Chapter Three

Georgie went to the drawing room early, not certain what was going to happen during teatime. She believed that she owed it to James to warn him as to what was on her cousins' minds.

When she entered the room, the only person present was Sophie, already back from the modiste. Georgie crossed the drawing room as her sister-in-law greeted her.

"How did the fittings for your gowns go?" Sophie asked pleasantly.

"They went extremely well. I am so happy with all that Madame Dumas has done for me. And you?"

Sophie smiled gently. "It has been a long time since I have walked amongst Polite Society, but I will do so now wearing the designs of one of the most coveted modistes in town. Don't get me wrong, Georgie. I lead a very fulfilling life, with James now my husband, and running Neptune Shipping Lines. It will be nice, though, to dress up every now and then and move among the ton." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "After all, we are a duke and duchess, and that should be helpful as we introduce you and the others during your come-outs."

"I want to talk to you about that, Sophie," Georgie said. "The twins are going to bring up not participating in the upcoming Season during our tea today."

Sophie's shock was evident by the look on her face. "Did they give a reason why? I know they were present at Madame Dumas' shop today. I saw them there."

"It has something to do with their father."

Her sister-in-law's demeanor instantly changed, becoming guarded. "What did they say?"

"They are loath for James to have to pay for their come-outs. They believe it is their father's duty to do so. They are going to bring it up in a few minutes. I simply wanted to alert you so that you might tell James what is in the works."

Sophie took Georgie's hand. "Thank you. I will let James know."

"Let me know what?" James said, appearing before them.

Sophie's features were serious. "We must talk."

She led her husband to a far corner of the room as the others began entering the drawing room for tea. Mirella and Effie came in talking animatedly, while Mama and Aunt Matty looked concerned, following Lyric and Allegra. The twins both looked grave.

Maids rolled in two teacarts, and Mama asked everyone to sit. For the first time since she could remember, no one said a word as her mother and Sophie poured out for the group.

She looked to Allegra and Lyric, who had not spoken to anyone since they had arrived, merely accepting the cups and saucers Sophie passed to them.

Georgie had only had a single sip of tea when things began.

Lyric was the first to say, "We wish to speak to you about our come-outs, James."

He said, "Please do so freely."

Mama chimed in, saying, "Perhaps we should talk about this after we have had our tea."

But Allegra was having none of that. "No, Aunt Dinah. Lyric and I wish to discuss this now. Whatever would be said in private, you know we will simply turn around and share with our cousins. They might as well hear everything at the same time as we do."

Mama nodded, a pained expression on her face. "All right. What do you wish to discuss about your come-outs, girls?"

Lyric cleared her throat. "I overheard Madame Dumas ask you at her shop today who might be paying for the many gowns Allegra and I will be wearing. Without hesitation, you said James would be responsible for our bills."

Allegra took up the banner. "It is not James' responsibility to do so, Aunt Dinah. It is Papa's. Yes, he has neglected us our entire lives. We have gone months—even years—without seeing him. Since James became the Duke of Seaton, we have not seen Papa or Theo at all. We believe it is time that Papa accepts responsibility for having fathered us. He must pay for our come-outs—or we will not make our debuts into Polite Society. We won't have it any other way."

Georgie watched James and Sophie exchange a glance, and then her brother looked to Mama. Mama nodded.

"We have something to share with you that will be unpleasant to hear," James told them. "You will not be seeing your father or Theodore ever again."

Lyric gasped, while Allegra demanded, "Are they dead?"

James' fingers found his wife's and as they held hands, he said, "They tried to hurt Sophie. I could not let that happen. Then—or in the future."

Sophie looked at the twins, concern filling her face, and said, "While you girls are so very lovely, your father and Theo are terrible people."

"You don't think we know that?" Lyric asked angrily. "Papa abandoned us at birth. He let Aunt Dinah raise us. He has forgotten our birthdays. Or rather, he ignored them. We only see him—and Theo—on rare occasions."

Allegra said, "We have always known Papa is a most unkind man, Sophie. Lyric and I still believe, though, that Papa should be made to live up to his responsibilities to us regarding our come-outs."

Lyric nodded in agreement. "We know what he was like when he lived here for those three years, acting as if he were the Duke of Seaton in all but name while his brother lay dying a slow death. Papa probably ran up bills all over town, thinking he might pay them once he became the duke." She sniffed. "If then."

"But things changed when you came back to us, James," Allegra said. "We know you asked Papa and Theo to leave this house. Naturally, Papa did not bother to tell either of us where he was going, and we have had no contact with him in months." She paused. "But how did he try to hurt you, Sophie?"

Sophie was silent a long moment, and Georgie thought her sister-in-law wasn't going to answer the question. Then she said, "Your father and brother tried to kidnap me and hold me for ransom."

Georgie, along with everyone in the room, gasped loudly.

"And he and Theo would have done far worse," Sophie finished quietly, tears welling in her eyes.

Georgie could not imagine what Sophie meant, but the fact that her uncle and cousin had planned to abduct Sophie and exchange her for money horrified her.

"I could not have them around," James finally said. "They would have been a continuing threat to Sophie's safety. All my family's safety," he emphasized.

She knew how fiercely her brother loved Sophie and the rest of them. He himself had been taken away when he was a young boy, kidnapped and put to work as a cabin boy on a ship. The family had thought James dead for many years until his recent return.

"You said they are gone," Allegra said quietly. "Where, James?"

"We decided they must leave England," James revealed. "They had no money. They were placed aboard one of the Strong sailing vessels and taken all the way to Australia. They were left there, being told they would need to work now for their living. It was the only way I believed I could keep Sophie and the rest of you safe."

Lyric shuddered. "That was harsh, James. But they deserved their punishment, nevertheless."

"We did not want to trouble you about this," Mama said, and Georgie knew her mother had also had knowledge of the scheme. "You so rarely saw your father anyway. We were going to tell you. We merely waited for the right time to do so."

"But you didn't tell us," Allegra said stubbornly. "I am dreadfully sorry Papa and Theo tried to hurt Sophie, but we should have been told what happened to them. We have already been beholden to Aunt Dinah our entire lives, and now we find ourselves further in her debt—and James', as well."

James said, "You are in no one's debt, Allegra. You are family. You are Strongs. And Strongs stick together. You will always have a home in any of my ducal residences scattered throughout England. You will make your come-outs as planned, and then you will have a new home with your husbands."

Georgie watched her cousins carefully, seeing the twins exchange glances, knowing they were silently communicating, just as she and Pippa had done so their entire lives.

"We will not make any rash decisions," Lyric declared. "We know you think of us as family, James, but we are, in effect, orphans now. Dependent upon your kindness for absolutely everything. The clothes on our backs. The food we put in our mouths. The horses we ride."

"This will take time for us to get used to," Allegra said, linking hands with her twin. "We know the expense of a come-out is astronomical. You are already paying for Georgie and Mirella to do so." She swallowed. "Lyric and I, therefore, would like to postpone our own come-outs."

"You mustn't do that," Mama said earnestly. "Please, do not worry about the costs associated with it. James can easily afford to pay for your gowns."

"What about our dowries?" demanded Allegra. "Do we even have them?"

Mama flushed guiltily, and Georgie knew that there were no dowries for her cousins. That Uncle Adolphus had squandered them.

"I do not know all the details, but your dowries are no more," Mama revealed, her voice breaking. "The solicitor has told me nothing is left."

Lyric spoke up, love shining in her eyes. "You protected us, Aunt Dinah. You took us in and have raised Allegra and me as if we were your own daughters. Do not feel responsible for something you had no control over."

"I will provide dowries for the both of you," James said firmly.

"That is most kind of you, James," Lyric said. "This is a lot for us to take in, however. Especially knowing now that Papa stole our dowries from us. Allegra and I have much to ponder."

"We still stand firm, Aunt Dinah," Allegra said, defiance in her voice. "We are not ready to make our come-outs at this time." Her tone softened, and she continued, saying, "The news will come out—it always does. Someone will ask about Papa. Lyric and I do not want to lie. Neither do we want to blacken the Strong family's reputation with our father's misdeeds. Please, let the two of us step away from this upcoming Season. Launch Georgie and Mirella into Polite Society. Let them find husbands without any scandal attached to their names. We can see whether or not Lyric and I should make our own come-outs."

"You are family," James stressed. "I won't have you leaving us out of some misguided notion. You are not to go out on your own and try to earn a living for yourselves. You are family. My family. And family always looks out for one another."

"I believe Allegra and Lyric have many things to think about," Sophie interjected. "The Season is quite demanding, and they are being reasonable in considering the reputations of Georgie and Mirella. Would you prefer staying in town?" she asked. "Or would you prefer to return to Shadowcrest?"

Again, the twins looked at one another for a moment. Georgie knew they silently made their decision.

Lyric said, "We want to go to the country. We will stay until the day gowns Madame Dumas is making up for us are completed."

Effie spoke up for the first time since tea began. "Perhaps when my gowns are finished, I could also go back with you. I have nothing to do with Georgie's and Mirella's come-outs. You know I am happiest in the country. Besides, I promised Pippa I would regularly exercise Starlight." Her gaze turned to her mother. "Would that be acceptable, Mama? Keeping Lyric and Allegra company?"

"I see no problem with that," Mama said. "It will mean that you will probably be in town another two weeks or so. I will have Madame Dumas concentrate on the new wardrobes for the three of you, and then you can return to Kent. I will go with you. James and Sophie can handle the come-outs for Georgie and Mirella."

"No, Mama," Georgie protested. "You have been looking forward to this Season so much. We all think you should wed again."

She reached and took her mother's hand, squeezing her fingers. "You have had to live for others your entire life, Mama, including your daughters and nieces. It is time you sought happiness for yourself. They will be fine at Shadowcrest."

Aunt Matty spoke up. "I will be the one to return to Kent with you. You need an adult with you, beyond the servants. I am old and have lived most of my life. I can wait until next Season to see my friends."

"You don't have to sacrifice for us in this way, Aunt Matty," Lyric said gently.

Aunt Matty smiled gently. "It is no sacrifice at all, my dear. I never wed, but you six girls have been the children of my heart. I agree that Dinah should remain here and supervise Georgie and Mirella's come-outs. We will find things to do in the country, and I know the two of you will wish to do a bit of soul searching. I will be there if you have need of me."

Suddenly, everyone was on their feet, giving hugs to others.

Georgie embraced Allegra and then Lyric. "You are more than cousins to me. You are sisters. I will always support you in whatever you do."

"We know that," Allegra told her.

"And we appreciate it, Georgie," Lyric added.

"Our tea has grown cold," Mama said. "I will send for fresh pots."

Everyone took their seats again, and Georgie realized she had been right.

The number of Strong ladies making their debuts into Polite Society was now down to two.