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Victoria stared at her cousin “When do I ever embarrass you?”
“Every time you step out of the house I have no idea why you couldn’t just be left behind at Rippingale, as usual”
“If I marry, I’ll be out of your life permanently”
“It’s not worth the expense Or my time”
Victoria nearly deflated at that It was one thing to know a truth It was another to hear it given life Many times over Her father, God rest his soul, had not been a perfect parent, but he had loved her fiercely and vocally She tried to keep his voice—and his love—alive in her head and her heart He had always valued her as a person and she had decided, after his death, that she would be his legacy No nity, for her right to speak up, for her right to be seen
Louisa’s lips widened in a sugary, false s money on a Season for you is ridiculous You’re unlikely to attract anyone’s attention Plain of face, short as a child, dressed as if you are one pretending to be an adult Enjoy this rout as it may be your last, if I have my druthers”
Louisa’s se Victoria closed
her eyes It was all well and good to insist upon her worth, but it didn’t do ood when Louisa turned a deaf ear She prayed forto marry her
The coach open and a foote without a look back Victoria followed gingerly,her respectable Once inside the house—a baron’s if she recalled—theyline without incident At the entry to the drawing roo her back
“Yes, dear cousin?” Victoria asked, trying to keep up pretenses
“Remember your place Do not reflect badly on me”
If that were truly her cousin’s concern, she wouldn’t allow Victoria to be dressed as she was Victoria turned away, effectively releasing Louisa’s hold, and ventured into crowd
This wasn’t a ball, only a crushing rout and Victoria needed to find a target and put her best foot forward At just a couple of inches over five feet, there was no point in trying to survey the rooency, she moved sedately due to the precarious state of her bodice and the long heohich threatened to trip her up at any moment It took her ten precious entleman known to her