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And she doubted he would release her from their agreement to marry, not after what they’d done. But she’d always known that a forced union could never fulfill her deepest desires—to be loved, to be needed, to be whole.
Lenora held her stomach as she crossed the threshold of Almack’s assembly rooms, trying to convince herself to set aside her fears.
Perhaps he would come tonight after all. Perhaps she would see him soon.
Then she could explain how excruciating she’d found withholding her many sentiments, her hope, her fear, and her love, from the letters she’d composed. And yet she’d done so for him—for them.
They would be together again and all would be well. She would feel secure again. Safe.
She crossed the threshold in the company of Lady Asquith, the Duke and Duchess of Harbury, Lady Sarah, the Marquess and Marchioness of Redver, and Millie. Then, as planned, her two married sisters and their husbands mingled with the crowd, leaving Lady Asquith to chaperone Millie and Lenora.
Lenora gazed at Harbury and Cassie as they danced. Harbury stared down at his wife with an expression of complete adoration and deep affection.
Lenora sighed. If only...
Beside her, Millie groaned.
Lenora glanced askance. Her sister’s lips had turned down, and she was clearly displeased.
“You had better mask your disgust.” Lenora covered her words with her fan. “I have it on good authority that they plan to dance at least two waltzes tonight.”
“She’s betrayed us,” Millie whispered fiercely.
“You said you liked Harbury, now.”
“I like him well enough,” Millie shot back. “But she’s mooning over him.”
“That she is.” Lenora smiled. “And you thought nothing could be worse than Eliza and Adrian.”
“You’re all mad.” She waved her hand in Harbury and Cassie’s direction. “That abomination over there, Eliza with Adrian, Nettie with Blackwell, and you with Asquith.”
Lenora ignored the pang in her chest.
“Cassie,” she forced a light response, “has too loving a nature to ever be called an abomination.”
Millie groaned. “The way her feelings for her husband spill out of her eyes is worse than having our underthings out on a line to dry where everyone can see.”
“Sst,” Lenora hissed.
The last thing she needed to think about was their underthings. Soon, she would be thinking about man-shifts. And then, she would be thinking about—
She scowled at Millie. “You can’t say,”—she mouthed underthings—“at Almack’s. Are you trying to get our vouchers revoked, too?”
“The patronesses wouldn’t dare.” Millie tossed her head. “Not only has Lady Asquith taken us under her wing, we’ve both a marquess and a duke for brothers-in-law.”
Oh dear. Lenora knew that militant look in Millie’s eye.
“Well...” she searched for something that might distract her sister. “I’d rather stay on Lady Asquith’s good side.” She lowered her voice. “If everything goes well, I will need her approval.”
Millie’s gaze moved somewhere behind Lenora’s shoulder. “How are things going?”
Lenora’s throat tightened. “Nothing to report.”
Millie glanced back to Lenora, suspicious. Lenora schooled her features. If she betrayed the least bit of upset, Millie’s mutinous mood would end with Simon ripped to shreds.
“Yet,” Lenora added.
“Nothing since the hedge?”
