Duncan entered the room, and I felt a flash
of embarrassment, realizing that the entire
household could probably hear our argument.
“What is it, Duncan?” Caroline asked a
little snippily.
“I’ve received a call from the staff at the
Middlebrook household,” he said. “They’ve
asked if it would be convenient for Victor to
take Lady Grace horseback riding on Thursday
at eleven.”
“Why didn’t Victor just call
me
?” I asked
Duncan. He didn’t seem to know what to say.
My aunt sighed, but she was smiling again.
“This is the way that things are done, Grace,”
she said. “Victor Middlebrook comes from a
very old, very distinguished family. He has
excellent breeding.” I wrinkled my nose at
the word
breeding
, but Caroline was already
turning back to Duncan. “Say that Grace will
be delighted to accept.”
“Hold on! I don’t know how to ride,” I
said. But it was more than that. I was suddenly
concerned that this was just another one of my
aunt’s manipulations.
61
