As she walked, she imagined she heard her name behind whispered hands. It was her overactive mind, to be sure. But then she heard it again. And again.
Without pausing, she glanced warily to the side. An older lady with several large feathers tucked into a turban and her friend looked away immediately upon Amelia’s eyes landing on her. Amelia swallowed, gaze darting forward again. She glimpsed Henrietta in the crowd and gripped her skirt within her hands as she made for her. Her chest hurt from the pain of her heart beating wildly, refusing to be calmed even though her mind firmly told it to.
Something felt wrong. More wrong than seeing Miss Brooks with her husband. More wrong than Edith’s usual vindictive ways.
“Henrietta.”
Henrietta jumped at Amelia’s abrupt interruption. But after glancing into Amelia’s face, she stepped delicately from the circle of ladies she had been a part of.
“Amelia, I hadn’t any idea you were coming tonight.” Henrietta smiled at her, though her eyes appeared worried as they swept Amelia from head to toe.
Amelia furrowed her brow. “I informed you that I would after you requested I come in your letter this morning. I returned the missive immediately.”
Her sister’s brows sloped inward. “I am happy you are here, to be sure, but I did not send you any letter, Amelia.”
Amelia stilled. If Henrietta had not sent that letter, then who? And why? “Are you certain?”
Henrietta laughed as if this was all great fun. As if the room were not closing in on them both. “I believe I would remember what I did this morning. Oh! Here comes Sir Frederick to claim his dance.”
Amelia glanced over her shoulder to see the approaching figure of Sir Frederick. He was still across the ballroom but was heading their way.
“Henrietta.” Amelia attempted to regain her sister’s attention, trying desperately to connect the dots, for they certainly must connect in some way. “Henrietta, did any letters come for me this morning?”
Her sister glanced back at her, still smiling. “No, why?”
“Have you been with Edith a great deal today?”
“The whole of it. We always prepare for balls together. Well, I suppose there was a brief moment when I left to find Mrs. Braith and ensure one of the maids had polished the back hall, but I was not gone more than five minutes. I remember because Miss Brooks commented on how efficient I had been.”
Miss Brooks. Edith. Maybe even Henrietta? The letters. Edward. Somehow the dots must connect. Buthow? She looked toward the card room and could not see Edward any longer.
But Miss Brooks was stalking steadily toward them, a satisfied smile on her face. During Amelia’s brief glance her way, she saw the woman pause, whisper something to a young lady behind her fan, then continue onward. As she left her, the young lady gasped and searched the crowd with wide eyes.
“Mellie dear,” Miss Brooks said, coming to a stop beside her and Henrietta. Henrietta took half a step back, as if to make herself continually visible for Sir Frederick.
“Miss Brooks.” Amelia did not even nod her head in acknowledgment.
“Dreadful timing for this all, is it not?”
“For what?” Henrietta asked the question, though Amelia sorely wished to know the answer as well. The connections were growing stronger in her mind.
“Why, the gossip of course.” An off-putting smile graced her face.
“Oh dear, whatever could you mean?” Henrietta stepped closer to them again, shooting a harried look toward Sir Frederick’s approaching form. He had stopped to speak with a gentleman halfway across the room.
“You have not heard? Oh, it is terrible indeed.”
“Please, Miss Brooks, you must enlighten us. I-I cannot risk any scandal. Not tonight. Papa said... well, I cannot have any scandal.” Henrietta had lost her smile and seemed nearly desperate.
“I hate to... but, if you insist... it seems Mellie here is the name on many a tongue yet again tonight.”
Henrietta looked at Amelia aghast. “But... why?” Though she asked the question of Miss Brooks, her eyes did not leave Amelia’s. She looked disbelieving, but beneath that emotion Amelia detected fear.
Miss Brooks lowered her voice as if imparting a great secret. “Apparently, the true number of women that Lord Norwich offended has come to light. It is staggering, to say the least, and reflects very poorly on Mellie dear. She is, after all, intimately connected to him. And...” She dragged the word out, and Amelia felt as if her nerves were being wound quickly about an embroidery needle. “Now the gossips are saying that little Mellie is hiding a disfigurement, and therefore your father did not want her, and that is the true reason he allowed such a scoundrel to marry her. And, sadly, even Lord Norwich seems to be writing to women outside of his own wife.” She tsked. “It is not particularly surprising, though, is it? Edith has always said she would pull the family name through the mud. She attempted to have your father cut ties with her long ago. But Iamsurprised you have not heard; it is what nearly everyone is speaking of.”
She spoke as if Amelia were not even there, and Amelia dearly wished she were not. She stepped back before realizing she had nowhere to go. Whispered voices reached her ears, and eyes darted away from her when her gaze swept round.
“That is horrible.” Henrietta sounded shocked.
