“Whose side are you on?”
“Always your side, sister. Always.” Serendipity wrapped an arm around her and gave her a gentle shake. “Never doubt that. If you never wish to see the man ever again, then do not do so. We shall find you another.” She pulled a note out from behind the neckline of her gown and held it out. “I came up not only to hear about your day but also to bring you this. It arrived while you were gone.”
“Must you carry my mail tucked against your bosoms?” Fortuity plucked the stationery away from her sister.
“I didn’t wish the younger ones to see that you are the only one of us to receive an invitation to dinner at Thorne and Blessing’s.” Serendipity grinned. “Even I was not invited.”
“I smell a poorly hidden snare.” Fortuity tapped on the broken seal. “And why was this opened if it was addressed to me?”
“Forgive me. I saw it was from Blessing and assumed it was to all of us. I was wrong.”
While Serendipity did sound contrite, Fortuity still wondered what sort of plot was afoot. Just because Blessing’s lying-in would soon start in no way meant she would remove herself from the matchmaking game. She herself had admitted that sheenjoyed it almost as much as studying her stars. “What is she up to?”
“Up to?”
“Do not play innocent, Seri. It does not suit you.”
“It is dinner with her and Thorne. Saturday next. How could that possibly be sinister? You wouldn’t even require a chaperone to enjoy a private meal at your sister’s home.” Serendipity brightened even more and tapped on the note. “Why don’t you take her one or two of your stories? Her days of being able to leave the house are numbered, you know, and the observatory Thorne is having built for her is far from finished.”
Fortuity almost felt sorry for Blessing’s husband, doing his best to keep his expectant wife happy. “I hope he realizes that nothing he builds will ever compare with her observatory from Papa.”
“I am sure he realizes that, but I also feel certain Essie will make sure he knows his efforts are appreciated. She knows he dotes on her.” Serendipity nodded at the invitation. “So you will go, then? Surely you would never wish to disappoint Essie.”
“I will go.” Fortuity dropped to the settee and rested her head in her hands. The tensions of the day had wearied her beyond comprehension. “Matthew plainly said he could give me nothing more than friendship and help to publish my stories,” she said without looking up. She couldn’t bear to see the pity she knew would be in her sister’s eyes.
“I see.” Serendipity settled down beside her. “And will you be all right with that?”
A sad laugh snorted free of Fortuity. “What choice do I have?”
Her sister folded her hands in her lap and waggled her head back and forth. “You could pursue him and attempt to change his mind.”
“If the man has his mind set, I refuse to demean myself and beg for his affections,” Fortuity said. She might be the plainest of the Broadmere sisters and a confirmed wallflower, but she had her pride. “Besides, once I am established with a publisher, I will need to write more stories for them to print.” She swallowed hard against the knot of emotions choking her. Heaven help her, she sounded pathetic even to herself.
“Tutie…” Serendipity’s tone dripped with pity, making every nerve Fortuity possessed bristle.
“Do not do that.” She rose and returned to the fire to warm her hands. “If that is all, I would like to enjoy some time alone, Seri. I found today very tiring. I am sure you have somewhere else to be or something else to do.”
“It is not true, you know?” her sister said while remaining firmly ensconced on the settee.
Fortuity stared down at the yellow flames dancing throughout the coals. “If I inquirewhat is not true, will you go away?” Shuffling behind her gave her hope that Serendipity was heading for the door. When the hinges squeaked, she allowed herself a relieved sigh.
“You are not the plainest of us,” her sister said from the doorway. “You are simply different, as you should be. Mama and Papa always told you that. I heard them many times.”
“Differentis a questionable compliment in the best of times, and the kindest insult in the worst, dear sister.” Fortuity shifted and managed a wry smile for Serendipity’s benefit. “I will be fine, Seri. Go along now and grant me some time to myself.”
Serendipity stared at her, clearly not pleased and fretting.
“Remember what Mama said about worry lines,” Fortuity reminded her softly as she rubbed her forehead.
With a sad smile, Serendipity mimicked the gesture. “I love you, Tutie, and I promise, all will be well.”
Fortuity huffed a mirthless laugh. “I love you too.” She didn’t add that Serendipity shouldn’t promise that which she could not control.
*
Matthew was inno mood for a dinner party, no matter how relaxed and intimate Knightwood promised it would be. He prayed that meant that neither Fortuity nor any of the other Broadmeres would be there. Ever since the masquerade ball, he’d struggled to control his thoughts about her. And the afternoon he’d read her stories had fouled his mind even more. Truth be told, he had always liked her best of all the Broadmere sisters, always finding comfort and joy in her presence, a genuine affinity, a friendship. Why the devil did he have to ruin it now by thinking of her as so much more,feelingher as so much more? As the months had passed, the impossible-to-ignore feeling became stronger, but he’d managed it. But then came the masquerade ball, and heaven help him, his ability tomanage itwas weakening.
“I do not wish to do this,” he grumbled as he climbed the front steps. He should have asked if Fortuity would be there, but good manners had held his tongue. If not for Knightwood swearing his wife would be reduced to tears if Matthew didn’t accept, he would have spent the evening at the club rather than the Knightwoods’ dining room. And since when did Lady Blessing crave his company so badly? Yes, they had grown quite close over the past year since she had married his best friend, but, to be honest, Fortuity’s currently low opinion of him could very well endanger his friendship with several from his inner circle—namely all the Broadmeres and possibly even Knightwood himself.
