Annie wrinkled her nose in distaste. “I honestly have no idea why. He is the size of a twig and always looks bored.”
“Maybe there is something we don’t see. Most people would have thought Jack and I hated each other,” Mercy pointed out.
Annie snorted. “You may have hated each other but every time my brother was in the same room as you there was no doubt in anyone’s mind, he was thinking very scandalous thoughts.”
Mercy flushed and opened her mouth but snapped it shut.
Clara laughed. She enjoyed the Kincaides’ bluntness. Mercy sighed and rolled her eyes. “Well, I hope he adores her.”
“He does not,” Annie stated and then frowned. “If it were anyone else, even myself, I wouldn’t care. We don’t all fantasize about love, but for Sophia it has to be a love match, or she will be crushed.”
Annie, Clara realized, might act like she didn’t care about anything, but clearly, she loved her family. Annie glared at Landers when his gaze wandered in her direction, and he jerked his head back to Sophia. The Marquess of Derry stopped to speak with Sophia and Landers. Sophia became more animated, and Clara wondered what she was saying. Derry winced but nodded politely.
“Look at Derry. He has shown more interest than Landers, and he can’t stand Sophia,” Annie pointed out.
Clara's blue eyes widened in shock. “Why would you think that?”
“Oh, we spend time with Derry. Jack and he are close friends. We met him while we were living in the Merry Estate before it became the Den. He is a silent partner in the club. Sophia loves to annoy him and say outlandish things to him.”
Clara shook her head, not surprised that Sophia had no concerns about tangling with a marquess. She frowned and said, “Well if she and Landers are a match, she will see him much more. Landers is a close relation to Derry and his current heir. Of course, Derry will likely have his own children and that will change.”
“Poor Derry,” Annie said, and they all laughed.
They were laughing so hard Clara didn’t see Addie approaching at first, but when she did, she immediately sobered. Her normally cheerful friend looked somber.
“Is everything okay, Addie?”
Addie smiled. “May I sit?”
“Of course,” Clara said, making room for her.
Addie sat down and smiled brightly at Clara, but her normal warmth was missing. Clara knew immediately something was amiss with the plan to lure Sam back to London. He didn’t care, she speculated. Years of schooling her emotions prevented her from showing her fury or sadness. She squared her shoulders and sat a little more upright.
“What is it?” Clara asked.
Addie started to speak and then stopped herself. Everyone in the group had grown quiet. Finally flustered, Addie pulled a letter from her pocket and handed it to Clara.
Clara unfolded the letter and read it to herself.
Addie,
I am glad to hear my wife is enjoying herself. That is my only hope for her. If attending the Ball of Sin is her wish then I will, by no means, stand in her way.
Thank you,
Sam Kincaide
Clara crushed the letter in her hand and laughed. Mercy, Annie, and Addie looked at her in shock. She laughed even more, clutching her stomach, and leaning forward.
“Are you well?” Mercy asked, concerned.
She sighed and sat up. “I will be. I once told Sam I wanted freedom more than anything else and you know what, he has given me that. I have everything I want.”
Addie, Mercy, and Annie looked at each other before all turning to her with frowns. She smiled. “Don’t worry about me. As my husband said, I can do as I like.”
“And what is it you would like to do?” Addie asked.
She felt a small ache in her heart, but she pushed it away. “I would like to attend the Ball of Sin and perhaps find a lover.”
