“They do, indeed,” replied Felicity.

“And yet, that is how maidens are supposed to behave,” Mary pointed out as she stood and smiled.

“Who says so,” Elizabeth demanded.

Felicity sighed with exaggerated drama before she winked. “Society, my dear.”

Elizabeth considered this then said seriously, “Society is very troublesome.”

“It is, but we don’t have to let it ruin all the fun,” said Felicity.

“What do you like to do for fun?” asked Elizabeth.

“Elizabeth, let our new sister choose her breakfast,” cut in Jane.

“I can help,” piped Elizabeth before she eyed Felicity. “Mayn’t I?”

“Of course! You can tell me which are the best things to choose. What is your cook’s breakfast specialty?”

“The sausages,” informed Elizabeth with all seriousness.

“I adore sausages.”

Elizabeth grinned and ran to the sideboard to fetch a plate.

As Felicity followed his littlest sister, his heart did the strangest thing. It warmed with a sudden and deep affection. It had never occurred to him how much it would matter that his wife fit in with his sisters. And it seemed to him that Felicity was going to fit in very well, indeed.

***

Felicity put on her bonnet and clasped her parasol. She started for the foyer but when she spotted Mary sitting in the morning room looking rather bored, she hesitated.

After several days, learning the workings of the exceedingly large townhome, Felicity felt at ease now and was eager to return to her daily constitutional. She had noticed that Mary and the other girls rarely ventured outside. It had struck her as rather odd, but she knew it common for young women to remain indoors awaiting callers, playing the piano, and embroidering cushions.

She found the very idea appalling. For one moment, she hesitated but then stepped into the morning room.

Mary looked up from her needlework and smiled welcomingly. “Are you to join me?”

“Actually, I wished to ask you to accompany me.”

Mary tilted her head to the side. “Are you going shopping?”

“No.” She loathed shopping, actually. “I’m going for a long walk.”

Mary blinked. “A walk?”

“Yes.”

Mary blinked again. “Why?”

Felicity grinned and tapped her parasol to her thigh. “To stretch my limbs.”

“Ah.” Mary nodded. “You need a companion.”

Felicity corrected gently, “I’d like your company but I need no companion if you mean in the official sense.”

“But ladies don’t go out on their own,” Mary protested.

Felicity laughed. “No, I don’t suppose they do, generally. But I am very capable and all my sisters and I are wonderful with a parasol.”

“You mean to keep your skin fair?”

“Oh.” It struck her then that Mary had absolutely no idea what she meant. Likely it had never even been a viable consideration to the other young lady. “No! I mean I can bash anyone with it if they try something they shouldn’t.”

Mary paled.

“Oh dear.” Felicity swallowed. She didn’t wish to overly alarm her sister-in-law. “Have I overstepped the mark?”

“I cannot imagine committing such an act,” admitted Mary.

There were many people she wished to bash over the head but Felicity kept that to herself. “Can you not?”

“No.”

“It is very satisfying.” Felicity softened her voice. “Have you ever been made to feel uncomfortable by unwelcome tension?”

Mary flinched. “What lady has not?”

Felicity sighed. “How true and how unfortunate. You know, I can teach you how to brandish a parasol. . . Or stomp on a booted foot most effectively.”

Mary considered this and put her needlework down. “I don’t know if mother would approve.”

“Tosh. I’m sure William would.”

“It would be nice not to feel at the mercy of a man.”

“Exactly,” crowed Felicity. “And after, we shall go for a walk in the park. One needs strong legs to stomp properly.”

Mary giggled. “I imagine.”

“Stand up then.”

Felicity held her parasol firmly. “Now, I will show you a few things to try. My parasol is reinforced, so not merely decoration. We shall have some made for you.”

Mary’s eyes widened but she nodded.

Clearing her throat, Felicity raised her arm. “You can, of course, bash someone in a good downward stroke.”

She demonstrated, bringing the closed parasol down in a clear arc.

“You can also jab with the pointy end,” Felicity explained. “To do this, you draw your elbow back to your side, place your feet firmly, twist and thrust!”

Felicity grinned as she performed the action upon an imaginary opponent.

“You can also do the same downward jab onto a man’s foot. This is wonderful for outdoors,” Felicity clarified. “Clearly, when one is at a ball or such one doesn’t carry a parasol, hence I will show you stomping.

“Goodness.”

“You see,” Felicity rested her parasol against her side. “My father made no mystery about the fact that not everyone is an honorable sort. In fact, there are a good number of blackguards about.”

Mary blushed. “I see.”

“He wanted his daughters to be able to protect themselves.” Felicity stopped. “I say, am I shocking you too much?”

“Smelling salts are not necessary but it is all bit surprising.”

“Is this terribly bad?” Felicity asked carefully.

“Most definitely not. I think it marvelous.”

“Good. Let’s give it a go.”

Mary put her needlework down then took the offered parasol.

Felicity backed out of range. “Stand near the center of the room, until you feel in control. We shouldn’t wish to bash any of your mother’s vases.”

Mary held the parasol tentatively and swung but then she did it again, and again, each swing growing more determined.

“Now the jab,” urged Felicity.

Mary nodded, her face growing serious with concentration. She wound her arm back then thrust forward.

“A perfect attempt!” cheered Felicity.

“I do beg your pardon, but are you two fencing?” William asked as he strode in.

Felicity tensed. She suddenly realized that, perhaps, she was making a very bad mistake. What if William didn’t want his sister learning such a thing?

“Hello, William. Felicity was just teaching me to defend myself against bounders.”

He smiled kindly. “Do you know many?”

Mary’s mouth straightened. “A few.”

William’s eyes narrowed. “Who? I’ll have a word.”

Mary sighed.

Felicity cleared her throat. “That is very kind, William, but it is also good if Mary can defend herself, no?”

He turned and stared at her. He cocked his head to the side. “Like you?”

She nodded, praying it was something he liked about her.

His face darkened for a long moment. “If I hadn’t been in that room and you hadn’t known how to take care of yourself, Trumbold. . .”

“Yes, but I did and you were,” she reminded.

Turning to his sister, he declared, “I think it wonderful that you’re learning, Mary.”

Mary beamed. “We are going for a walk after we finish.”

William’s eyebrows lifted. “You aren’t one for constitutionals.”

“Felicity said it’s important to be strong.”

William returned his stare to his wife but instead of accusation, she saw approval.

“Felicity has the right of it,” he said. “My afternoon is suddenly free. A meeting has been cancelled. Would you two like company on your walk or do you fancy time alone?”

“Oh, I think we could just manage to bear the extra company,” Felicity teased, thrilled that her husband not only approved but wished to spend time with her.

“Especially if we all stop for an ice,” added Mary.

William nodded. “I can think of no better way to spend my time than with two such intelligent and independent women.”

As he glanced into Felicity’s eyes, she felt his consideration as if he weren’t entirely certain what to make of her. She felt her heart skip then. For she wanted him to approve. And while he seemed to at present, she felt as though she were holding her breath waiting to be told she was too much. But for now, she’d enjoy the afternoon and not worry if her upbringing would eventually bring his censure. After all, things were going far too well for that.

***

Guests milled about the packed ballroom and Felicity forced herself to beam at them despite the fact she felt as if they’d all come to gape at her.

The dinner had evolved into a full-fledged evening of the most important members of the ton. Two hundred guests had been invited including the Prince of Wales and his set.

She couldn’t believe how quickly she’d gone from being at the center of society, to the outskirts, then back to the center again. She did rather wonder if her mother-in-law was as stunned as she was by the large turnout of guests who were all drinking and having a marvelous time.

After several days, it had become clear that her mother-in-law was going to be a small difficulty. However, if the Dowager Marchioness thought she was going to ruin Felicity’s happiness, the older but attractive lady was very much mistaken.

At least, Felicity was fairly certain that her mother-in-law’s general unwillingness to be truly welcoming was her genuine distrust of Felicity’s family and reputation.

Still, it hadn’t stopped Lady Marksborough from being fairly unpleasant, even if it had all been behind a smile.

Felicity was determined, however, to win the woman over. She refused to be a wedge in the family, especially since she had not been her husband’s choice but rather a wife forced upon him.

To her dismay, William had been often gone, but she was proud of him. He hadn’t been going racing or fooling about as so many gentlemen of the ton did. Oh no, he had been at Parliament every day and was often in meetings at his club or bringing other serious looking gentlemen into his study, discussing the future of Europe.