Say Yes to the Duke by Kieran Kramer Page B

round to the window.
    It was one of the sisters. Lady Opal, she was sure. She had the softer voice of the
     two.
    There was a further swish of skirts.
    “You’re so absent-minded,” said Lady Rose. “There they are. On the table.”
    “Oh.” More rustling. “They’re not even smudged.”
    Spectacles, probably. Janice should really let the two women know she was there. But
     she’d been so cozy. They’d leave any second and she could grab another minute’s wicked
     daydreaming about Mr. Callahan and that kiss this afternoon before she had to head
     downstairs. She didn’t look forward to trying to be charming during dinner, after
     which she’d be required to sing and play the pianoforte, something she dreaded.
    “After tonight, we’ll know if she’s after him,” said Lady Rose.
    Janice’s heart lurched. She had the sickening feeling that she was the subject of
     their tête-à-tête.
    “I wonder what she’ll wear to dinner,” said Lady Opal.
    “It was too difficult to tell her intentions today at tea,” Lady Rose answered her.
     “Perhaps she really is here to see the dowager.”
    Heavens. They were speaking about her!
    “It’s just so hard to believe.” Lady Opal’s tone had an edge of scorn to it. “You
     know her parents must have sent her here to capture the duke’s interest.”
    Janice squeezed her eyes shut. They had—they had sent her here for that very reason!
    “I’ve heard she can’t hold a candle to her older sister,” said Lady Rose.
    “Then her older sister must be extraordinarily beautiful,” said Lady Opal, “because
     Lady Janice is quite pretty.”
    Janice supposed she should be complimented. But instead she felt a bit seasick listening
     to them speak about her with no feeling.
    Please leave, she willed them silently.
    “What are we going to do if he makes us go?” asked Lady Rose.
    Janice heard a sigh.
    “We’ll try Scotland,” said Lady Opal. “There are plenty of lairds seeking feminine
     company.”
    A frisson of shock went through Janice, and she opened her eyes again. What exactly
     did Lady Opal mean by that? Her statement could be taken any number of ways.
    “In this weather?” Lady Rose sounded entirely bleak. “Surely we won’t have to worry
     about traveling for a while.”
    “I hope not.”
    There was a heavy silence.
    “No pitying ourselves,” said Lady Opal. “For one shining Season, we had our chance.
     Now we make do.”
    “If only you’d said yes to Lord Archibald—,” began Lady Rose.
    “If only you’d encouraged Sir Kevin instead of Lord Boxwood. He was never going to be interested.
     I told you so.” Lady Opal sounded bitter.
    “Oh, do be quiet,” whispered Lady Rose.
    “Lady Janice will never be like us,” said Lady Opal. “She has a family to take her
     in.”
    “That’s its own sort of misery,” said Lady Rose, “traveling from relation to relation.
     And you’re wrong—she is quite like us. I see it in her face.”
    “What do you mean?” asked Lady Opal.
    “She has the air of someone who’s afraid to chase her own happiness.”
    Janice’s middle clenched.
    “Like us,” said Lady Rose. “Why did we never think we were good enough to be happy?”
    “I don’t know,” replied her sister. “Perhaps because our parents didn’t like us terribly
     much.”
    Lady Rose sighed. “She doesn’t have that excuse. They’re supposedly a very loving
     family.”
    “But she may have another excuse equally as good,” said Lady Opal.
    Shame made Janice’s cheeks hot. She didn’t have any defense at all.
    “Well, whatever her reasons, she’s too timid to chase a duke,” Lady Rose said. “And
     come to think of it, surely her parents must know that. Perhaps they really did send
     her here to see the dowager. Get her out of the way, so to speak. She’s had every
     opportunity to make a good match. No doubt they’re ashamed she hasn’t.”
    A stab of horror went through Janice. Could Mama and Daddy be ashamed of