Lady Daphne recovered from watching this scene, opened her mouth to say something, closed it, and finally settled on uttering, her hand to her chest, “Well, indeed, as my brother says, no one shall take you anywhere, except to London for your season, and you shall like that very much, my dear, I do promise you.”
“You are most kind, Lady Daphne,” Felicia conceded as she sobered up and got control of her nerves. “However, I want nothing more than to return to Easton and go on as I have been doing. I managed quite well, and in no time at all, will … as it were, come into my own.” She pulled at her fingers fretfully. “I won’t know anyone in London … and I don’t want to go to balls … I want to stay at Easton
… near Scott and my friends and the life I love—”
“Stop!” the duke demanded and eyed her. “Where is my spitfire? Where is my indomitable girl, ready to take on the world?”
Under his gaze she bucked up. “Yes, but there is a difference between wanting and having to, isn’t there?”
“You won’t regret this, I promise you, madcap,” he returned softly.
Lady Daphne stared as she watched their exchange, and suddenly she made up her mind. She had intended to stay well out of this and hand off the chit to a cousin to bring out. All at once, she rather thought bringing out this … what did her brother call her, ah, yes, ‘his spitfire’, how very interesting … would be just the thing.
“Felicia, you know, I have quite made up my mind that what I need is to have you with me for the season. I would like nothing better than to have a friend to go about London with … and then to present to the haute ton. Why, it would quite secure me a place as a London hostess. Would you not help me in this?”
Felicia eyed her. Was she just being kind, or did she really want to take her under her wing and launch her season? “Secure you? I am not a fool. You are just being kind.”
“Madcap,” Becky objected. “Say thank you to her ladyship.”
Felicia bit her lip. “Indeed, I do thank you.”
“Does that mean you will allow me this pleasure?” Lady Daphne turned and allowed Rebecca to enjoy a grateful glance, “And of course, my dear, I would hope your family will allow you to join Felicia and visit with us for a time at Waverly Place. My Freddy … will find it quite entertaining to have us all fritting about in his well-ordered life. He wrote me just the other day that he is heartily bored and if I don’t return home at once, he means to come and fetch me, so I am certain he will find this very entertaining.” Lady Daphne smiled over this.
“Can Scott visit as well?” Felicia asked, suddenly warming to all of this.
“Indeed,” Lady Daphne agreed at once.
“I shall, Flip. Won’t be able to keep me away. I will set up a bachelor residence nearby … and escort you and Becky about,” Scott offered gleefully. “This will be a lark, see if it won’t.”
“Well then, yes, Lady Daphne, I think your invitation is most gracious, and I do heartily hope to do you proud. I know I have been a hoyden of a girl, but I shan’t give you cause to regret giving me a season. In fact, I am most flattered that you want me,” Felicia said.
Daffy was a warm soul and immediately took Felicia into her embrace. “Want you? Of course I want you.”
The duke looked at his sister, and a small smile curved his lips. “Ah then, as usual, Daffy, you have sewn up the matter right and tight.”
“Have I?” she said on a low note. “I rather think our Felicia has done that. But we shall see.”
Felicia suddenly wanted to cry. She knew that Lady Daphne was of course doing this for her brother, but at the same time she was very aware of the woman’s kindness and immediately took to her.
On the other hand, she was aching inside because it occurred to her that the duke wanted her to have a season. What did that mean? It meant that he wanted to present her to the world and marry her off. In turn that meant he did not want her for himself. He was willing to see her married off to someone else. Oh, he might have a fondness for her. He might even still lust after her, considering their night together, but he was able to forget that, wasn’t he? Men could forget such things. She had often heard Scott say something like that regarding men and women.
Suddenly, she couldn’t breathe. She had to get out of Scott’s room. She excused herself and started out.
The duke called, “Felicia …?”
She did not look back but hurried off toward her own room. Once again, his sister was astounded as he stomped after her.
In the hall just at her bedroom door, he caught up with her and took her hand to pull her towards him. “Felicia … I don’t know what you are thinking, but I know some awful thought popped into your head. You are my own little zany, and I am beginning to know you very well.”
“Are you?” She nearly choked on the words. “You are my guardian. I am your ward. What happened between us must be forgotten. You and your sister are about to present me to your world and sell me off to the pinkest of the ton, no doubt. That, Your Grace, is that.”
So saying, she entered her room and closed the door.
~ Twenty-One ~
FELICIA SAT CURLED up on the very luxurious yellow damask sofa in the morning room of Waverly House. Her rich black hair had been trimmed and styled in a profusion of curls, which Lady Daphne had told her was the very latest in fashion.
She had spread her A-line morning gown of amber velvet around herself, and the duke’s sister had said only a moment ago that she was about to collect a profusion of hearts.