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After the sisters were finished eating, they managed to sneak some of the food away for Emma. As they walked away from Mayfair, Leda sighed dreamily. “That was everything. Wouldn’t you think to come work for Lord Brexley now in a more respectable position of course?”
Ariadne didn’t share her emotion. “After tonight, I’m certain this world isn’t for us.”
Leda looked surprised. “Why do you say so?”
Ariadne sighed deeply as they crossed the graveled street to less paved paths. “I ran into our Uncle today.”
“Really? Did he see you?” Leda asked.
“I didn’t let him discover me. You know he loathes us,” Ariadne said.
Leda winced. “That’s a rather strong emotion,” she said. But it was true. Ariadne had written to him to attend her father’s funeral and he hadn’t even bothered replying. He had also played an active role in throwing him out of the house in the first place when he had found about his relationship with their mother. Seeing him tonight had been a cruel reminder of what the Society had done to George Davy.
The cold, muddy streets closer to home were a stark difference between the two worlds of the rich and poor respectively. The sisters walked in silence to their flat when Ariadne felt her neck prickle and she got a terrible feeling that she was being watched. She peered around but the streets were cold and empty.
“Is something wrong?” Leda asked.
“No,” Ariadne said, her eyes searching around. “I thought I saw something.”
Leda frowned. “What?”
Ariadne felt silly to admit that she thought that they had been watched. There was obviously no one behind them. It was only a figment of their imagination. Emma was waiting for them when they came in. “Did you have a lovely evening?” she asked.
Ariadne handed her the box of food. “I didn’t consider it a particularly industrious task.”
Emma chuckled. “You’d rather spend your day with your inventions than with people.”
“There are a few exemptions. I do love you,” Ariadne pointed out.
“I know, my dear,” she said and then turned to Leda. “I hope you had a better evening.”
“It was cozy and I could gossip discreetly when I didn’t feel like working,” Leda said. “After spending most of my time at home, it felt like a breath of fresh air.”
“Lord Maxwell’s hospitality is unparalleled. He’s a kind man. I’m certain he took care of you,” Emma said. Ariadne dropped her cloak on a chair. “How do you know his Christian name?”
“Yes, even I wasn’t aware of it,” Leda said in amusement.
Emma seemed to ponder on it. “I don’t really know where I picked it up from. He has been a regular visitor to our home for several years now.”
“Maxwell—the name suits him. I like his mustache especially. It’s quite royal,” Leda said. At that Ariadne snorted and Leda turned around with a smirk. “I suppose you find Lord Whitely more handsome.”
“Well heishandsome,” Ariadne said. There was no point in denying the truth. “But let us not pit the two gentlemen against one another.”
“Let’s not,” Leda agreed.
“Where did the mention of the Marquess come from anyway?” Emma asked curiously.
“Didn’t you know? Ariadne has made a friend in him,” Leda said with a giggle.
“Is that so?” Emma asked.
“He’s going to help me to obtain a patent for Pa’s invention and in turn, I tell him all about the reforms he can make here. Even though it doesn’t come under his borough, he’s determined to make some changes around,” Ariadne said. She hadn’t yet told the older woman about Edward’s visit to the studio.
“That’s wonderful, Ariadne!” Emma said. “Just be careful, my dear. I just don’t want you to get hurt.” She was referring to the threatening letters that had been arriving on their door. Just when she had thought they had stopped coming in, another one had arrived yesterday, bringing the count to six.
“I’ll be fine,” she said. She trusted Edward.
“We already have every reason to be afraid,” Emma said. The contents of the letter remained fairly the same—threatening them to leave their home and empty the studio. Ariadne still didn’t understand the why of it. She walked to the window, staring out at the moon when a movement in the street caught her eye. A dark figure darted out from an awning of the shop on the opposite side. The threat was clear to her—they were being watched.
