The Marquess Method by Kathleen Ayers

8

Theo pushed her spectacles further up her nose and stared at her younger sister from across the breakfast table. It had been two days since the Ruination of Theodosia Barrington. The first night, after swallowing the glass of scotch, Theo had fallen on her bed, screaming and weeping into the pillows until she’d finally worn herself out.

Betts, her maid, had taken one look at her and quietly shut the door.

Last night, she’d merely tossed and turned. What little sleep she’d gained had been interrupted by dreams in which Haven walked into Blythe’s party and showed her miniature to the assembled guests.

Everyone laughed, especially Miss Emerson and Lady Blythe.

The lack of sleep had made Theo irritable. Phaedra staring at her from across the table this morning as if Theo had grown a second head only worsened her mood. Placing her fork down, she regarded her sister. “Is there something you wish to say, Phaedra?”

Her brother had already met with Haven. Solicitors had appeared. Contracts had been signed. The brief, private ceremony binding her to Haven would take place in a few weeks, after which they would immediately leave for his country estate. There were some vague suggestions about garnering support from Cousin Winnie and Lady Molsin before the wedding, but Theo had no idea what that entailed.

She was too upset about being banished from London. With Haven.

“No. I was only considering something.” Phaedra pushed her thick braid of red-gold hair, the same shade as their mother’s, over her shoulder. “You don’t look ruined.” She inspected Theo carefully. “I thought possibly you’d seem different. You know. Spoiled or something.”

“Spoiled?”

“Like pudding that’s gone bad. Or an apple with a worm at its center.” Phaedra’s nose wrinkled. “Or fish too long in the sun.”

“I see.”

Phaedra liked to provoke. Taunt. See how far she could push you. One day, possibly today, the trait would get her into trouble.

Theo glanced at Olivia who sat directly across the table.

Olivia pretended complete interest in her tea, drizzling a long strand of honey into the steaming depths. “I’m not part of this,” she said without looking up. “Only having my tea.”

“Has it driven you mad?” Phaedra blasted Theo with wide-eyed innocence. “The ruination, I mean.”

Her sister was rarely innocent. Of anything. “Why on earth would the circumstances have driven me mad?”

“I don’t know. You’re an artist. Artists are given to fragile constitutions. Prone to insanity and fits.”

“I’m not on the edge of lunacy, Phaedra. Not even a bit addled. Nor is my constitution the least fragile. How did you find out about my situation to begin with?”

“You mean your,” Phaedra leaned across the table, “despoilment?”

“Were you listening at the door?” Theo couldn’t imagine Mama or Tony had come right out and announced it over dinner last night. Though Theo couldn’t be sure because she had taken a tray in her room.

“I overheard, quite by accident, Tony speaking to Mama and Maggie. And Freddie. Though I don’t suppose he understands, so you don’t have to worry about him gossiping. All he did was drool.”

“I expect my nephew will have an opinion once he’s older.” He probably would, since Theo would likely still be living with her brother. She had no intention of residing indefinitely with Haven. If she had to go to his estate for appearance’s sake, so be it. Then she was coming right back to London. Because she and Haven didn’t suit. Would never suit.

“I’m a bit confused because I thought you liked Blythe.” Phaedra blinked.

Theo’s jaw hardened. Phaedra was also rarely confused.

“You went to all that trouble to tangle yourself up in his kite string, dragging me along to the park with Olivia. And,” she drew out the syllables,“you forced Romy to go to that stupid house party. Then you have an assignation with Haven.” She lifted her hands with a roll of her shoulders. “It doesn’t make sense.”

Oh, good grief.“I happened upon Haven in Blythe’s study. I tripped. Haven caught me.” Theo repeated the story Haven had concocted. It was as good as any, though nearly everyone, including her family, assumed Theo had been lying in wait for Blythe when Haven came upon her. There was simply no other explanation she could give. “Lady Blythe misunderstood the situation and screamed—”

“Was it that horrible? The sight of your ruination?”

Theo took a deep breath. She couldn’t very well toss her cup of tea on her sister though she longed to. “No. Lady Blythe made much more of it than necessary. Much like you, she’s given to dramatics.”

Phaedra bit into her toast, crunching loudly.

“And you only found the house party stupid because you didn’t get to attend,” Theo added.

“Possibly. Romy didn’t want to go at all. I remember quite clearly.”

“Whether she wanted to attend or not is irrelevant. The result of the house party for Romy was marrying a duke.”

“Yes, but the duke is Granby,” Phaedra said. “The Frost Giant.”

“I happen to like him.” Olivia delicately nibbled at her own toast.

Olivia did everything in a ladylike, refined way. Floating about the house with her dark solemn eyes. Perfect curtseys. Hair never out of place. Just now, Theo found all of it annoying. “You would, Olivia. Your last conversation with him was about worms. And as for calling him the Frost Giant—”

“It’s far nicer than the words Tony uses to describe him,” Phaedra said, interrupting. “And I’m tired of Mama’s Greeks. I’ve branched out to Norse mythology. Much more bloodthirsty. There’s an entire race of giants who live in the north. I feel certain Granby is one. He’s the look of,” she lowered her voice, “a savage.” She shivered. “I find him quite terrifying.”

Phaedra wasn’t afraid of anything, which in turn made the entire family fear for her. Theo’s improper miniature would be nothing compared to what she was certain Phaedra would do someday. There was a reason Tony affectionately called her demon.

“I think it more possible Granby is terrified of you,” Theo told her. “As we all are.”

Olivia giggled, giving an incredibly ladylike snort into her tea.

Theo felt beginnings of a headache stir, her temples throbbing as much from this discussion as her impending doom. She had considered fleeing London. Running away to America. Or France. But in all scenarios, Theo risked hurting her mother, something she simply couldn’t do. Nor did she want to resign herself to an estrangement from her family with a tattered reputation, leaving her no place in the world. Theo didn’t want the likes of Lady Blythe and her daughters crossing the street to avoid coming in contact with her, as if she were a piece of refuse.

She must make the best of the situation as her mother had advised her.

“I quite like Haven. He’s interesting. I liken him to Theseus.” Phaedra paused. “The cat, not the Greek warrior,” she clarified. “As I mentioned, I’m giving up on the Greeks. Possibly I’ll even rename Theseus. I haven’t decided.”

“Haven reminds you of our cat at Cherry Hill? The one with half his ear missing, fur which is always full of mud, who keeps leaving Mama dead birds and such?” Actually, Theo could see the resemblance. Haven had the look of a feral cat lingering about, waiting for an opportunity to steal a bit of meat.

“They both have green eyes. Surely you’ve noticed.”

Theo hadn’t really made the connection. “I don’t spend time gazing into the eyes of our cat, or Haven’s, for that matter.”

“I’m sure Theseus would wield a sword, much like Haven, if he could. He’s quite brave. Loves a good fight. You see? They have much in common.”

“I think you have given Haven attributes he may not actually have.”

“You must like Haven a little to have been compromised by him. It’s all right to admit it.”

Theo looked up at her sister. “Wait, how in the world would you know if Haven wielded a sword or not?”

“He told me so when he called upon us. When Granby disappeared from town for a while. Don’t you remember? Romy was secretly missing her Frost Giant, and Haven kept popping up to take her to the park.”

Her mother had reminded her of Haven’s visits only the other night. Since Mama had conversed with him, Theo supposed it wasn’t a stretch to find out he’d also had discussions with Phaedra on weaponry.

“I’ve never seen anyone eat so many scones at one sitting,” Phaedra continued. “Piles of them. And he ate all the sandwiches even though he claimed not to care for cucumber. Romy had to send Pith for another tray. You’ll have to keep him from getting stout, Theo. At any rate, that is when we talked of swords.” She waved about with her hand as if wielding one. “I may take up fencing.”

“Perhaps you’ll prove more adept at swords than the violin,” Olivia said, still nibbling at her toast.

One had to be careful of Olivia. Theo had always admired her ability to strike when one least expected the attack.

Phaedra gave Olivia a hard look. “Not everyone takes to music as well as you do, Olivia. Mama says I deserve applause for at least trying.” She frowned. “Perhaps swords will prove to be my passion.”

“Perhaps,” Olivia murmured dubiously. “Fencing is bound to bring you many admirers. The drawing room will overflow.”

“Regardless,” Phaedra continued while simultaneously flicking a bit of egg toward Olivia, “Haven always asked after you, Theo.”

“How kind of him to inquire after my health.” It surprised her that Haven had asked after her, but possibly he was only being polite. Still, a bit of warmth settled in her chest at the words, refusing to be dislodged.

Olivia discreetly threw a tiny bit of honey-covered crust back at Phaedra. It landed just above Phaedra’s ear, sticking firmly to her hair.

“He always wanted to know,” Phaedra informed her, a bit gleefully, “if you were stumbling about blindly in the garden. He expressed his worry that you’d trip and fall out a window. Asked if the servants guided you about. Because, you know, he wasn’t certain you were wearing your spectacles.”

She should have known Haven’s concern had only been an opportunity to find new ways to mock her eyesight. The warmth faded abruptly.

“Yes, but I’m wearing them now.” Theo pushed the hated spectacles further up her nose. Phaedra was unlikely to notice the bit of toast stuck to her until much later. Served her right.

Theo shared a conspiratorial smile with Olivia. “Olivia, would you be a dear and pass the honey?”