Yesterday's Promise by Linda Lee Chaikin Page B

things.”
    â€œNone of which are true, I hope?”
    â€œOf course they are not true. She’s a gossipy old biddy, that’s all. Jealous and mean-spirited.”
    â€œWell, I can’t say what the woman is like, but knowing you, she may have a point or two.”
    â€œRogan.”
    He smiled. “Cheer up. Whatever you’ve done should eventually blow over.”
    When she said nothing he looked at her, this time more gravely, ashe must have realized there was more to the storm than her girlish pranks.
    â€œOr will it?” he asked quietly.
    She looked down at her lap and fussed with her fan. “Julien doesn’t think so. He’s threatened to tell Peter about things if I don’t fully cooperate with his wishes.”
    Rogan’s gaze turned into a hard glitter. “Best tell me all of it.”
    â€œIt’s nothing, really. Just a passel of old black-gowned dowagers who went to Julien and demanded he talk to me about my behavior.” She looked at him and added quietly, “Oh, Rogan, I played the fool.” Her voice trailed to a whine as she saw his jaw tighten.
    â€œGo on,” he said.
    â€œI went to the Government House Ball two weeks ago and went into the garden with Elizabeth’s fiancé, and…well, I didn’t mean to flirt, but I caught my skirt on those absolutely horrendous rosebush thorns an inch long, and I couldn’t pull it loose. So Thomas tried to help me, and then his shirt sleeve got stuck. We were both caught and standing quite close, and I don’t know how it happened, but somehow I was in his arms when Sally Horn came out and saw us. Oh, it was horrid! But I didn’t mean anything serious by it. Then she told Elizabeth, and Elizabeth slapped Thomas and—well, you do see how it went?”
    â€œYes.”
    How could he say so much with one word? Arcilla plucked a crimson feather from her fan and dropped it on her lap. It ruffled in the wind. Rogan reached over and took the fan from her clutching fingers. She bit her lip to keep back tears.
    â€œAnd now I’m the topic at all the tea parties in town. The engagement is broken between Elizabeth and Thomas, and Lady Willowby has called on Julien. She’ll write to Aunt Elosia if he doesn’t do something.”
    Rogan was quiet, then said, “Peter doesn’t know?”
    She sniffed, shaking her head. “Not yet. He’s still at Kimberly.”
    â€œArcilla, you were very unwise. You’ve Peter to think of besidesyourself now. This isn’t London, and Peter isn’t the calm, unruffled Charles Bancroft.”
    â€œI wish he were Charles,” she murmured, taking a handkerchief and dabbing at her cheeks.
    â€œEnough of that. Regardless of how you feel, you are married now. A few more
accidental
forays into the garden with willing young gentlemen, and you won’t have a reputation to worry about. You’ll be like Anne.”
    She looked at him. “Anne?”
    He waved a hand airily. “What did Julien do about all this?”
    â€œThat’s the worst part. He’s taking me to Kimberly soon, where Peter is, and he insists both of us are going north to the new colony. Rogan, it’s horrid. I don’t want to go, but I’ve no choice with Julien insisting, and I…I’m afraid of him.” She looked at her brother with wide eyes. She took some comfort in seeing a flash of anger in his dark gaze. Though he disapproved of her follies, she sensed the anger was not toward her, but toward Julien.
    Though she knew Rogan would not insult her, she took courage that he hadn’t threatened to disown her. It was so good to see him after all these months that Arcilla rushed headlong now to pour out all her woes about what Sir Julien had said concerning Peter’s promising career and his need for a prudent wife.
    â€œJulien should have thought about that before he insisted you marry Peter,” came