Twenty-Nine

I ’m deliriously happy for you, Phoebe, but if you even think of putting me in a lavender bridesmaid’s dress, I’ll scream.”

“Freddie!” Mother admonished.

“Only because it makes me look like the undead,” she added.

Phoebe’s grip on Will’s arm subtly tightened. They had only just told them the news and the wedding talk was already starting.

Her parents had arrived a day earlier than originally expected to prepare for their guests. When Phoebe had slunk back to the house at daybreak after her reunion with Will, she had been greeted by Alex, who broke the news of their parents’ impending arrival along with her own decision to return to London on the early train, using the vague excuse of a business development .

Phoebe guessed it had more to do with a desire to avoid the Ericsons, but before she could ask, Alex congratulated her on her engagement.

How did you know?

Alex raised an eyebrow. Well, you came in with a ridiculous grin on your face. And I assume you weren’t gone all this time playing checkers.

Phoebe’s answering blush had confirmed it.

“You will wear whatever color your sister decides and look happy about it,” Mother pronounced.

“Even orange?”

“Honestly, Freddie,” she scoffed. “Of course she wouldn’t choose orange . Why would you even suggest that?” Then she turned to Phoebe. “You won’t, will you, darling?”

“No orange. Or lavender. I actually haven’t thought about it yet.”

“Good,” she said, visibly relieved and continued to debate the merits of different dress colors with Freddie.

Phoebe exchanged a glance with Will, one she hoped communicated her desire to abscond to Scotland immediately rather than endure months of wedding planning.

He gave her a fond smile in return and patted her hand. “They’re just excited,” he murmured by her ear.

“Or still in shock,” she replied.

Phoebe’s father hadn’t managed to wipe the surprised look from his face since they announced their engagement. It was becoming rather irritating.

“Well, this is a very unexpected development,” he said for the third time in ten minutes.

“But a welcome one,” her mother added with a warm smile.

“Most definitely,” he said with a vigorous nod before turning thoughtful. “But to be honest, I’d have thought Freddie the most likely to marry a duke.”

Freddie let out a loud snort. “As far as I am aware, the only other duke currently without a duchess is Dartmoor, and he must be close to sixty.”

“And still swarmed by fillies eager for the title,” their father added. “Besides, you’ve Hank Junior now.”

Freddie didn’t reply but her eyes noticeably dimmed.

“Have you settled on a wedding date?” her mother said, deftly changing the subject.

“We haven’t decided yet. I suggested we elope,” Phoebe began, pointedly ignoring the choking sound her father made, “but Will talked me out of it.”

“I want to give Phoebe some time to adjust to her new role,” he explained. “And I want the whole of London society to see her become my wife.”

“Good,” her father said with a decided nod. “As it should be.” He then raised a bushy eyebrow at Phoebe, who couldn’t hide her surprise at this reaction.

“What about just before Christmas?” her mother suggested. “Oh, wouldn’t that be lovely. Think of the greenery!” She then launched into various details to consider, all of which Phoebe would leave up to her. This continued for several long minutes until her father leaned over to Will.

“I’d like a word with your betrothed in private,” he murmured.

“Of course,” Will said with a bow.

Phoebe gave him a confused shrug as she followed her father into his study.

“You’re angry Will didn’t come to you first,” she said as soon as he shut the door.

“Why must you always assume the worst of me?”

Phoebe’s mouth fell open. “I don’t!”

“You do,” he insisted. Then he shook his head. “Your mother was absolutely right. As usual.”

“What does that mean?” Phoebe asked hotly.

Her father let out a sigh and gestured to a chair before his desk. “Sit down, my dear.”

Phoebe hesitated for a moment before obeying.

Her father took his place behind his desk and clasped his hands. “Did you know I worked for my father’s biggest competitor before I went to work for him?” She shook her head, dumbfounded by this revelation. Her father put nearly all of himself into Atkinson Enterprises, often at his family’s expense. “I needed to prove something to myself,” he explained. “Or maybe to us both.”

Phoebe’s mouth curved to one side. “Did Grandfather see it that way?”

He had been a stoic, intimidating man who rarely smiled, except for Freddie. She could get a smile out of anyone.

Her father let out a sharp laugh. “No. He was not pleased, to put it mildly. But I was very young and very stubborn. I got to see what it was like not to be the boss’s son and how another firm ran things. Both invaluable experiences that I brought back to the business when I was ready, which he allowed without question. Because he was a good businessman, and an even better father.” His voice warbled on the last word and Phoebe’s fingers twisted in her skirt. It would be so very difficult to remain cross with her father if he began to cry.

But then he blinked and met her gaze. The corner of his mouth lifted. “Your mother has always insisted we’re more alike than we realize. I can see it now.”

The dismissive snort was out before Phoebe could stop it, but her father was unmoved.

“I have only ever wanted what is best for you, yet you have challenged me at every turn. When I offered you a job at the company, you refused and struck out on your own. You even lived on your own—”

“Lots of girls do these days.”

He shot her an arch look. “Not girls raised like you. I suppose it was some kind of cosmic retribution for what I put my own father through. And I am man enough to admit now that I found all of it… hurtful,” he said. “And because of that, I did not always react in the best way. But I want you to know how much I admire you and the life you have built for yourself.”

Phoebe’s fingers twisted ever tighter. This was unexpected, to put it mildly. “Would you think that even if I wasn’t about to be a duchess?” She said this lightly and with a wry smile in a desperate bid to maintain her own composure, but her father remained distressingly sincere.

“You know I don’t give a damn about any of that, Bee,” he murmured.

He hadn’t called her that in years. “Father…” she said softly as her eyes prickled.

“There’s something else,” he interrupted, as he pulled out a file from his desk drawer. When he turned away, Phoebe was quite certain he was blinking back tears. “It took longer than expected, but I found a building not far from your old school. It’s a little smaller, but Alex and I toured it and she says it has more windows and a larger yard for the children to play in. She said the old one was very small.”

Phoebe managed to nod as she took the file from him. “It was.”

“In any case, the rent is paid for the first three months—though I suspect that bullheaded headmistress of yours will insist on paying me back.”

“She will,” Phoebe agreed as she looked over the papers. Then she glanced up when she saw the owner: Atkinson Enterprises.

“You bought the building?”

Her father shrugged. “That wasn’t the plan at first, but the old owner was a shifty fellow and it seemed the best way to ensure the school wouldn’t have to move again. Ever.”

Phoebe was stunned. “I—I don’t know what to say. ‘Thank you’ seems woefully inadequate.”

“Well, that’s good enough for me,” he said with a smile. “I’m proud of you, Bee. I’m sorry it took me so long to say that.”

She came around the desk and threw her arms around him in a tight hug. “Thank you, Father,” she whispered as her throat tightened with emotion. “Thank you, thank you.”

“You’ll need to thank your sister, too. It was her idea.”

“I will.”

Phoebe pulled back, then hesitated. She didn’t want to ruin this new accord, but she had to say something. “Why are you forcing Hank Junior on Freddie?”

Her father frowned in confusion. “I’m most certainly not . The lad asked to court her and when I told Freddie about it, she agreed. Enthusiastically, I might add.”

Now it was Phoebe’s turn to look confused. She certainly hadn’t seemed enthusiastic yesterday.

Her father sighed and gave her a fond look. “Freddie isn’t like you or Alex. She doesn’t have the same ambition.”

“Freddie is massively talented,” Phoebe argued. “She could do anything she wants to.”

“But that’s just it, Bee,” her father implored. “I think she’s finally grown bored of society and is feeling a little lost because she doesn’t really know what she wants.”

“Oh,” Phoebe said weakly. “That… that makes sense.”

“Your mother thinks marrying and starting a family would be good for her, and I agree.”

“And even better if the marriage can benefit the business.”

“Well, yes,” he admitted, a tad sheepishly. “A connection with a family like the Ericsons would open doors a little more easily in New York.”

“But really, Papa. Hank Junior? ” Phoebe couldn’t help wrinkling her nose. “He’s so dull.”

“If she finds a better offer, so be it. But I don’t see that happening,” her father added.

“What do you mean? Freddie’s the most popular girl in London.”

He gave her a pitying look. “Lots of men like Freddie, darling. But that doesn’t mean they want her for a wife. Hank Junior is an American and seems more accepting of her eccentricities.” Phoebe bit her lip. She hadn’t considered that. “And Freddie does seem taken with the idea of living in New York.”

Phoebe started. “What?”

Her father’s eyes widened. “Perhaps you should speak to her about this,” he said hastily. He never did like getting involved in their sisterly business.

Phoebe crossed her arms. “Yes, perhaps,” she murmured distractedly.

Though if Freddie was seriously considering moving across an ocean without bothering to mention it to her, there was no perhaps about it.

Once they rejoined the others, Will suggested they walk over to his home and tell Cal their news. Freddie immediately offered to come, which would provide the perfect opportunity to confront her about New York.

Not confront. Ask , Phoebe reminded herself.

But as soon as they reached the footpath, Phoebe whirled on Freddie. “Is it true you’re going to marrying Hank Junior and move to New York?”

Freddie stopped short and turned to her. In the strained silence that followed, Will looked between the two of them.

“I… I think I’ll just go on ahead,” he mumbled and hurried along without waiting for a response.

“So, you and Father are each other’s confidants now,” she said once they were alone. “That was fast.”

Phoebe ignored the jab. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I didn’t realize I was supposed to tell you every thought in my head. Especially when you haven’t been very forthcoming with me .”

“But Freddie—”

“No,” she insisted. “That isn’t fair. You’ve said barely a word about Will for all these months and now you’re getting married .”

“I’m sorry. You’re right. And I wish I had confided in you about Will more—”

“At all, you mean,” Freddie snapped. “And to be perfectly honest, I didn’t tell you because I didn’t think you’d care. You’ve been wrapped up in your own life for years now.”

“Freddie, of course I care,” Phoebe said thickly. “I know it was difficult because of my quarrel with Father, but I never meant for you to think I didn’t care about you.”

Her sister squeezed her eyes shut and took a breath. “Sorry. That was too harsh.” She then took Phoebe’s hand and met her gaze. “You have your teaching and Alex has her uncanny ability to make money, which has left me feeling like a dolt in comparison.”

“That’s not true.”

“What am I good at?” she demanded with a sudden intensity far removed from her usual breezy manner. “Flirting with men? Being charming at parties? Making sure rich people feel important?”

“Well, I can barely do any of those things,” Phoebe pointed out. “And Alex wouldn’t even try.”

“Because you don’t need to,” she countered. “You have abilities and accomplishments.”

“What about the fencing,” Phoebe said weakly.

Freddie rolled her eyes. “The fencing is a pastime. And it doesn’t even have any practical use, as I have yet to find myself in a duel. I’m talking about meaning. About passion. A life’s work. So, yes. The idea of moving to New York and starting anew sounded exciting. That’s the whole point of America, isn’t it?”

“Sounded? Then… you aren’t considering it anymore.”

But despite the hopeful note in her voice, Freddie only shrugged. “Hank Junior hasn’t proposed yet. I guess I’ll decide when and if he does. And now may we please focus on your actual engagement? Really, Phoebe. Can’t you enjoy being the center of attention just this once?”

Phoebe managed a smile and patted her sister’s hand, though that did little to assuage her worry. “If you insist.”

Yet she had every expectation her sister would find herself in a similar position very soon. But it remained to be seen what she would do from there.