Too Wilde to Wed (The Wildes of Lindow Castle, #2)(62)

Diana froze, painfully aware of her shabby dress. Scorching embarrassment swept over her like a fever. It was one thing to be a governess. It was another to meet her dazzling cousin while wearing attire that some maidservants would scorn.

She didn’t even have a bonnet, let alone a French hat like the one on Lavinia’s head. The housekeeper had replaced the floppy cap that North had absconded with, and Diana had pinned it on top of her bun that morning without even looking in the mirror.

Lavinia tossed the reins to Leonidas and hopped down. “Hello, North! Where’s my cousin?” she cried, not bothering with a formal greeting. “Prism said I could find her down here. Isn’t it beautiful? It’s not raining! It usually rains for the entire month of May, but not today!”

As Lavinia, Leonidas, and North greeted each other, Diana remained in a crouch, trying to get herself to straighten up.

Artie had paid no attention to the arrival of the pony cart. She was clutching four dolls to her small chest. “May I have them?” she cried, in great excitement. “May I, DeeDee? Please? Please?”

Godfrey had discovered a rearing horse with front hooves raised high, and improbably blue eyes. He held it up silently.

“We must bring that ferocious steed home,” North said, appearing at her shoulder. “Choose one doll, but not all four, Artie. You three must not have noticed, but Leonidas has arrived with Miss Lavinia Gray.”

Diana stood up, hearing her knees creak as if she were an old woman. She pasted a smile on her face, and started toward her cousin. “How wonderful to see you, Lavinia,” she managed.

“Diana,” her cousin breathed, looking at her from head to foot, which was precisely as humiliating as she could have imagined.

“I’ll leave the two of you to talk,” North said, striding after the children, who had dashed over to Leonidas on the other side of the wagon.

Diana took a deep breath. “You look beautiful, Lavinia. I love your hat.”

Her cousin looked her over once again, her expression appalled. “Oh, darling. Why didn’t you write to me?” Tears welled in her eyes as she reached out and pulled Diana into her arms. “I would have rescued you,” she cried, her voice breaking. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you ask?”

“I did write to you, but I didn’t have the proper address in Paris,” Diana said, hugging her back. “Don’t cry, Lavinia. I’ve been very happy caring for Artie and Godfrey.”

“It’s worse than I thought,” Lavinia said, her voice wobbling. “You’re wearing that ghastly dress, and you have had to take a position in order to support yourself!” She pulled back. “Have your fingers been worked to the bone? Are you well? Oh, Diana, I don’t know how you’ll forgive me, but please do!”

“Of course I forgive you,” Diana said, finding she was smiling as hard as she could, and she didn’t care about the humiliation any longer. “It’s mostly my fault. I didn’t know how to write to you in Paris, but I could have tried harder. I could have asked Lady Knowe.”

“My mother got a bee in her bonnet directly after Willa married, and insisted on visiting Paris.” Lavinia brushed away tears with the back of her hand. “I had no idea you were in such straits; I assumed you returned to your mother when you left the castle. I never imagined that your mother would reject you. And her only grandson as well!”

Diana pulled out her handkerchief and wiped Lavinia’s cheeks, her heart melting. “I knew you would have helped me if you could.”

“I feel like the worst cousin on the face of the earth. I wrote to you twice, but you never answered. I should have known something was wrong!”

“My mother did not forward your letters,” Diana confirmed. “How did you find out where I have been living?”

“That was wrong of Mrs. Belgrave,” Lavinia said savagely. She was sunnily cheerful by nature, but at that moment, she looked positively murderous.

Diana summoned up another smile. “My mother sometimes makes rash decisions that I’m certain she regrets later.” In fact, Diana’s lack of forethought was a legacy from her mother. “Never mind that; however did you find me here?”

“A fortnight ago, Lady Hofstra arrived in Paris with one of those terrible prints depicting your situation, and we began packing the next day,” Lavinia said. “There are no words to describe your mother!”

Diana tried to think of something to say in defense of her mother but failed.

“We spent two days in London while recovering from the voyage, and everyone we met was aware that you had been disowned for caring for your sister’s child. That’s better than what Lady Hofstra said in Paris—she thought that you had a child with North!”

“It’s a complicated situation,” Diana said.

“No one will ever receive Mrs. Belgrave again,” Lavinia said, with grim satisfaction. “My mother made her opinion clear among all her friends.”

Diana’s heart sank. She couldn’t help feeling sorry that her mother had lost her foothold in the society she treasured so much. “How did everyone learn that Godfrey is not my own, but my sister’s child? In all those prints, North is blamed for seducing me.”

Lavinia pulled Diana back into her arms and held her tightly, rocking her back and forth. “I can’t bear to see you in this dress.” Her voice wobbled again. “You were the most fashionable woman in London.”