“Where do you think you’re going?” Said Lavinia.
“To bed,” said Maeve.
“No one is in bed this early except boring ole Patty,” said Presley.
“Patty has the right idea,” said Maeve.
“Come on Maeve,” whined Presley. “You said you’d come!”
“Fine,” she relented, suppressing a smile.
She curled up on the couch across from Lavinia. Annacorta, a second year, leaned back near her legs.
Harriet was absent from this weeks meeting it seemed.
“Spill it,” said Lavinia, tilting her head backwards.
Maeve’s brows raised.
“Malachite Peur,” said Presley.
Violet stiffened.
“What kind of book club is this?” Said Maeve with a grin.
“The best kind,” said Lavinia, pouring her a cup of tea.
“The kind that gossips?” Asked Maeve.
“That’s what I just said,” replied Lavinia, passing her a cup of tea.
Maeve opened her mouth before taking it, but Lavinia beat her to it.
“Just plain boring tea. Just the way you like it.”
Maeve took the tea and thanked her. “So what are we reading this week?”
“Pride and Prejudice,” said Presley with an exaggerated smile.
“Oh good,” said Maeve. “I’ve read that.”
Lavinia smacked Presley on the arm. “We aren’t reading that, Maeve. We’re reading this.”
Lavinia tossed her a bright red hardback book. Maeve flipped open the inside cover to the vulgar synopsis.
“Oh my,” she said with a laugh.
Annacorta grinned. “I’m already halfway through.”
“I don’t know if this is my cup of tea,” said Maeve.
“If Malachite Peur was shagging me it wouldn’t be mine either,” said Presley with a drunken cackle.
“Classy, Barton,” said Maeve smoothly.
Presley stuck her tongue out.
“Just one detail, Maeve,” said Annacorta. “We won’t tell anyone you weren’t a proper lady.”
