Chapter Three
Tia listened as they were announced and allowed into the drawing room. Her eyes swept the room, finding Ariadne and Julian present. She and Mama went to greet them, and Tia teared up as her sister embraced her.
“I have missed you, sweet Tia,” Ariadne said. “My, you have a maturity about you since we last saw you.”
“I am not on the shelf yet,” she teased, going to Julian for another, warm embrace.
“It has been too long, Tia,” he said.
She adored her brother-in-law, a former London dock worker who wound up becoming a marquess. Julian was large and muscular, his eyes light, with two, dark slashes of expressive brows. He was protective of his wife and daughter, and that protection extended to her, as well.
“Come and sit,” Ariadne said. “The others should be here soon.”
She studied her sister for a moment. Ariadne had always been the beauty in the family, with her copper hair and sky-blue eyes.
She also was incredibly kind and thoughtful.
Together, Ariadne and Julian had purchased an orphanage and spent two days a week with the children who resided there.
Tia and Lia had visited Oakbrooke Orphanage, and they had been moved by how the children adored Ariadne and Julian.
“Where is Penelope?” she asked.
“Her nap is almost over,” Julian said. “You will not believe how much she has grown. And she is starting to speak.” He grinned. “Mama was her first word. We are working on Papa.”
The butler announced the next visitor, and her cousin Con breezed into the room.
“It is wonderful to see you all,” he said. “Aunt Alice, you never seem to age.”
Mama harumphed as he kissed her cheek. “And you are as glib as ever, Constantine.”
“I am practicing my compliments for the upcoming Season,” Con said. “If every young lady making her come-out is as pretty as Cousin Tia here, why, I will need to write an entire book of compliments in order to shower my many dance partners.”
“Are you truly thinking about marriage?” she asked her cousin.
Laughing, he said, “Not a whit,” causing them all to chuckle. “Val and I said we would wait until we had titles of our own. As Duke of Millbrooke now, it was time for him to wed, and he has already produced an heir. How is William?”
“More handsome than his father,” she told him. “But completely bald.”
That made Con laugh harder. “I suppose Val and Eden have yet to arrive in town, or they would be present at tea today.”
“They intend to come to town next week,” Mama informed him. “Eden is still recovering from childbirth. Valentinian wants to show off his new duchess, though, to Polite Society, so they will be here in time for the opening ball. Have your parents arrived in town yet?”
“They will also come sometime next week,” Con shared. “Mama wrote to me and said that Aunt Agnes is not coming for the Season, though.”
“I had a letter from Agnes only yesterday,” Mama said. “She decided to remain at home this spring. Tray will be finishing university, and she wanted to be there and help him settle in permanently at Traywick Manor.”
“I will miss having Aunt Agnes here,” Tia said. “She is a favorite to all of us.”
The door flew open, and Lia rushed in, headed straight for Tia. They clung to one another tightly.
“I have missed you so much,” both said in unison, causing each to tear up.
“You would think they have not seen one another in years,” Rupert said, biting back a smile as he greeted everyone.
Two teacarts were rolled in, and Ariadne asked Tia to pour out along with her. She almost protested, knowing the honor should go to Mama because of her rank, but she realized her sister was giving her practice at one of the necessary social skills. She was grateful for the opportunity.
Plates were filled, along with teacups, and then Lia said, “We have news to share.”
Immediately, she knew what her twin would say, anticipating the announcement.
“We will have a child come November,” her sister said, her gaze meeting Tia’s.
Congratulations were issued, and Julian told Rupert, “There is nothing like having a child. You think of them before anything else. All you want is for them to be healthy and happy. I guarantee you that you will fall in love every day with your babe, just as you do your lovely wife.”
“I am hoping for twins,” Rupert revealed. “And if they have Lia’s red hair, that will be a bonus.”
“Red hair is not fashionable,” Mama protested. “All four of my children got their father’s red hair in varying shades. It is much to overcome.”
Julian took Ariadne’s hand. “Well, I adore my copper-headed beauties, Your Grace. Both of them.”
Rupert kissed Lia’s cheek. “And my auburn-haired wife is the most beautiful woman on earth, so I hope that at least our daughters will have her rich shade of hair.”
Hearing her brothers-in-law admiring red hair made Tia feel slightly better. She was the only strawberry blond in the family, and she had never met another with hair her particular shade.
“I think Tia’s hair will help her stand out in her come-out class,” Con said, giving her a smile. “Gentlemen will be certain to remember you before other ladies, Cousin.”
Mama snorted. “I only hope Thermantia’s hair color will not ruin her chances of making a suitable match.”
She shook her head, and her gaze met her twin’s. Mama always seemed to choose pessimism over optimism. It was something they were used to by now.
“How are you feeling?” Ariadne asked. “For a time, I was violently ill with Penelope.”
Julian chuckled. “The servants placed chamber pots every few steps around the house. Even on the landings of the stairs. My poor darling could barely walk three paces without retching.”
Tia hadn’t realized that her sister had been so sick while increasing. She did not know if that was always a part of what carrying a babe entailed, and worried because she absolutely hated being ill.
“It did not last the entire time,” Ariadne said, obviously seeing Tia’s worried expression. “How are you faring, Lia?”
“Well, we did keep a chamber pot in the carriage as we came to town. Sometimes, the motion of the wheels comforted me. Other times, it made me dizzy and sick. It was a bit unpredictable.”
“Do you think it will keep you from attending events?” she asked, worried that her sister would not come to balls.
“Rupert and I have decided we will attend some events, but we are taking our cues from Ariadne and Julian. We will not try to go to everything, just the affairs which interest us.”
“Well, you better come to the opening ball,” Tia said. “I must have you there with me.”
“Oh, we would never miss that,” her twin assured her. “I cannot wait to see you make your come-out, Tia.”
She wondered if her sister might have regrets in having wed before making her debut into the ton, but watching her with her husband, who had taken Lia’s hand and laced their fingers together as they talked, let Tia know that her twin had everything she had ever wanted, especially now that she was with child.
The door opened, and a nursemaid brought in Penelope. She wriggled in the servant’s arms, so the woman set her down. Immediately, Penelope toddled toward them, grinning at her parents.
Julian stood and swept his daughter up, tossing her into the air and catching her several times before taking a seat again, Penelope in his lap.
Once more, her gaze met that of her twin’s, and they shook their heads, knowing their own father had never held them, much less played with them.
Julian was an exceptional, loving father, and Tia was so happy Ariadne had made a true love match.
“She has grown,” Mama said. “I am surprised she walks quite steadily for one so young.”
“Penelope loves to walk outside,” Ariadne said. “We spend a great deal of time with her in the gardens or out on the lawn. Julian is thinking of getting her a dog.”
“A dog?” Mama asked, looking as if she’d bitten into a sour grape. “Whatever for?”
“As a companion, Your Grace,” Julian said easily, giving his daughter a bite of bread with jam slathered on it.
“I know most dogs are used in hunting, but they can also make for good pets. Several breeds are loyal and faithful. I think it would be nice if Penelope had a dog who helped watch over her.”
“You watch over her enough as it is, Aldridge,” Mama said. “Between you and her nursemaid, Penelope needs no one else.”
“Well, I think it a fine idea,” Con said. “Perhaps I, too, will get a dog when I have children. In ten or twenty years,” he added, and they all laughed merrily.
Tia and Lia wound up on the floor after tea, Penelope moving between their laps as they played with the little girl. Tia saw the wistful look in her sister’s eyes.
“You are going to be a wonderful mother,” she said. “And Rupert—who is mad for you—will be almost as doting a father as Julian.”
Lia kissed the top of Penelope’s head. “I truly look forward to motherhood.” She reached for Tia’s hand, squeezing her fingers.
“Oh, I am so incredibly happy, Tia. I never knew I could find such joy in every day. I want the same for you. The only part of living at Crestbrook which I do not enjoy is missing you. We simply must find you a husband who lives within five miles of us so that I can see you more often.”
“What if I come and visit you after the Season?” she suggested. “Once you return to Cumberland, I could accompany you. I could even stay until the birth of your child if you would like.”
Her twin frowned. “As lovely as that sounds, you will most likely be making plans for your wedding.”
Tia shook her head. “No, not me. I do not plan on wedding for at least a year or two.”
Lia studied her. “But what if you fall in love this Season?”
“I have no plans of doing so,” she said blithely. “I am going to go to balls and dance until dawn. Stroll the gardens at garden parties and inhale all the lovely blooms. Be clever and win at cards at routs. I am ready to enjoy life, Lia. Enjoy being free.”
Lia squeezed Tia’s fingers again. “I hope you have a wonderful time during the Season, but I would like you to be open to the idea of love. Who knows the kind of gentlemen you will meet? One might be in town, right now, thinking the very same things as you. Then he will see you across a ballroom and fall madly in love with you—and you with him.”
“I doubt it.”
Her sister shook her head. “You have no control over love, Tia. I know what I speak of. I fell in love with Rupert and was miserable because I did not think he loved me. I was worried about attending this Season because I did not think I could see him dancing with and courting other women.”
“You would have stayed home just to avoid him?” she asked, shocked.
“I cannot say for certain. Everything changed once Rupert showed up at our door and swept me off my feet. Love can be so very odd, Tia. And yet it is the most wonderful feeling in the world. My love for Rupert grows stronger each day.”
She raised their joined hands and kissed Lia’s. “That is because you found the love of your life. Every day will be better than the one before. Honestly, Lia, I simply want to enjoy this time in my life. If love comes, I will not ignore it. If it never does, I will accept that, too.”
“Rupert and I will help you find a husband,” Lia said fervently.
She chuckled. “The two of you have never even been to a Season. I think I would trust Val and Con helping me more than the two of you. At least they will be acquainted with many of the gentlemen present and help guide me toward more suitable ones.”
Lia brought Tia’s hand to her cheek. “I just want you to experience all the happiness I have found. It is hard not being with you every day, Tia.”
“We have this Season together,” she said, determination filling her.
“We will always have the Season. Ariadne is right. This time is about more than attending social events. It is for our growing families to come together and enjoy being with one another. Just think—this time next spring, you will be a mother, bringing your own babe to the Season. Lucy and Dru will come with their children. Verina will be making her come-out. We will be able to spend time with Ariadne. I have a feeling that the Season will become my favorite time of year.”
Penelope walked back to her parents, and Tia shared, “I made a friend today. At Madame Laurent’s.”
“That is wonderful. Tell me about her.”
“Her name is Lady Delilah Drake, but she prefers to be called Dilly.”
“Dilly. That is an unusual nickname.”
“Her mother insists that she introduce herself to others as Delilah. Her brother could not say her name when she was born, and he christened her Dilly. He is the only one who calls her that, but she asked if I would do so, as well.”
Tia recounted her conversation with Dilly, and Lia was surprised to hear how other young ladies had refused to be Dilly’s friend.
“I never realized how competitive the Season was,” Tia said. “Of course, Mama has already lectured me about how I should only consider the suit of gentlemen who are either a marquess or duke. She will press me in the next few months to find a husband.”
“Val will stand up to Mama,” Lia assured her. He will protect you from her wrath.”
“I hope so. When I do wed, I do not care what my husband’s rank might be.
I simply want someone I feel comfortable with.
Someone I can enjoy building a life with.
I want a man who will value me and yet allow me a bit of independence.
” She paused. “And he must be a family man. None of this straying from our marriage vows. I want my husband to be faithful to me and pay attention to our children.”
“It would help if he could also be friends with Rupert and the other men in our family,” Lia suggested.
Tia nodded. “I think that will be the barometer for me to measure a man’s worth. If Val and the others like him, then I will consider a future with him.”
Lia leaned over and hugged her. “I hope this Season will be everything you have dreamed of, Tia.”
“I hope so, too.”
She was eager for the Season to begin. She had her family to support her, and had made a new friend in Lady Dilly Drake. Tia believed the next few months would become the best of her life.