Tory whispered, “Why not give the man your redingote?”
“Because I’m only wearing my nightgown underneath.” When Tory blinked, Giselle added, “It is a long story. I shall tell you all about it later.”
For now, there was much to be done. While the boys and her mother joined their guests in the drawing room, Giselle flitted about giving orders to the servants to bring refreshments and prepare rooms for a couple and a single lady. To her astonishment, they obeyed her.
And the whole time she was making arrangements, Zack’s words kept running through her head:I wantyouto be my mother.She began thinking about that, wondering about possibilities. Iftheycouldmanage it, could Heath claim Zack and somehow lessen the scandal?
Much later, Chloe and Tory snagged her and insisted that she put on “proper clothes,” then followed her to her bedchamber, so they could find out about Heath while she did so.
“What is going on?” Tory asked as soon as the door closed behind them. “I knew you two were friendly, but I never imagined …”
Giselle glanced at Chloe. “You do not mind that Lord Heathbrook and I are engaged, do you?”
Chloe blinked. “Why would I mind?”
“The two of you have always seemed … comfortable together, you must admit,” Giselle said, going behind the screen to remove her nightgown and put on her chemise.
“If by ‘comfortable together,’ you mean we love to exchange witticisms and complaints about the food, drink, dances, company, etc., at any social event, then yes, we are comfortable together.”
Giselle came out from behind the screen with her corset loosely fitted around her waist and turned her back to Tory, who began to lace her up. Giselle stared at Chloe. “You also flirt quite a bit with each other.”
Her friend burst into laughter. “I don’t know about Lord Heathbrook, but I flirt with everyone, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
“She really does,” Tory said behind her. “Except for Scovell.Himshe avoids.”
Chloe sniffed. “I do not avoid Captain Scovell. I ignore him.”
“He certainly doesn’t ignore you,” Giselle said.
“No. He looks down on me.” Before Giselle could protest Chloe’s nonsense, Chloe added, “And as for Lord Heathbrook, surely you know that I mean nothing by my flirting with him. Half of the time we are around each other, Lord Heathbrook spends trying to pick out suitors for me. He, of all people, knows I have no interest in him, and he certainly has none in me.”
Giselle felt the tightness around her heart slacken. “That is what he claimed, but I was not sure whether to believe him.”
“Why not?” Tory asked, her expression suddenly quite serious.
“Because he … that is …” She sighed. “You know he likes toflirt with ladies. You should have seen the line of his former paramours Yates’s lawyer paraded through the court to demonstrate that he is a … a rakehell undeserving to have custody of his brothers.”
“You went to court withLord Heathbrook?” Chloe exclaimed, and threw herself down on the bed. “Tell useverything.”
Sacrebleu, Giselle had already said too much. “Obviously, he won custody despite all of his cousin’s machinations. So, there is nothing more to tell.”
“Liar,” Chloe said.
“Don’t be mean,” Tory said to her sister-in-law before turning to regard Giselle quite seriously. “Are you in love with him?”
“Yes,” Giselle said.
“Is he in love with you?” Chloe asked. When she hesitated to answer, not really knowing what to say, Chloe leapt up from the bed. “Lord Heathbrook can be such an idiot sometimes.”
Giselle found a gown in her closet and slipped it on. “Do not call my fiancé an idiot.”
Tory came over to fasten her up.
“Fine,” Chloe said. “How about ‘oblivious,’ ‘blind’, ‘foolish’ …? Feel free to add your own when you’re ready, Giselle.”
“He is cautious,” Giselle said. “But do not worry. I have already told him if he cannot love me, I cannot marry him.” She sighed. “But Iwantto marry him. I’ve loved him for years.”
Her half sister murmured, “Really? Years?”