"Let us step out for a moment," he said, "Out to the terrace for some air?"
Alethea's eyes flicked toward the tall glass doors that lined one side of the ballroom. It occurred to her then that he was not asking for them to step out for her sake, but his own. She nodded.
Oliver guided her through the edge of the ballroom, nodding politely at a few guests who tried to intercept them. It seemed everyone wanted a piece of their attention tonight. Finally, they made their way over to the terrace.
"Oh, that's much better," Alethea closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the gentle breeze.
Out here, things appeared much calmer. She kept looking over to Oliver, wondering what must be going through his mind or if the possessive jealousy from earlier still lingered.
"I told the staff to keep an assortment of refreshments out here, in case guests want a cooler retreat." He gestured to a side table where a servant stood ready with chilled lemonade and ices. "Would you care for something to drink? Champagne can only sustain one so far," he added with a slight smile.
"Lemonade would be lovely, thank you."
Oliver fetched two glasses of lemonade himself, waving off the footman's help. When he returned, they stood together, sipping in a comfortable silence for a few moments.
"Penny for your thoughts," Oliver broke the silence finally.
She turned back to him. He had set his empty glass aside, and his full attention rested on her. In the gentle half-light, his features were relaxed. It struck her that this was the most at ease she had seen him in a social setting all night. Perhaps he too preferred the relative quiet of the terrace to the throng inside.
"I was just thinking how peculiar it is," Alethea answered slowly, "that not long ago I had never even been to a single ball. And now here I am, hosting one." She shook her head in wonder.
"Life has changed quickly for you. For both of us, really," Oliver nodded.
She searched his face.
"Are you still angry at your brother for…for forcing these changes?"
It was the first time she had directly broached the topic of the circumstances that brought them together in public. They had discussed the practicalities, of course, but not Oliver's feelings on it.
"I was furious with him for his recklessness and for the danger he put you in, however unintentionally." His jaw tightened. "Part of me is still angry. Theodore has a way of acting without thought for consequences."
"He did act foolishly," she agreed quietly. "But I believe his heart was…in the right place, at least regarding Joyce."
"Yes. He truly loves her. That much even I cannot deny." He sighed. "That doesn't excuse his methods. He could have gone about things properly, spoken to your family, courted her openly. Joyce is a widow of good standing, after all. It wasn't an impossible match."
"But?" Alethea prompted gently, hearing the unspoken addition in his tone.
Oliver's lips pressed into a thin line.
"But now it's out of the question," he said, voice low. "Not after the scandal he nearly caused, and not while I have any say in it."
Alethea frowned. She had anticipated some reluctance from Oliver about Theodore and Joyce, but his tone was ironclad.
"So you mean to forbid them from being together? Entirely?"
"Yes. For now, at least, I have forbidden Theodore from any interaction with your sister beyond polite civility in company," he looked down at her,
Alethea absorbed that, an uneasy feeling stirring in her gut. It was clear to her that Joyce was hurting, as was Theodore.
She set her lemonade aside, folding her hands together.
"Oliver, is that truly necessary? They are both adults. Joyce is a widow, not some impressionable girl."
"I am aware," Oliver replied, stiffly. "But Theodore has a responsibility to our family's reputation, and now, tangentially, to yours as well. If I allowed him to continue courting Joyce after all this, tongues would wag incessantly. They'd say us brothers have some unhealthy obsession with Carter sisters and scandal. I have to consider the greater picture."
He attempted a wry smile, but it fell flat.
"And what of their happiness? Does that not factor into your picture?" She kept her voice soft, mindful of other couples on the terrace, but there was an unmistakable edge to it now.
