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a suitable match for you!”
    “ Do you think so, Mama?” Remembering she did not want to look too eager, Georgiana tightened her lips and smoothed her hands over her dress. “Well... I am not too excited, but I would like to make his acquaintance. I would not, after all, want to end up like Edith. At three and twenty, I am nearly a spinster myself!”
    “ You are too pretty to end up like Edith, dear,” Jemima assured her. Had she bothered to look in Edith's direction, she might have noticed the expression of disgust on her eldest daughter's face. “As for Lord Charmington, I think we should meet him as soon as possible. When does he arrive?”

Chapter Six

    “ He's here!” Georgiana shouted. Ever since she found out Lord Charmington was due to call on them, she had been waiting by the window, anxiously anticipating his arrival. “Mama, that must be him!”
    Jemima joined her daughter at the window and tried to get a glimpse of the man on horseback. However, their view was restricted to a side profile; it was too soon to determine if he was handsome or not. “Sit down, Georgiana!” her mother said. “We would not want him to catch you watching him, would we? You mustn't look too eager to make his acquaintance. Go sit by Edith and try to look poised.”
    Georgiana did as she was told. She even picked up a book and tried to look busy, as if his arrival was of little note to her. Edith, who was now seated on the settee with her sister, tried to scoot away as far as she could. At the moment, her mother and sister were hardly her favorite people in the world.
    “ Cynthia!” Jemima squawked. “Cynthia!”
    Her stepdaughter turned around, feather duster in hand. At her stepmother's behest, she had spent the better half of the morning scattering dust and cleaning the windows. “Yes, my lady?” Cynthia addressed her stepmother with respect, even though the words were like poison on her tongue. At present, she had the displeasure of dusting the sitting room where her stepmother and stepsiblings were awaiting the earl's arrival.
    “ You will need to make yourself scarce,” Jemima demanded. She did not want her youngest daughter to be subjected to any unnecessary competition. Even though Cynthia was now a maid, she was an undoubtedly beautiful girl. She did not want Lord Charmington's eye roving to her stepdaughter, so it was essential to eliminate Georgiana's rival from the picture. “Whatever you do, don't you dare tell Lord Charmington your true identity. If you do, I will have you thrown out of the house!”
    Jemima glanced over at Rolly, who was woolgathering in the corner. She had hoped to have his support, but Rolly had more hair than wit, which was no small feat, because his hair was already thinning. “Rolly!” Jemima shouted at him.
    When she addressed him, he was seconds away from shoving a finger up his nose. It desperately needed picking; however, he had sense enough to wait until he was alone. “Hmm?”
    “ I need you to agree with me!” Jemima said. “Please explain to Cynthia that she will be thrown out of the house if she tells Lord Charmington she's my husband's daughter!”
    “ Oh. Yes.” Rolly nodded. “Cynthia, you need to be quiet, or she'll toss you out!”
    “ Better yet...” Jemima continued, “don't look at the earl. Don't speak with him, don't make eye contact with him, avoid him at all costs!” Satisfied with her edict, Jemima grinned. “Do you understand me, Cynthia?!”
    “ Yes, my lady.”
    The door opened, and Robert entered the room. Today, he was working as a butler, a footman, and a valet to Roland. As soon as he entered, his eyes were drawn to Cynthia. Robert thought she looked crestfallen, so he smiled. Cynthia didn't seem particularly fond of him, but he hoped the gesture was reassuring. “Lord Montforth, you have a visitor,” Robert announced.
    “ Very well. Send him in, boy,” Roland demanded, then he turned his attention to Cynthia. “And you, my dear