The Shadow Sister: Book Three (The Seven Sisters 3) by Riley Lucinda

Author:Riley, Lucinda
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: 2017-04-18T00:00:00+00:00

That evening, much to Flora’s relief, the groom had been banished from the house and was staying with the Sackville-Wests at Knole, situated not far from High Weald. Supper was provided for the bridal party in the long dining room, where hundreds of candles had been lit in the chandeliers. Flora had already met the other bridesmaids in London, and as socially adept as she had become on such occasions, her mind disengaged as she did her best to make small talk.

Her mother looked happier than she’d ever seen her, and even her father seemed jovial tonight. His favorite daughter had netted the fish that he’d been so eager to catch for her; he had sacrificed their family home to ensure it.

She was glad when the bride-to-be announced she was retiring and took Flora upstairs with her.

“This is my last night of sleeping alone,” Aurelia said as she sat in front of her dressing table and Flora helped her to comb out her long blond hair.

“Really? I thought that once one was married, one was able to sleep alone as often as one wants,” Flora commented dryly. “Certainly Mr. and Mrs. Keppel sleep separately.”

“One can hardly question that.”

“What do you mean?” Flora knew very well but wanted to hear it from her sister’s lips.

“Well, can you imagine being poor Mr. Keppel? Everyone in London knows about Alice and the King. You must too, surely?”

“Certainly they are close friends, yes.” Flora’s face betrayed nothing.

“You can’t be so naive as to believe that they are merely friends? Everybody knows that—”

“Everybody knows what they want to know. I live under their roof every day, and I have seen nothing inappropriate about the relationship. Besides, how could Mr. George possibly condone what you are implying? He is a man of great pride and integrity, and Mrs. Keppel adores him.”

“If you say so.”

“I do. And like Mrs. Keppel, I couldn’t give a fig for tittle-tattle. It’s like mist, with no substance, that swiftly drifts on.”

“Well, Mrs. Keppel and the King’s ‘mist’ hangs over London like a fog.” Their eyes met in the mirror and Aurelia’s expression softened. “Let us forget imperfect marriages and concentrate on one that I hope will be as perfect as I can make it.” She stood up from the stool and walked toward the bed. Flora pulled back the blankets and helped her into it.

“Good night.” Flora kissed her gently on the forehead, then got into her own bed and turned out the lamp.

“Flora?” Aurelia’s voice sounded small in the vast darkness of the room.

“Yes?”

“Do you think . . . it will hurt?”

Flora’s heart lurched at the thought of the intimacy her sister was alluding to. She paused before she replied. “To be truthful, I don’t know. But I believe that God is good, and wouldn’t make us suffer to show a man our love. Or to give him children.”

“I have heard stories.”

“That is just gossip again.”

“I want to please him.”

“I am sure you will. Just try not to be afraid. I hear that is the key.

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