earl's Best Friend by Shana Galen - Jewels of the Ton 03 - Sapphires Are an Earl's Best Friend Page B
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welcome and at ease. But was that love or was she grasping for the title of duchess even then?
Something moved in the shadows, and he spun around, eliciting a small scream from the girl standing on the far side of room, almost hidden amongst the tapestries. “Emma?”
“I’m sorry. I did not wish to disturb you. I was looking for a quiet place to read, and I did not think Father’s guests would seek out the tapestry room.” She moved forward, her manner apologetic. He was struck by how much she looked like their mother. She had the same tall, willowy form—a form which, at fifteen, she had not yet grown into—the same curly brown hair, the same gentle brown eyes. She was quiet and unobtrusive, so he often went days without seeing or thinking of her. He supposed he still thought of her as a child, though she would not be one for long. Had his father even considered what was to be done for her first Season?
Unlikely, as his father had thought of little but his own desires of late. Andrew wanted to groan. He supposed the task would fall to him, and what did he know of Seasons and court presentations and the like?
“Stay,” Andrew said. “I was leaving.” He started for the door, wondering how, in a house this large, he could think of nowhere to retreat.
“Is she beautiful?” Emma asked, and Andrew stopped short of the door.
“Who?”
“I heard one of The Three Diamonds arrived, the Countess of Charm. Is she beautiful?”
Andrew frowned at his little sister. She was dressed in black, out of respect for his mother’s recent death, and the color made her look small and pale. “What do you know about The Three Diamonds?”
“Even here in Nottinghamshire, we receive the London papers,” she said with a smile. “I read.”
“You shouldn’t be reading about women like her.”
“And you shouldn’t be consorting with them, but I have seen your name mentioned with theirs. Were you really in love with the Duchess of Dalliance? The one who married the Duke of Pelham?”
“Was I… what?”
“Wasn’t it romantic? How they fell in love and married?”
“What’s romantic about a courtesan as the sixth Duchess of Pelham?” he said with some rancor. But, of course, Juliette would be a perfect duchess. He’d wanted her for his duchess.
“But the way the papers describe The Three Diamonds, they are the height of fashion and elegance. They are the most beautiful women of the ton . Women imitate their fashion, and all the men seek their favors.”
Andrew blinked, attempted to speak, then ran a hand through his hair. This was why she needed a mother. What was he supposed to say to his little sister—hadn’t she been a wobbly, chubby-cheeked child clinging to his leg just yesterday?—about the illicit world of London Society? Especially when he was part of that world?
Finally, out of frustration, he said, “This isn’t an appropriate topic of conversation.”
“Why?”
“Because young ladies—even older ladies—do not speak of courtesans.” He started for the door again. Escape, at this point, seemed his only option.
“But why? Have the papers misrepresented the facts?”
Andrew blew out a breath. The door, and his escape, seemed so far away. “No, but it is one thing to read about someone like the Countess of Charm and quite another to discuss her.”
Emma pondered this, and Andrew sidled closer to the door.
“So I may read about her, but I mustn’t speak of her?”
“Correct. You probably shouldn’t even read about her.” He reached for the door handle. “So glad we sorted everything out…”
“But why can I not merely read about her, when you know her personally?”
“Because I am a man, and the rules are different for me.”
“But you are my brother. Surely I can speak to my brother about these matters. Besides, all I asked was whether or not the Countess of Charm was beautiful. The papers never compliment her appearance like they do the other two.”
“What do they
Something moved in the shadows, and he spun around, eliciting a small scream from the girl standing on the far side of room, almost hidden amongst the tapestries. “Emma?”
“I’m sorry. I did not wish to disturb you. I was looking for a quiet place to read, and I did not think Father’s guests would seek out the tapestry room.” She moved forward, her manner apologetic. He was struck by how much she looked like their mother. She had the same tall, willowy form—a form which, at fifteen, she had not yet grown into—the same curly brown hair, the same gentle brown eyes. She was quiet and unobtrusive, so he often went days without seeing or thinking of her. He supposed he still thought of her as a child, though she would not be one for long. Had his father even considered what was to be done for her first Season?
Unlikely, as his father had thought of little but his own desires of late. Andrew wanted to groan. He supposed the task would fall to him, and what did he know of Seasons and court presentations and the like?
“Stay,” Andrew said. “I was leaving.” He started for the door, wondering how, in a house this large, he could think of nowhere to retreat.
“Is she beautiful?” Emma asked, and Andrew stopped short of the door.
“Who?”
“I heard one of The Three Diamonds arrived, the Countess of Charm. Is she beautiful?”
Andrew frowned at his little sister. She was dressed in black, out of respect for his mother’s recent death, and the color made her look small and pale. “What do you know about The Three Diamonds?”
“Even here in Nottinghamshire, we receive the London papers,” she said with a smile. “I read.”
“You shouldn’t be reading about women like her.”
“And you shouldn’t be consorting with them, but I have seen your name mentioned with theirs. Were you really in love with the Duchess of Dalliance? The one who married the Duke of Pelham?”
“Was I… what?”
“Wasn’t it romantic? How they fell in love and married?”
“What’s romantic about a courtesan as the sixth Duchess of Pelham?” he said with some rancor. But, of course, Juliette would be a perfect duchess. He’d wanted her for his duchess.
“But the way the papers describe The Three Diamonds, they are the height of fashion and elegance. They are the most beautiful women of the ton . Women imitate their fashion, and all the men seek their favors.”
Andrew blinked, attempted to speak, then ran a hand through his hair. This was why she needed a mother. What was he supposed to say to his little sister—hadn’t she been a wobbly, chubby-cheeked child clinging to his leg just yesterday?—about the illicit world of London Society? Especially when he was part of that world?
Finally, out of frustration, he said, “This isn’t an appropriate topic of conversation.”
“Why?”
“Because young ladies—even older ladies—do not speak of courtesans.” He started for the door again. Escape, at this point, seemed his only option.
“But why? Have the papers misrepresented the facts?”
Andrew blew out a breath. The door, and his escape, seemed so far away. “No, but it is one thing to read about someone like the Countess of Charm and quite another to discuss her.”
Emma pondered this, and Andrew sidled closer to the door.
“So I may read about her, but I mustn’t speak of her?”
“Correct. You probably shouldn’t even read about her.” He reached for the door handle. “So glad we sorted everything out…”
“But why can I not merely read about her, when you know her personally?”
“Because I am a man, and the rules are different for me.”
“But you are my brother. Surely I can speak to my brother about these matters. Besides, all I asked was whether or not the Countess of Charm was beautiful. The papers never compliment her appearance like they do the other two.”
“What do they
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