“I’m not sure what he will do.”
Alice looked at her weirdly. Her daughter was becoming far too perceptive. Lisbeth sighed. “I have to visit Seely House today for a few hours, but I promise tonight I will read your favorite story.”
Lisbeth kissed them both and smiled at their governess on her way to the foyer. Before she could leave, Morrison stopped her, carrying a bundle of mail. Her eyes widened. “Are those for me?”
He shook his head. “They are for Mr. Easton.”
They must be letters from his admirers. Jealousy flared in her. One of the gossip sheets had insinuated that Thomas might have married too early and didn’t realize how many admirers he had. She pushed the thought from her mind. “Please bring them to the guest chamber.”
Morrison nodded. Lisbeth pushed away all the emotions bubbling in her. She needed to go to Seely House. The place and the club had become her refuge over the last year.
A few hours later, she sat in the office alone. Lisbeth was somewhat relieved. The papers were printing outrageous stories about Thomas, and Lisbeth had no way to explain it. She glanced at the ledger she was working on. She’d taken charge of the club’s finances and enjoyed it. They weren’t making a great deal of money, but more than breaking even.
She had hoped Rose would be here. One of the guards had told her she had finished the ancient epic. The hero lives happily ever after with the princess. Why did the epic seem so less complicated than real life? Feeling restless, she rose and walked to the research room. The two tablets were held in a glass case there. They would join the three other tablets in the exhibit room and be revealed at their next event in a month.
Lisbeth ran her hand across the glass; pride thrummed through her that she’d found them. Traveling to Syria was nothing like her current life, but she’d enjoyed it. She’d played a part in finding the first-ever ancient cuneiform story.
Motion at the door made her glance up; Addie peered at her. “Hello.”
She smiled at her. “Hello, friend.”
“Diana, Esme, and I just arrived and thought we’d have some tea. Would you like to join?”
Lisbeth wasn’t sure she wanted to do that. She didn’t want to answer any questions. As if reading her mind, Addie held out her hand. “Only share what you want.”
She placed her hand in Addie’s, and they walked to the office. Sarah and Rose were now in there as well. Lisbeth said, “Everyone is here.”
“We’re here for you. We want you to know that you aren’t alone,” Sarah provided.
She felt grateful for these women. “It is too complicated even to begin to explain.”
Esme ushered her over to the sitting area, and Diana asked, “Do you love him? He’s been at the Den, looking pretty miserable, my husband has told me.”
“We were so in love once. He felt like a part of me, and I felt like a part of him. Still, there have been so many changes in the last ten years. Marrying may have been foolish. No, not may, but was.”
“He loves you, Lisbeth,” Rose said, her voice filled with certainty.
“I believe he does, but it may not be enough.”
“He is behaving like a fool,” Esme tutted.
She shrugged. “He isn’t the only one at fault.”
Addie squeezed her hand. “What can we do?”
She smiled softly. “Just being here like this makes it better. Tell me something that doesn’t have to do with what is in the gossip sheets.”
Rose smiled. “I finished the epic.”
“The guard told me that,”
Her friend grinned, “Belit and Sibri end up together. He fights with the king but doesn’t kill him. The king agrees to let him and the princess be together, and then they eventually rule.”
“I love it,” Lisbeth said. She glanced at the other ladies. “Do we think that will gain us a spot in the Great Exhibition?”
Addie’s eyes sparkled. “I didn’t want to share too much, but I received a letter from the Royal Commission for the GreatExhibition, which is sending someone to our next event. I think we are close.”
The Great Exhibition would primarily showcase industrial technology from around the world, with a small area of the event dedicated to highlighting clubs and work being done in the field of antiquities. Of course, the London Society of Antiquaries would have a space there, but they were so close to obtaining one as well. Excitement fluttered in Lisbeth’s stomach.
