Virginia broke the seal. Her mouth fell open as the contents became clear.
This wasn’t personal correspondence. This was notification of a bank draft deposited in her name. The fund manager wished to assure her that the astronomical sum mentioned covered her portion of perfume royalties for the partial month since the debut ofDukeandDuchesscollectible turtledove bottles. All further remittances would cover a full month’s payment.
Virginia pressed the document to her chest and tried to breathe. Her pulse raced at the implications.
For the first time in her life, she was not only a woman of independent means, but a person withoptions.
She could stay right here. This castle, this aviary, this village.
Or she could go elsewhere. Use this money to establish her animal sanatorium anywhere she pleased. The Highlands, the beach, the Cotswolds. Anything she pleased.
Her future was truly up to her.
Giddy excitement filled her chest. She could not wait to tell Theodore. He—
Would not be part of her future.
The happiness fell from her face. They would never share joyful news again. She tried to push the heartbreak from her mind.
This was not the first time she’d lost someone she loved. She would have to be strong and make her own path. Starting with her promise to consider the aviary.
She opened the door and froze just inside the threshold.
The solicitor had not exaggerated. In London, thehaut tonwouldn’t even be awake at this hour, yet the castle guests had filled the aviary almost to capacity.
Not just guests, Virginia realized as she forced herself to inch deeper into the loud, bustling crowd. There was Angelica Parker, the town jeweler. Over there were all three le Duc siblings. Far in the back were Gloria and her betrothed, Christopher. Virginia steadied her nerves.
If she wanted to survive this crowd, she needed a friend. Virginia made her way in their direction, keeping her eyes firmly on the ground before her.
“What are you doing here?” Gloria whispered when Virginia reached her side. “Didn’t you notice all the people?”
Virginia nodded. She hadn’t just noticed all the people. She’dtraversedthem. Taken one hundred and sixty steps from the aviary entrance to where her friends stood on the other side, despite the deafening noise, despite the wayward elbows, despite the onslaught of clashing scents and colors. Her spine straightened.
If she could emerge victorious when faced with such a gauntlet, she could certainly open a private animal sanatorium.
This village was too comforting to leave and too limiting to stay. She would be forever grateful to Mr. Marlowe for taking her in when she had nowhere else to go, but she would not spend the next fifty years in a guest chamber. Christmas had healed her when she was wounded and needed shelter, but now that she was healed, Virginia could not allow it to become a gilded cage.
“Don’t look now,” Gloria whispered. “Lord Ormondtonjust walked through the door.”
Virginia could not possibly look. Every muscle had frozen in place.
“I thought you said Ormondton was at war,” Gloria whispered to her betrothed.
“He looks like he’s been at war,” Christopher murmured back. “What the devil is he doinghere?”
Gasps rustled through the crowd.
Virginia did not move.
“Miss Virginia Underwood,” a familiar, gravelly voice boomed from the other side of the aviary. “This is not goodbye. I cannot leave whilst you still possess my heart.”
“Holy Christmas.” Gloria melted against her intended’s chest. “This is absolutely making the papers.”
Scandal columns?Theodore would not take such a risk.
Slowly, Virginia turned around.
Hundreds of wide-eyed onlookers fell back against each other, creating a narrow chasm between Virginia’s section of the aviary and the main entrance directly opposite, where Theodore stood. Her heart flipped.
