Lessons in Seduction (Greentree Sisters 1)

Vivianna had agreed, although Amy Greentree could see she was not happy. Amy knew that Vivianna could see very well how her being named as the heir to Mr. Fraser’s fortune, and now the truth about her birth, was making everything very difficult for the family. There was talk and gossip everywhere they went.

Several of Helen’s acquaintances had cut her in the street, and as for William…! Amy sighed. William, when he had finally come to call upon them, had been furious. She had not seen him so furious since Helen eloped with Tony. He had told Amy that she had no right to keep such news from him, and that if he had known he would have nipped it in the bud, although how he could have done so she did not know. “Bringing disrepute to our family,” he had blustered, his face puce, his pale blue eyes, so like Amy’s, bulging. “What would Thomas have said? It is not to be borne!”

“I am afraid it will have to be,” Amy had replied calmly, refusing to join her brother in hysteria, and wishing their elder sibling were here now. “Angus Fraser has stipulated that to be named as his heir Vivianna must proclaim herself his illegitimate daughter. Vivianna has decided that this is what she wants. And she means to use the money for her good works; the dear girl says that any amount of scandal and humiliation will be worth it in the end.”

Though privately Amy had wondered if Vivianna realized just how unpleasant matters might become for her.

“Good works!” William had shouted. “She wants to waste her money on those blasted orphans!”

That was probably the part that had upset her brother most of all, Amy thought now. That all that money was to be squandered on homeless children and the poor, instead of going to the further aggrandizement of the Tremaine family. But William was William, and in time he would come around.

It was Vivianna who concerned her right now.

The dear girl had recently had several offers of donations to charitable institutions returned, simply because of the scandal. It was very unfair, and Amy was still fuming over it. And now she had the task of facing Aphrodite, the courtesan, and making some sort of bridge between them.

“You are not as I imagined,” Aphrodite spoke at last. She was beautiful, in a ravaged sort of way, and Vivianna was right, she did resemble Francesca.

Amy gestured to a chair. “Please, be seated, Aphrodite. May I call you that?”

“Please do, Lady Greentree.”

“Then you must call me Amy.” She raised a curious eyebrow as she sat down opposite. “Why am I not as you imagined?”

“I thought you would be…I don’t know. You are so tranquil, so restful. I think your household must be very peaceful.”

“I am not like Vivianna, you mean?” she asked wryly. “My daughters are all very much their own persons, Aphrodite, and I love them for that. I have cared for them and loved them since the day I found them and I hope I can continue to do that.”

Aphrodite blinked. “Of course,” she said. “I would not want to take any of them from you. I know they will never be my daughters now. It is too late. If I may…if I can look upon them, as if from a distance, like a doting godmother…I think I will be happy with that.”

“You are very courageous,” Amy said gently.

Aphrodite shrugged as if she were indifferent. “They are happy, that is all that matters.”

Amy let it pass, although she knew Aphrodite could not be as unconcerned as she pretended. It was the other wo

man’s way of dealing with her pain.

“I wanted to see you alone to ask if you will tell me the story of their disappearance. Vivianna says there is some mystery…?”

Aphrodite gazed at her a moment, as if turning the matter over in her mind, and then shook her head. “No, I cannot. I am not being mysterious, Amy, it is just something I cannot speak of. Not yet. I have given Vivianna her father, although I do not think she is very happy with him,” she added with a grimace, “but as for the others, they must wait until they are older and I am certain it is safe. They were taken away once, I am sure you would not wish such a thing to happen again.”

Amy leaned forward. “I promise you,” she said, “I swear to you, if you tell me, it will go no further. And perhaps I can help.”

Aphrodite smiled coolly, suddenly aloof. “You are very kind. I thank you, but no. This is my problem, and I will solve it without involving you or the girls.”

Resigned, Amy said, “Very well. I have sent Marietta out, as you requested, but will I call for Vivianna now? She is probably working herself into a state waiting for my summons.”

The tension seemed to go from Aphrodite. “Yes, please. I fear Vivianna does not realize how cruel society can be,” she added when the bell had been rung. “I wish I could shelter her in some way, but I would probably just make it worse.”

“I think she does know.” Amy grimaced. “People have been perfectly horrid, and not just to her. At least the family is standing by her, apart from my brother William, but I had expected nothing else from him. He is a great stickler for the proprieties.”

Aphrodite smiled politely. “It will be an ordeal for Vivianna, but still she insists she does not mind.”

“She has never cared much for those rules society values. Vivianna is very much her own person.”

“Yes,” said Aphrodite, and the words went unspoken between them that mother and daughter were very much alike.

Chapter 19