Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“Ah, of course, my lady.” A ghost of a smile flickered across her lips, but it wasn’t cold—just apprehensive. “I will be nearby if you need anything.”
I nodded and sat down at my desk, pulling out my stationery to reply to all the invitations. I intended to reply positively to Lady Georgina and Marchioness Isabelle Velian but send polite rejections to everyone else. I would express my thanks for the invitation and my sorrow that I couldn’t attend, explaining that I was on a light social schedule due to my recovery from my accident.
I also planned to add that I hoped they would look after my sister Sophia as she’d mentioned attending.
Hee hee hee.
If she was invited herself, there would be no issues. However, I already knew how gossipy this society was from both the book and this body’s memories, so if Sophia hadn’t been invited, the ladies would be sure to mention it to me.
I couldn’t begin to imagine how long she’d been taking my place at these events, but it wasn’t going to last much longer.
Writing my responses took me much longer than I’d anticipated, and Bella arrived back just as I was wrapping up my final rejection.
“Well? How did it go?” I asked.
“I’m sorry, my lady. I spoke to Mister Jinx, and he said their master is too busy to meet with you.”
I pursed my lips. “Don’t worry, Bella. I expected as much.” I slipped the letter inside the envelope, sealed it with the wax seal of the Vermillion family, and signed my name on the back. “I have some letters to be delivered, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course, my lady.” Her eyes bugged when she saw the stack. “Goodness. How many are you sending?”
I quickly explained the situation. “So, could you make sure these are delivered as soon as possible?”
She nodded. “I will give them to Barney. He’ll make sure they get there with no problems.”
“Perfect, thank you so much. Can you ask if there were any replies from Sophia? If so, Barney would do well to make sure those ones get lost in transit, if you get my meaning.”
Bella’s eyes twinkled. She hated my sister as much as I did.
I stood up and stretched my arms out in front of me, linking my fingers. “Ah, that’s better. Also, Lady Georgina Alansia’s tea party is in three days, so please prepare me an appropriate outfit for a greenhouse event. Once we’re done there, we’ll go into town to purchase a dress for the spring ball and pay another visit to the guild.”
“Another visit, my lady?”
“Yes. I happen to have some information on Jinx’s master that will get me what I want.” I smiled, tilting my head to the side. “Oh, and do make sure that Harry is available for us on Thursday.”
“What carriage will you be taking, my lady? You can’t take the one I did today to go to the Alansia manor, but you can’t take the main carriages into that side of town.”
I tapped my finger on the side of my nose. “Don’t worry. I have a plan for that.”
***
“Good morning, Lady Alicia. It’s nice to see you out of your quarters. Are you feeling much better?”
I smiled at the older man who’d been the Vermillion family butler since before I was born. “Good morning, Caldwell. I am, thank you for asking. How are you?”
“All the better for seeing you, my lady.” He bowed. “Is there anything I can help with?”
“Yes, I was looking for Father. Is he here?”
“He’s in his office. Would you like me to escort you there?”
“If you don’t mind.”
“Please, follow me.” He handed the box in his hand off to one of the maids. “Take this to the Head Maid.”
I hadn’t seen my father since the day I’d woken up when he’d come in to speak with the doctor, so I wasn’t looking forward to this visit. However, I had little choice. I was leaving the house tomorrow for Lady Georgina’s tea party, and it would be rude of me not to inform him of my plans.
I knew it was safe to do so.
The memories left behind in this body told me that he rarely, if ever, spoke of me with my stepmother. I was little more than a ghost in this house unless my stepmother or siblings needed someone to be cruel to on that given day.
I’d avoided that so far, but there was no doubt the abuse would commence. Especially after the tea party tomorrow when I would be embarrassing Sophia in public.
Caldwell knocked on the door. “My lord, Lady Alicia would like to see you.”
“Bring her in.”
Caldwell pushed open the large door and held it for me with a bow. “I’ll bring some tea.”
“Thank you, Caldwell,” Father said without looking up from the paperwork in front of him. “Take a seat, Alicia. I won’t be long.”