Chapter Four #2
“Perhaps so. The invitation I saw was only addressed to me, after all.” I turned back around and caught Lady Vivian’s eye.
Her lips quirked into the tiniest of smiles.
Lady Georgina cleared her throat. “Yes, I’m afraid I wasn’t expecting you, Sophia. The only RSVP I had from House Vermillion was from Lady Alicia.”
Sophia clenched her jaw.
Barney the errand boy was getting a bonus later.
“She’s here now,” I said soothingly. “Is there no way we can squeeze her in at the table, Lady Georgina? Perhaps, if Lady Sasha doesn’t mind, we can both move up a bit so Sophia can fit on her other side.”
My placement of that was deliberate. We were sitting in order of our societal rank, and as House Vermillion was more powerful than House Ambrose, it was a major slight for me to have my sister sit after Lady Sasha.
Lady Sasha shook her head. “I don’t mind at all. Like you said, Lady Alicia, she’s come all the way here.”
“Very well. Higgins, would you fetch us another chair for Lady Sophia, please?” Lady Georgina asked, then turned to one of the maids who was waiting on us. “Beth, set another space.”
Lady Sasha and I scooted up while Sophia’s place was set, and she took her seat. I could practically feel the anger vibrating off her. I felt sorry for Lady Sasha and Lady Elisa who had to sit next to her while she was in such a state.
I knew just how venomous her anger could be. No doubt she would stew in it through the entire tea party and let it out on me later.
Or attempt to, rather.
The soul who occupied this body before me may have taken her shit, but I wasn’t about to.
I’d dealt with far bigger fish than her in my previous life.
“As I was telling the ladies just before you arrived, Lady Sophia, this tea is a special blend made with a rose that only grows in the Stein Mountains,” Lady Georgina said. “I do hope it’s to your taste.” She smiled at her, but there was a tightness to it.
Hee hee hee.
She was irritated by the uninvited guest and would likely never invite her to a gathering after this. Neither would anyone else here.
Score one for Allie!
“Thank you,” Sophia said sweetly. “I’m so sorry for the inconvenience. I did send an RSVP in place of my sister, so I’m not sure why it didn’t make it here.”
“Things do get lost in the mail, although I’m not sure why you’d send one in Lady Alicia’s place when it’s quite clear she’s capable of attending,” Lady Blair said, sipping her tea. “This tea is lovely, Lady Georgina. Do you know if it’s available for purchase anywhere?”
“I’ll have to ask my father to find out and let you know.
” Lady Georgina’s bright smile was back, and I wasn’t sure if it was because of the compliment on the tea or the subtle dig at Sophia.
“Oh, Lady Sasha, is it true that your father was approached by Count Rothman regarding a marriage to Lord Gerald?”
Lady Sasha nodded gracefully. “Fortunately, Father is discussing each offer with me before he responds, and I requested that he reject the proposal.”
“Indeed, that’s a good choice,” Lady Vivian replied. “Lord Gerald is quite the rake. He was recently at the Magic Tower flirting with one of my colleagues. Miss Polly sent him away with a suspicious unidentified rash on his person when he wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
I fought back a smile.
Miss Polly, whoever she was, sounded like a hoot.
“Speaking of the Tower,” Lady Blair said with a sly smile. “Have you and Lord Ivan set a date yet?”
A shy look crossed Lady Vivian’s face, and her cheeks darkened ever so slightly. “The wedding will be this autumn.”
Lady Georgina sighed. “How lucky you are to marry someone you love.”
“I think it’s more that I’m lucky to have fallen for a man my family deems suitable,” Lady Vivian replied. “Oh, Lady Elisa, are you familiar with the Magic Tower?”
She shook her head. “I’m afraid not. I’m still familiarising myself with the capital.”
“Lord Ivan, my fiancé, is to be the next leader of the Tower,” she explained. “So, my father has allowed us to marry despite the difference in the social status of our families.”
Right.
Lord Ivan was the second son of a Viscount and not someone Duke Trelawney would have ordinarily allowed to marry his eldest daughter, but he had an outstanding aptitude for magic that put him on par with the duke himself and thus, the young lord had won him over.
Besides, being the head of the Magic Tower was not an easy thing. He’d likely be granted a higher title after taking over anyway as nobody lower than a marquess had ever held the position.
Wow. I was beginning to impress myself with how much I knew about a world I’d been a part of for all of five minutes.
“That’s wonderful for you, Lady Vivian,” Lady Elisa said with a genuine smile. “My uncle has broached the topic of marriage, but he said he’d like me to debut and spend some time in society first.”
“Very wise,” Lady Sasha said. “Although it’s true that we as noble daughters are largely used for political or commercial gain, sometimes we can be lucky with who we fall in love with, just like Lady Vivian.
Aside from the genuine love they share, her marriage will strengthen ties between her family and the Tower and provide more powerful descendants in her familial line.
If I’m correct, Lady Elisa, I believe Count and Countess Sayle were a love match, were they not? ”
“They were,” Lady Elisa confirmed. “I remember hearing the story when I was younger. They met at the ball the Imperial Family holds during the capital’s harvest festival, which was my aunt’s debut, and fell in love at first sight.
They courted for two years before her father assented to the marriage. ”
“How romantic.” Lady Georgina clasped her hands together and turned to me, eyes sparkling. “What about you, Lady Alicia? Has Marquess Vermillion opened any discussions yet?”
“Not yet,” I replied contritely. “I’m sure you’re aware that I recently had an accident at home, and I’m still recovering. This is actually my first outing since I woke up.”
“Yes, you fell down the stairs, didn’t you?” Lady Blair asked, cocking her head. “I remember my brother hearing about it from Lord Vincent when he came to spar. You were unconscious for quite a while.”
“Two weeks,” Sophia said, jutting into the conversation. She pressed her hand to her chest and looked down. “We were all terribly worried she wouldn’t wake up.”
More like she was terribly worried that I would wake up.
I glared at her before quickly catching myself.
Not quickly enough.
Lady Vivian caught my eye, and another one of those tiny smiles appeared on her face. “Yes, I’m sure you were,” she said slowly. “Lady Alicia, forgive me for asking, but how does one manage to fall down the stairs?”
“I’m told I tripped on the hem of my dress.” I kept my voice light and airy. “However, I don’t really remember it at all. The physician said it’s a form of amnesia—my brain has blocked out the event as it was so traumatic for me.”
“Goodness.” Lady Georgina’s eyes shone with pity as she looked at me. “I almost feel bad for inviting you today, but I’m honoured you chose my tea party as your first event.”
“No, thank you,” I said, touching my hand to hers on the table. “I’ve heard rumours of your gorgeous greenhouse, so I might have dragged myself here in my nightwear if it was the only way to see it.”
“Well, then I shall be sure to invite you back when it’s warmer and more flowers are blooming, so no need to rush over in your nightwear.”
Everyone except Sophia laughed, and the conversation quickly turned to the upcoming ball. Before I knew it, the tea party was over, and we were all being guided out of the greenhouse while saying our respective goodbyes.
“I’m sorry to say I can’t accompany you home, Sophia,” I said, flicking my hair over my shoulder. “I’m heading into town to collect my dress for the ball.”
She forced a smile. “Not to worry, dear sister.”
“Oh, what a coincidence,” Lady Vivian said, looping her arm through mine. “I, too, am heading to the boutique district to collect my cousin’s dress. It’s her debut, you see, and she’s staying with us for a few weeks. Would you mind if I joined you in your carriage, Lady Alicia?”
Sophia’s jaw ticked.
“Of course not, Lady Vivian. I do have somewhere to visit after, though.”
“Not to worry, our maids can follow behind in my carriage.” She grinned, and her deep blue eyes twinkled. “What fun.”