"Regina, darling, would you be a dear and close the window all the way? There's too much breeze coming into the room. I should hate for the baby to grow cold."
That was the stupidest thing Regina had ever heard and considered denying Lady Sinclair's request. But, at least if she closed the window the remaining four inches it was still open, she'd have a few moments reprieve from having to look at Lady Sinclair's callused feet that she had bared and propped up on the end of the settee.
She pulled the window shut. "Is that better?" Your Highness?
"Much," Lady Sinclair said with a yawn. She closed her eyes and started to hum.
Regina closed her eyes, too. What had she done to deserve this torment? Perhaps it was the price she paid for arranging for Father to sit next to Lady Sinclair at the breakfast.
"Banish the thought at once," Lady Sinclair scolded, opening one of her grey eyes. "He'll know of your deception when, at the end of nine months, there is no grand event."
Regina started. "I don't know what you mean."
Lady Sinclair cackled. "Is that your story, then?" She shifted to get more comfortable. "Like other women of our station, we all have a duty to fulfill, and only once it's done do you get a reprieve."
Embarrassment washed over Regina as understanding sank in. Lady Sinclair had thought Regina was scheming how to avoid Edward's visits! If only she knew the truth. A wave of sadness washed over her. Edward didn't seem interested in her in that way any longer. Last night, he hadn't even tried to kiss her as he'd done in the past. "I know my duty."
"Just be sure that you do," Lady Sinclair said, closing her eyes again. "You have other duties, too."
Regina pursed her lips. If Lady Sinclair thought to give her a lecture on her duties as baroness, she had better think again. "I know my duties, thank you."
Lady Sinclair's eyes sprang open. "My, my, has a spider bit your bottom?"
"No." Memories of the conversation she'd overheard a snatch of yesterday between Edward and Lord Sinclair about her not attending to her duties came to mind. "I just don't care to hear another person tell me that I need to decorate Watson Townhouse."
"Then I won't say the words, but the meaning is there," Lady Sinclair said. "Edward might not be forceful enough to tell you your duties, but I tell you now, if you do not decorate this house before that breakfast Joseph asked me to help you plan, you will embarrass your husband."
The air in Regina's lungs left in one swift whoosh. "Pardon? What was it you just said?"
Lady Sinclair flicked her wrist. "There's no shame in taking help. With it still being three weeks away, I'm sure we can salvage everything."
"Salvage everything?" Regina tried her best not to be too offended by Lady Sinclair's insinuation that she'd made a hash of things when she hadn't even done anything yet. "And what makes you think my plans need salvaging?"
"There's no call to be upset," Lady Sinclair said, pursing her lips. "The fact remains that you are unskilled in your position as baroness and require my assistance."
"Thank you, but I do not require your assistance."
"That's not what your husband thinks."
Regina's heart couldn't be any more crushed if it had been trampled by a stampede of horses. Edward thought so little of her that he'd requested Lady Sinclair to help her plan her breakfast. "Is that so?" Regina challenged with a false bravado. Having to fend off remarks about her family's status in Society had taught her not to let them know how much they hurt you. Perhaps that's how Edward felt when he was ridiculed about his fascination with science.
"Those are merely the facts," Lady Sinclair responded airily, a smug smile on her lips.
"I think you forget yourself, Lady Sinclair. This is my home and I shall open it to whomever I wish, whenever I wish, and in whatever capacity I wish."
Lady Sinclair's mouth fell agape. "Well, I never."
"Never what?" Regina goaded, spurred on by the fury building inside of her. "Never had anyone deny your request and stand up to you before?" What was the matter with her? Why was she making this into such a large issue? Their husbands had been friends nearly their whole lives. Surely they weren't ready to part ways because their wives didn't get along.
"You silly chit," Lady Sinclair hissed. "You have a husband you don't deserve because your father is the richest man in Town, and you're nothing but an embarrassment to him."
Lady Sinclair might as well have slapped Regina for the amount of venom-and truth-in her accusations. "I'm sorry you feel that way," she said, standing.
"Apology accepted," Lady Sinclair said, gesturing for Regina to resume her seat.
There wasn't a rabbit's chance in a lions' den that she would heed Lady Sinclair's command. "I have duties to attend to."
Lady Sinclair arched a dark brow. "Poring over upholstery swatches, I presume."
Regina ground her teeth. "No. I have the decorating for this house well in hand, thank you."
"You do?" Lady Sinclair made a show of looking around the sparsely decorated drawing room then sighed. "Regina, I shan't remind you again. Your first duty as baroness is-"
"To do the baron the great honor of allowing a small gathering to meet in the drawing room in two weeks to discuss the formation of a biological society," Edward cut in smoothly. He cast Lady Sinclair a quelling look that was far more pleasant than the scowl on Lord Sinclair's face.
"And what of the breakfast I'm planning?"
He shrugged. "That, too. Would you care for some help?"
"Help?" Regina echoed, what was left of her heart grinding to dust. So it was true? He didn't trust her to do an acceptable job and wanted Lady Sinclair to help her plan the breakfast? She was going to be ill.
"You haven't sent out the invitations yet, have you?" Edward asked, his face unusually serious.
All Regina could do was shake her head. Her world was crumbling around her faster than she could think to respond.
"Good. I'd like to take care of the guest list, if you'd be willing to see to the menu, decorations and the like?"
So now she was qualified to make the arrangements, just as long as he was able to decide who was to be invited and who wasn't? She understood now.
"Very well," she said as evenly as she could despite the slight quiver of her lip. Then, unable to bear another moment in the room surrounded by three people who thought she was just as incompetent as her father always said she was, she quit the room. Manners be damned.
~Chapter Fourteen~
Edward stood by the door of the drawing room, waiting for his wife to return home. Not only had Lady Sinclair driven Regina from the drawing room this morning, but she'd actually been so upset she'd left the house.
He'd spent the entire afternoon yesterday thinking over everything he knew of his wife, which admittedly wasn't much, and had wanted to spend the day with her. But when Joseph and Lady Sinclair had shown up uninvited, his plans were destroyed, leaving him to wait for her by the door like a slobbering suitor.
"Did you enjoy your afternoon?" he asked, stepping into the hall to greet her.
She removed her green pelisse and handed it to Calvert. "It was mildly entertaining, I suppose."
He groaned. She'd been gone for more than six hours and that's all she had to say about it? "Did you buy anything?" He craned his neck to see if the servants were outside unloading the carriage.
"Yes. It'll be delivered within the fortnight."
"Good, good." He led her into the drawing room. After they were both seated, he stretched his long legs out in front of him and crossed his ankles. "Is there anything else you need to shop for?"
"You mean like decorations for your house?"
He waved her off. He might not find the house flattering to look at, but it wasn't so bad. "Don't bother with that if you don't wish to. There's more furniture in the attic that can be brought down, then it won't look quite so sparse."
"Enough so that all the gentlemen you're inviting over to talk about forming your biological society will have a place to sit in the drawing room?"
"I wanted to talk to you about that."
"Yes?"
"The meeting doesn't have to be held here. When I walked into that room and heard Lady Sinclair spouting nonsense, it was the first thing I could think to say."