Devil's Match Read Free Page B

debtors’ jail? And do not be going on about the Gunnings marrying dukes or some such nonsense—that was years and years ago. Now, a man as rich as a nabob desires an heiress.”
    â€œStill—”
    â€œJu, you know ’tis Madame Cecile’s busy season. If you would have new gowns, you must decide now.” Caroline redirected her charge’s attention back to the matter at hand. Pointing to one of the drawings in the younger girl’s hand, she persisted, “What do you think of that done up in a soft blue taffeta? Or even in a deeper shade perhaps? And you might consider the other one in a silver gauze, I think.”
    â€œLud, I don’t care, Caro—’tis you who have the good taste. I am quite sick of clothes and fittings, if you want the truth of it. ’Tis the only thing Mama seems the least inclined to spend money on, isn’t it?”
    â€œNonetheless, it must be done, my dear. Both your parents are determined to fire you off in style.”
    â€œAnd how do you think I feel, Caro, to go off night after night rigged out in the latest gowns while you trail after in that old rose silk of yours? You have all the instincts as to what is right—yet you cannot even dress above a poor relation! I mean to speak to Papa about it, Caro!”
    â€œYou’ll do no such thing!” Caroline’s dark eyes widened in alarm. “Ju, promise me that you will not! You’ll make matters worse for me with your mama if you even attempt it.”
    â€œFiddle.”
    â€œYou know I was merely engaged to go about with you—Lady Lenore made it quite plain that I was not to put myself forward in the least.”
    â€œWell, I do not like it at all. We are friends, are we not, Caro? Oh, I know I was displeased when Mama and Papa hired you, but you were not what I expected. Caro, I like you!”
    â€œThen leave it be!” Caroline burst out with asperity. It was a familiar argument, and one she had no intention of pursuing again. Try as she might, she could never get Juliana to realize the precariousness of her position. The girl refused to understand the jealousy a young female could evoke in a household. “Your pardon for raising my voice, my dear,” she sighed. “I fear I am become more like you than the other way around.”
    â€œThen perhaps we are good for each other,” Juliana responded, “for you will suppress my scrapes and I will give you a modicum of levity. You may have instructed in deportment for Miss Richards, love,” she added with a twinkle, “but I suspect you have often wanted to cut up the tiniest dust yourself.”
    They were interrupted by a tap at the chamber door. Caroline rose to open it to one of the footmen, a fellow with some years’ service in the Canfield household. He beamed affectionately across to his master’s daughter and lowered his voice almost conspiratorially to announce, “There’s a visitor belowstairs for you, Miss Juliana—I took the liberty of putting the person in the blue saloon without disturbing Simpson.”
    â€œBut who—?”
    â€œAh … one of your cousins, miss.”
    Both Juliana and Caroline rolled their eyes at the thought of even a few minutes spent with either Miss Charlotte Danvers or Miss Vivian Danvers before Juliana caught the warning in the footman’s expression. “Oh.” She formed the word silently and nodded. Turning quickly to Caroline, she directed, “Take whichever drawing you like to Mama—I shall be back directly.”
    â€œBut you’ll be at daggers-drawn with your cousin in minutes, Ju. Perhaps I ought to go down with you to keep the peace.”
    â€œNo—’twill be all right, I promise. Just tell Mama I will have the silver one, please.”
    Before Caroline could make sense of her haste, Juliana had slipped down the back stairs with the footman trailing behind her. Fervently hoping