Chapter One
Miss Celestine Hargrave watched her sister shovel a slice of cake down her throat as if the world might end at any moment and she was desperate to finish the sweet treat before it did.
“There is an age-old tradition that you should be made aware of,” Celestine said with a wry smile. “It is called chewing, Isolde. You might wish to try it.”
Miss Isolde Hargrave narrowed her eyes at Celestine but did not stop her shoveling. If anything, it looked as if she tried to fit even more of the cake down her gullet; she was a naturally rebellious teenager of eighteen, and by making a comment about her eating habits, Celestine had only ensured that they would be ignored.
“Fine,” Celestine chuckled. “Be stubborn. Just don’t let Mother see you.”
“I am hungry,” Isolde said thickly. “Is it my fault that Mother…” She swallowed. “… has not let us eat all day.”
“So that you could fit into that gown,” Celestine joked. “Personally, I am surprised she did not send word ahead, assuring there were no treats available to you. She ought to know better.”
“Yes, she ought to,” Isolde said with a wicked grin. Her eyes then darted to the right, the table where there was more cake to be had. “If anything, this is her fault…” Isolde reached for another slice of cake.
Celestine laughed at her sister’s antics as she swept her eyes over the ballroom to search out their mother. She found her watching, which had her standing in front of Isolde to block her from sight. Celestine did not care how Isolde behaved. If anything, she encouraged it, because a young lady ought to be herself.
“There you are!” Sweeping toward the two young ladies came the third Hargrave sister, Miss Marigold Hargave. She looked panicked, such that she did not notice the way Isolde was eating. “I have been looking everywhere for you.”
“Here we are,” Isolde said simply.
“It is Mother,” Marigold said, dropping her voice as if they might be overheard. “Have you seen her this evening? Worse, have you seen what she has been doing?”
“No…” Celestine looked to where their mother was, and she sighed as she noticed her heading their way slowly.
“She has been sticking her nose in, is what,” Marigold said. “Making it known to every single lord here that her daughters are oh so eager to be courted. Making it seem as if we are desperate!”
“Not a surprise,” Celestine said with a curling of her upper lip. “It is not as if she has been subtle about her intentions.”
“I told her not to be so forward,” Marigold grumbled. “I told her that there is no rush! But would she listen?”
Celestine chuckled. “You are better off having a conversation with a brick wall. You know how Mother is.” Again, she glanced toward their mother who, thankfully, had become distracted on her way toward them.
“I’m going to speak to her again,” Marigold said. “I am going to make her listen!”
“Good.” Celestine nodded as if she agreed. “You do that while I work on growing a pair of wings so that I might fly.”
“This is not funny, Celestine!”
“Am I laughing?”
“Well, you are not helping.”
“I will talk to her.” Celestine took her younger sister’s hand. “You will only say the wrong thing, Marigold, and make it worse. Let me speak to her and…” She sighed. “Perhaps I can convince her to take it easy tonight. It is only the third event of the Season. There is no rush.”
“Good luck,” Marigold scoffed. “You will need it.”
There were four Hargrave sisters in total. The eldest, Ariadne, was already married and utterly in love; she was the sister who their mother was most proud of. Marigold was nineteen and while she was well-behaved, she was a little too blunt and forward-speaking for her own good. Isolde was eighteen, this was her first Season, and she was rebellious and bold and free-spirited in the ways that younger women often were.
And then there was Celestine…
Once, not so long ago, Celestine was the type who wanted to fall in love and marry, just as she was proud to admit it. But much had changed since then, and now Celestine was the least likely of the three remaining sisters to find a man and settle down.
To put it bluntly, she simply did not believe in the concept of love. What was more, she believed that love was a lie used to trick and manipulate women into bondage. And because she believed this with all her heart, she had dedicated her life to making sure that her two younger sisters did not have this fate forced upon them.
And if my mother hates me for it… well, that is a small price to pay.
She turned from her two sisters to brace herself for her mother’s arrival.
