She noted her friends’ silence and immediately regretted her words as she took in their worried expressions. She had not intended to burden her friends with such despondent thoughts.
“Do not listen to me,” she said, pulling on a smile, “I am just nervous, I am sure. This will be my first ball where I truly tried to gain attention. It has me on edge.”
“We will be with you,” Theo promised, hooking her arm around Ophelia’s.
“Every step of the way,” Rose added, taking her other arm.
“And we will sic our husbands on any man that disrespects you,” Amelia promised.
“Hugo would love the chance,” Seraphina added with a devious smirk.
Ophelia smiled wide, genuinely this time. She may not have her freedom. She may be losing her father. But she had her friends, and that was worth everything.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Stop looking so somber, brother!” Theo chastised. “It is a party! Look cheerful!”
From across the carriage, Tristan threw his sister a warning look. It washethat chastisedher,not the other way around. Yet here they were yet again, roles reversed, with him sulking about being forced to a party and her insisting that it was time for a marriage. He drew on a wide smile that was as false as wooden teeth, and his sister’s grimace to it was precisely what he was hoping for.
“What is the matter, little sister?” He goaded, “Do I not look cheerful enough for you?”
“Actually ye look quite frightening,” Alistair muttered, shifting uncomfortably in his seat beside Theo.
Tristan’s fake smile shifted into a smirk, and he crossed his arms as he tossed his gaze toward the window, watching other nobles being helped into their carriages as they passed the fine homes.
“You agreed that you would start looking for a wife,” Theo said with a frustrated sigh.
“I agreed that when my life slowed down, I would look for a wife,” he corrected her hastily.
“And seeing as my work has not yet ceased in expediency it would stand to be seen that such a time has not yet come to be.”
Theo tsked her tongue and snapped her emerald green fan across his knee.
“You spirit business has never done better and your number of workers is exemplary. What is it that possibly has you so busy?” Theo remarked.
Tristan glanced to Alistair, who once more shifted uncomfortably in his seat. They had both agreed to keep their assumptions about Perley from Theo until they had hard evidence.
It was not just their investigation into Perley that was taking up his time, though. It was time to move the location of theDevil’s Masquerade,and such a feat required many hands and many hours.
When he did not answer Theo, she tsked her tongue again and rolled her eyes.
“I swear, you and Ophelia grow more alike by the day,” she sighed with exasperation. “She is the one who requested I help her gain an invitation yet she is now just as resistant to join us this evening as you are.”
Tristan’s gaze snapped to his sister at the mention of Ophelia; feeling a tremor run through his entire body.
“What was that?” He asked.
Theo nodded to the window of the carriage as it drew to a stop, and as Tristan looked out, he saw Ophelia standing in front of her house, wrapped in a dark blue cloak with a look of pure discomfort.
“Ophelia is joining us?” He asked, looking back at Theo.
Theo gave him a curious look.
“Yes. Is that a problem?” She asked as the footman opened the carriage door.
He quickly shook his head as Ophelia froze at the open door and stared at him.
“What are you doing here?” She blurted out.
