***
Amelia had seen the moment Henrietta and the rest of her family entered the ballroom. It’d not been hard to keep track of her after that, as Amelia had been studiously ignoring Edward’s looks.
Thinking only of reaching her sister, Amelia nearly ran into a footman carrying a tray. From there on, she slowed her steps and attempted to be more aware of her surroundings. She’d thought she was doing a good job of it, too, until suddenly there was a woman in front of her that she had never before seen.
“Your husband is a scoundrel,” the dark-haired woman said on a hiss, leaning close to be heard over the tumult of noise as she pressed a letter into her hand.
Almost as soon as she’d arrived, the woman disappeared, sweeping past Amelia, who stood with her mouth nearly unhinged.
A coupling of persons to her right was watching her oddly, and Amelia blinked to regain her composure. As quick as she could manage, she shoved the note in her reticule. She didn’t need to read it to know what it said. With unsure steps, she continued forward.
“Oh, Mellie!” Edith had seen Amelia first.
“Hello, Edith.” Amelia not-so-surreptitiously glanced behind her elder sister, looking for Henrietta. She could no longer see her.
“Mellie, I am glad to see you, for the strangest thing has happened.”
Amelia hardly heard her as she glanced to her right, then left, searching out Henrietta.
“You see, nearly a dozen letters were delivered to our home today. Only, not a one was for any ofus. Can you guess who they were for?”
Finally, Edith had her attention. Amelia swallowed. “No, I cannot possibly.” But she could. She truly could.
“Really?” Edith smiled in a snakelike way. “Well, then, I shall tell you. They were, every last one, for you.”
“How nice.” Amelia heard rushing in her ears. What else could those notes be than more warnings? No, the letters were not warnings at all; they were abusive defamations.
“I read one, you should know. It was not nice at all.”
Amelia’s nostrils flared as she once again met Edith’s ruthless gaze. “That was inappropriate. The letters did not belong to you.”
“Yes, well, they were delivered to me, were they not?”
Amelia felt her anger rising. She was entirely through with her sister’s continued disdain. “They were not yours, Edith, and you well know it.”
“My, Mellie, I’m astounded you are more concerned about me than yourself. By the sound of your letters, you have much to be concerned over. Perhaps I ought to speak to Papa about these notes. Or maybe Lord Norwich would be a better choice. Heaven knows he’d probably prefer a conversation with me to one with you.” She had a fist on her hip and a raised eyebrow as she spoke.
Amelia was done. She was tired, not altogether healthy, mentally exhausted, and just generally finished with her sister’s bullying. When she spoke, she struggled to keep her voice level. “I do not see why you care so much to hurt me. Perhaps if you focused half the energy you spend attempting to belittle everyone around you on your husband search, your attempts would be successful. Then, you could cease your endless tormenting of me. I am your sister, Edith, not your competition.”
Edith’s eyes went wide, her mouth pursing dangerously. “You forget your place.”
“No, Edith, I think I have finally found it. Burn the letters. I do not care to read them.”
She turned to leave, but Edith’s icy voice followed her. “You will regret your actions, Amelia.” At least she did not call her Mellie. “Including the ones that led you to marry that terrible man.”
“He is not terrible.” She would not allow her sister to slander him.
Amelia stalked away, breathing heavily. Where was Edward? He would be so proud to hear of her triumph over Edith. Only—her steps faltered—she could not trust him any better than Edith. At least, not a great deal more.
Turning her gaze back to searching out Henrietta instead, Amelia found Edward after all. He was standing near the door into what Amelia believed was set up to be the card room. And on his arm hung Miss Brooks.
Amelia froze. The warmth of the ballroom was oppressive, the noise deafening. And someone bumped into her elbow as they passed. But she could not wrench her eyes from the way Miss Brooks was staring up at Edward adoringly. As she watched, Edward looked down at her and said something. Miss Brooks tittered, or appeared to from this distance, and tucked herself closer to his side. Amelia’s stomach roiled, and she felt faint. She gulped in air, reaching into her reticule for her fan.
At that moment, Miss Brooks looked up, straight into Amelia’s face as if she could sense her stare.
Then the vile woman tilted her head to the side and smirked at Amelia, pulling Edward even closer as she did.
Amelia gritted her teeth and finally tore her gaze from thehappy couple. Henrietta. She needed to find Henrietta.
