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Evie chuckled and entered the room. She looked around in awe. “This is beautiful.”

“I helped decorate,” Millie said proudly. Which was true. She’d helped pick out the paintings and the flowers for the surfaces.

“You are going to be an exemplary hostess one day,” Evie complimented her.

Millie beamed at first, then shyly looked away and scratched behind Button’s ears.

“You must be fatigued after the journey, and I know how you feel about carriages, so I shall leave you to rest,” Isabel said.

“Thank you. I wish to speak with you as soon as possible, but I wouldn’t be very good company at the moment.”

Isabel smiled. “I understand.”

“Do we have to go, too?” Millie pouted.

“I’d say Button is the first who needs to leave,” Isabel answered.

Evie sank into a deep curtsy. “It was a pleasure to see you again, my lady.”

Millie tried to parody her and nearly toppled over. Isabel grabbed her by the shoulder to prevent her undignified fall. Millie chuckled and scurried away with her dog.

“Before I turn in and rest, tell me this. Is everything well with you?” Evie asked.

“Yes,” Isabel answered emphatically. “And as much as I am happy to see you—I mean, I would love to have you all to myself a few days before the house party—why did you arrive early?”

Evie raised a brow. “Is that a surprise?”

“Well—” Now Isabel was confused. Had she asked the duchess to arrive earlier?

Evie crossed her arms over her chest. “When was the last time you sent me your daily letter?”

“Oh!” Isabel grimaced. With everything going on in the household, she had completely forgotten. She hadn’t sent a single letter to anyone since the incident with the governess.

“I was worried something had happened to you, although Gabriel just rolled his eyes. But he couldn’t deny me the trip a few days early.”

“I am so sorry I caused you to worry.”

“No matter.” Evie placed a hand on her abdomen and took a deep breath. She was obviously exhausted. “But I received a letter from Sam, who said she wanted to arrive early as well. But she wanted it to be a surprise. I am sorry I ruined it.”

Isabel chuckled. “I shall act surprised. Now, I shall leave you to rest. Whenever you are ready, I shall be glad to exchange gossip.”

Chapter 28

Evie did not emerge from her chamber all day. St. Clare had announced that she was under the weather and would not be gracing them with her presence until morning.

Isabel understood that to mean that Evie was still suffering from the effects of the journey and hoped the rest would do her good.

Millie pouted all through supper about the fact that the duchess hadn’t joined them. But then she learned that she wasn’t allowed to join the adults for dinner during the house party, and her pouting was raised to another level.

She only stopped sulking long enough to ask both Rhys and Isabel to sing to her before bed. And Isabel took it as a sign that she had gotten over the betrayal of being excluded from the meals during the party.

Isabel was glad that Millie was easy to pout and just as easy to forgive. That gave Isabel room to make mistakes, of which she was certain to make plenty. Raising a six-year-old child was not something she’d ever thought she’d have to do. And she thanked the stars that the girl she had to raise was Millicent.

After tucking Millie to bed, Isabel and Rhys made their way to their respective chambers. Isabel had changed for bed and settled under the covers when her husband entered the room.

“Do you know,” he said, as he approached the bed, “that the paint in my room has dried?”

Isabel smiled. “When did that happen?”