Embarrassment slithered through me as I set the necklace on the desk and riffled through my papers, understanding dawning. I had mistakenly sent some of my earliest letters—the foolish pining of a lonely child.
Heat flooded me at the blunder. It was too late to rectify my mistake. I had poured all my anger, frustration, sorrow, and loneliness onto that foolscap. It had served more as a journal than anything else. And now, he had mailed them!
If my mother did receive those missives, what would she think of my girlish rants regarding Grandfather’s strictness, my infatuation for the stable hand who lasted only a month before Grandfather sent him away?
Shaken, I attempted to clasp my necklace and failed.
A knock at the door broke my reverie. Freddy entered with a smile. Wearing a new gown of lilac, she glowed this evening.
“Oh, Kitty. That diamond necklace is divine.” With quick steps, she crossed the room. “Here, let me help with you with that chain. Sebastian is waiting downstairs.”
One last formal outing before he left for India.
I relinquished the clasp, my hands suddenly clammy.
“You are truly the season’s incomparable,” she said with a light laugh before turning me around.
I followed her out of the room, feeling very much out of sorts. As we descended the stairs, I heard the low thrum of male voices below.
Upon entering the drawing room, Sebastian’s gaze lifted to meet mine, and he froze, his expression shifting from surprise to something I couldn’t quite decipher. His eyes swept over me with an intensity that sent a flutter to my stomach. With the angry wound slashed across his cheek, he appeared all the more roguish.
I forced a smile, determined to remain poised. “Shall we go?”
A flicker of something—regret, perhaps?—crossed his face. He offered his arm, but as he did, his hand brushed mine, lingering a moment longer than necessary.
“Kitty, I ...” He trailed off, words hovering, unspoken.
For a fleeting second, I thought he might reveal what lay beneath his calm facade. That perhaps this was not merely a farewell evening. But before I could muster the courage to ask, he offered a slight, almost reluctant smile.
“Yes, to the opera,” I said.
As we moved toward the door, his hand still hovering at my elbow, I swallowed the swell of words I dared not speak.
The grand foyer of the King’s Theatre unfolded before me, a sweeping expanse of marble and gilded mirrors that caught and multiplied the glow of chandeliers hanging overhead. I stepped forward, clutching my gloved hands tightly to keep from trembling.
My gown—a deep teal with emerald peacock embroidery along the hem and bodice—clashed with the sea of white dresses surrounding me. A feathered plume in the same striking shade swept up from my coiffed hair, dancing with every move I made. For a moment, I wondered if I was too much—too vivid, too ... foreign.
But I held my chin high, ignoring the curious glances from the other attendees lining the foyer. Let them look. Tonight, I had chosen to be seen, to stand out from the demure elegance around me. Freddy remained by my side as we waited for Sebastian and Edward.
A gentleman had stopped my brother and waved Sebastian into their conversation.
I was tired tonight ... too disheartened to pretend at social niceties and engage in small talk, preferring to move in the direction of the privatebox Edward had secured. We climbed the stairs. Voices drifted from a small gathering of ladies tucked inside the nearest box. The open entrance allowed me to hear more than I intended.
“Lord Chudley—” One woman’s shrill voice caught my attention. “His family is teetering on the edge of ruin, I hear. Practically destitute.”
I tripped upon hearing his name, recovering my balance after I bumped into Freddy.
“It’s no wonder his sister aimed her sights at a certain gentleman at the garden party. A pity she missed her mark,” another woman answered.
Did they mean Sebastian? I hoped not.
“Ah, but our Lord Chudley needn’t worry,” chimed a third woman. “Haven’t you heard? They say Miss Grenville will be his salvation. The two are practically engaged based upon the gossip rags. Oh yes, she danced with him twice, even when her name had been linked to Mr. Sinclair’s.”
“What a coquette!” Another female tittered.
A hollow laugh rippled through the group of women.
My breath caught, my pulse quickening as I took in their words.Engaged?To Lord Chudley? How dare they presume such a thing! Freddy and I exchanged glances as I tightened my grip on my fan.
