Free Loving Lady Marcia by Kieran Kramer

quietly told her sister every detail of her conversation with Lady Ennis, including the fact that she longed for her position back at Oak Hall.
    “Of course, I knew that.” Janice smiled a bit sadly and pressed her hand on top of Marcia’s. “I understand why you want to go back, and I want to support you. I need to give up my own selfish desire to have you with me all the time.”
    “Do you really?” Her admission touched Marcia deeply.
    “Of course.” Janice chuckled. “Yes, I occasionally wonder how any men will notice me with you in the room, but I love you. You’re my sister. And there are enough men in the world for both of us.”
    Marcia raised an amused brow. “I’ve already told Mama I’m not interested in any man—not as long as I can have a career at Oak Hall.” A vivid memory of Lord Chadwick came to her, and a sensation of warmth, quickly followed by indignation, flooded her whole body. She forced herself to brush it off. “I’m going to predict, with tremendous optimism, that I’ll be a busy headmistress while you continue to take London by storm. And no more suggesting I attract more men than you.” Marcia’s admonishment was gentle and affectionate. “It’s simply not true.”
    “But you’re beautiful,” Janice said, her face flushing.
    “Every woman has her own type of beauty,” Marcia said with conviction. “Yours is much more interesting than mine.”
    Janice’s expression showed some hope. “Do you think—do you really think I might be … attractive?”
    “Yes,” Marcia said firmly. “You most certainly are. And you need to believe it.” A heavy dose of guilt assuaged her. “I’ve been the worst support to you, Janice. I didn’t even come up to Town to attend your come out.”
    “Don’t be silly.” Her sister’s tone was brisk. “You couldn’t leave the school in the middle of the term, especially as Mama said one entire room of girls came down with a stomach illness that same week.”
    “True,” Marcia conceded. “It was awful.” She gave her sister a wistful smile. “I do wish I’d been at your debut. But at least I’m here now.”
    “Yes, and I’m thrilled you’re here to stay,” Janice said. “At least until you wrangle your post back, which I know you’ll do.”
    Now it was Marcia’s turn to hope. “Do you think I will?”
    “Of course.”
    Two friends of Janice’s tapped her on the shoulder. When she turned around to acknowledge them, Marcia slipped away and walked up to the ice counter.
    She felt terribly conflicted. She’d only been in London one day, and already she could see that her family needed her—and she needed them. She’d allowed her summers at Ballybrook to become briefer and briefer each year. There were always responsibilities beckoning her back to Oak Hall.
    But there was such a splendid, unnamable feeling she got when she was at the school. Her favorite moments were outside, when she’d look out over the grounds and see a crowd of girls playing games, a few girls gathering flowers, others walking horses in the practice ring, and still others sitting in a circle with their teacher, discussing ancient philosophy.…
    If only I could be two places at one time, she thought as she listened to Cynthia say good-bye to her friends and finally order her lemon ice. Janice walked up then and ordered hers, as well. Over in her corner, Lysandra didn’t show a sign of budging. In fact, the widowed viscountess narrowed her eyes at Marcia when they locked gazes.
    But thanks to Janice, Marcia had recovered something of her aplomb, and so she acknowledged Lysandra with a slight tilt to her head and a polite smile. She refused to let her former classmate and employer ruin her morning. Even more, she wanted to prove to her that she was stalwart. Headmistresses should always be such.
    She selected her ice flavor—peppermint—and made sure that she and her sisters didn’t hide in a corner. She chose a new table right by the door, where