Anette offered Eugenie an encouraging smile. “You can still mourn your sister in other ways.”
“I agree, wholeheartedly,” Eugenie said. “I know Charlotte did a terrible thing but she was still my sister.”
“That is understandable, and you don’t need to explain yourself here since you are amongst friends,” Enid remarked.
“Thank you,” Eugenie said. “Frankly, I am surprised by the outpouring of kindness that I have received since I was released from Newgate.”
“It is well deserved,” Enid assured her.
Eugenie took a sip of her tea before saying, “It also helps that your husband has been so supportive of my return into Society.”
With a pointed look, Enid said, “That is because he fought hard to ensure you were released for a crime you didn’t commit.”
“I just wish I could repay him somehow for the kindness that he has bestowed upon me,” Eugenie remarked.
“You can,” Enid responded. “Just be happy and live your life on your terms.”
“That is easier said than done, I’m afraid.”
Anette spoke up. “You deserve to be happy, Eugenie.”
“I wish I could will myself to be happy, but it is proving to be a much more difficult task than I imagined,” Eugenie said, her shoulders slumping. “Despite being surrounded by servants, I have never felt so alone.”
“Where does your uncle live?” Anette asked.
“He has a townhouse across Town that he shares with his mistress,” Eugenie revealed.
“Do you not have a companion?” Enid inquired.
Eugenie shook her head. “No, but I will reach my majority soon enough.”
Anette’s mother entered the drawing room and said, “Good heavens, I stepped out for one moment and I was informed that we had guests.” She came to sit down next to Anette on the settee and turned her attention to Eugenie. “It is good to see you looking so well.”
Eugenie mustered up a smile, but it didn’t look in any way more convincing than it had earlier. “Thank you, my lady.”
Shifting her gaze to Enid, her mother asked, “How are you enjoying married life?”
“It is far better than I ever imagined it would be,” Enid gushed. “Greydon is the most attentive husband.”
“I am pleased to hear that,” her mother said. “It truly makes a difference when you marry the person that completes you.”
Enid nodded. “You are right.”
Her mother must have noticed the papers on the desk because she asked, “Did you get any writing done today, Anette?”
“I did not,” Anette said, blowing out a puff of air. “It is hard to make up words that have substance.”
“You could forego writing the book and spend your time finding a husband,” her mother suggested.
“That sounds awful,” Anette declared.
“I have never met a woman that was so against marriage,” her mother stated.
Anette worked hard to keep the displeasure off her face. “Do we have to do this now?” she asked. “We have guests.”
With an apologetic smile, her mother replied, “I’m sorry. I promised you that I wouldn’t pressure you into finding a suitor.”
She was about to respond when Roswell and Caleb stepped into the room and bowed. “Ladies,” they said in unison.
