“You’ve seen the newspapers.”
“If you could see the prints—”
“Lewd, disgusting things.”
“Snake charmers and such.”
“We are a joke, a circus entertainment for the mob.”
“I was obliged to skulk through Town like a common criminal, and sneak here through the garden.”
“We had to cover the crests on the carriage.”
“Not that there’s any point to leaving the house, when one’s ashamed to show one’s face in public.”
“One certainly cannot visit friends. One hasn’t any.”
“Three hostesses have rescinded their invitations.”
“Seven have declined mine.”
“We may be sure that’s only the beginning.”
“One cannot blame them. Who wants the London mob on the doorstep?”
“All of the neighbors in Berkeley Square hate us, except Gunter’s. They’re doing a brisk trade in pastries and ices, I don’t doubt. But the Devonshires will cut us, you may be sure. The Lansdownes, too. And the Jerseys.”
“You know what will happen next.”
“Riots, I don’t doubt.”
“Lady Jersey—one of Almack’s patronesses—only think what that means. We’ll be taken off the list!”
A stunned silence, then:
“Good grief! What’s to become of my Amy’s birthday ball?”
“Call it off. No one will come.”
“Parker says we must remove to the country. Can you credit it? Now! At the height of the Season!”
By this time, Mama, easily blown by every emotional wind, had given up trying to decide whose side she was on. She’d taken to the chaise longue, where she lay with her eyes closed. Every so often she let out a moan.
Different language,Zoe thought.Different clothing. Different furnishings. Yet so like the harem.
Papa stood at the fire, his back to them all. “Indeed, I can think of no greater catastrophe than to be denied entrance to Almack’s,” he said to the fire. “Two nights ago you sobbed because the little sister you believed dead had turned out to be alive. Two nights ago you marveled at her courage. Now you can’t wait to be rid of her.”
Zoe wasn’t sure whether her sisters had wept with happiness or shock or outrage.
She’d entered the house and found them all—parents, siblings, and siblings’ spouses—in the entrance hall, like an army braced to repel an invader.
What if they don’t know me?she’d thought.What if they don’t believe it’s me?
But all she’d had to do was look up and meet her father’s cold, suspicious gaze while she let the hood of her cloak slide from her hair. Papa had stared at her for a moment. Then he’d closed his eyes and opened them again. She’d watched them fill with tears. Then he’d opened his arms and she’d run into them.
“My dear girl.” Emotion had clogged his voice, but she’d understood every precious word. “Oh, my dear, dear girl. I knew you’d come back.” He’d wept, and Zoe had sobbed, too. She was home at last.
Though she’d come back a woman, not a girl, though she’d been gone for so long, he’d known her. They’d all known her, like it or not. Like all of her sisters, she had her mother’s dark gold curling hair. But she was the only one who’d inherited Grandmama Lexham’s profile and her deep blue eyes.
