“Bold” was the same as “daring,” and Alex had learned to love to be daring. If any day called for some daring, it was today. And Alex knew just how she’d go about it. Lavinia was still having her fitting when Alex marched upstairs in search of her. Lavinia was in the room next to her bedchamber that had been converted into a large wardrobe expressly for her use. Madame Bergeron and her trusty assistant were busily fussing over her while Lavinia held out her arms and surveyed herself in the looking glass. New gowns were one of the few things that made Lavinia happy. She was certain to be in a less foul mood. Alex smiled to herself. She would be sure to change that.
When Alex strolled into the room, Lavinia looked up. Her eyes betrayed a bit of nervousness. Good.
“New gowns?” Alex asked, pasting a pleasant but decidedly fake smile on her face.
Lavinia glanced back down to the beige lace gown she was wearing. “Yes, I need a few.”
“God forbid you wear anything more than once,” Alex muttered.
Lavinia’s sharp voice stabbed through the air. “What was that?”
“Why, of course you’d need new gowns, what with your impending marriage.” She turned her attention to the Frenchwomen. “Did you happen to see the announcement of Lady Lavinia’s upcoming marriage in the paper?”
Madame Bergeron’s hand flew to her throat. “Oui. But of course, and we would be honored to design you zee most beautiful wedding gown in all zee kingdom,” she said to Lavinia. “Why, it shall rival Princess Charlotte’s. It shall—”
“It’s not entirely official yet.” Lavinia’s voice cut through the room again, ice dripping from her tone.
Alex eyed her warily. Her sister was growing more annoyed and angry by the moment. Good.
“Not official yet?” Alex allowed her eyebrows to shoot up. “Surely it’s official if it’s been announced in the paper.”
Lavinia clapped her hands, her mouth shaped into an unpleasant pout. “Please excuse us, madame, mademoiselle.”
The modiste and her assistant exchanged wide-eyed glances. “Of course, my lady.” The two Frenchwomen hurried out of the room, closing the door behind them.
Alex strolled closer to her sister and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it wasn’t ‘entirely official,’ or I wouldn’t have mentioned it in front of them.”
Lavinia’s eyes flared. “I didn’t mean that. I meant—”
“No. You know what is ‘entirely official,’ Lavinia?”
Her sister blinked at her.
“It’s entirely official that you are a viper. A snake in expensive clothing.”
Lavinia’s mouth fell open. Her face turned red. “How dare you?” she thundered.
For the first time in her life, Alex turned fully toward her sister and matched her raised voice. “No! How dare you! How dare you lie to me? How dare you do it just to be mean? Just because you’re pure evil. Owen never wanted you. And he certainly never asked you to marry him. And why did you do it? Because you fell in love with him? Couldn’t live without him? No! You did it because you found out he wanted me, and you couldn’t stand that. You’re so selfish and awful that you simply couldn’t bear to know he wanted me and not you. You’re spiteful and you’re hideous and you deserve nothing less than to spend your life alone.”
Lavinia’s eyes took on a wild look, and her face contorted with rage. “You’ve never appreciated me, you awful little brat.”
“I can appreciate how hideous you are, believe me. But what I cannot for the life of me understand is why. Why would you lie to me when you knew you’d be found out eventually? You knew you weren’t going to marry Owen. How did you expect to keep up the charade?”
Lavinia stuck her nose in the air and took a deep breath. “He will marry me. Father will see to it.”
Alex backed away. Her sister couldn’t possibly be that delusional, could she? “No. He’s already told Father he won’t marry you. You’re insane.”
With a loud snarl, Lavinia gathered the skirts of the gown she wore in her hands and ripped at them. The unfinished pieces came apart, and she flung them across the room in Alex’s direction. “I am not! He has to marry me. Father is a duke. And I want it. I always get what I want!” She was screeching at the top of her lungs, and Alex backed away slowly. Lavinia had a feral look in her eyes, and she stamped her foot, spittle flying from her lips.
The door flew open, and their mother came hurrying in. “Lavinia, please!”
Both girls spun around to face the duchess.
“Tell her, Mother!” Lavinia screamed. “Tell her Lord Owen is going to marry me.”
Mother shook her head. “No, Lavinia. It’s not true. I’ve always worried that I indulged you too much, that I gave in to your every whim to your detriment, but I’ve been blind to how truly awful you’ve become.”
“Mother!” Lavinia clenched her fists in her hair and screamed loud enough that the King’s horses in the royal mews must have heard it. “I don’t care what you say. I will marry Lord Owen.” She flung herself to the floor and kicked and screamed, rolling around on the remnants of fabric that had been discarded during her fittings. “I will. I will. I will!”
Her mother calmly walked over to her eldest daughter and eyed her carefully. “Get up. You’re making a complete fool of yourself. I’ve indulged your temper for far too long because I felt such guilt over your nearly dying when you were a child, but I refuse to indulge you for one minute longer. I’ve done you no favors. No one can stand to be in the same room with you.”
Lavinia stopped screaming and rolled over to look up at her mother. Her hair was in disarray, and her face was blotchy and red. “I cannot believe you’re taking the side of that little mouse, Alexandra.”
Mother sighed. “It’s high time I took Alexandra’s side. She’s been forced to suffer your tantrums for years. Not only am I taking her side, but your father and I have already agreed that she’s free to marry Lord Owen regardless of your marital prospects. I daresay Alexandra shouldn’t have to suffer and wait for someone to actually choose to marry you. With your spoiled disposition, no doubt she’d be waiting till death.”
A wide smile covered Alex’s face.
Mother turned to Alex. “I’m sorry, Alexandra. Can you ever forgive me?”
Alex reached out and squeezed her mother’s hand. “Thank you for doing the right thing.”
Her mother searched her face. “You do want to marry Lord Owen, don’t you?”
Alex beamed. “Very, very much.”
Lavinia jumped up and ran screeching from the room, a broken, mad doll.