“It’s just—”
“What a pleasant surprise.”
Gwen turns, delighted to find Beth hovering at her shoulder.Lady Demeroven frowns lightly down at them, but Beth’s bright smile has Gwen’s focus.
“Hello!” Gwen chirps, her bad mood vanished. She stands to kiss Beth’s cheek and curtsy to Lady Demeroven. “Will you join us?”
Beth glances at her mother. Lady Demeroven looks around, taking in the packed outer tables. “Ten minutes. I’ll find you somewhere inside—keep on the lookout for Lord Montson.”
“Yes, Mother,” Beth says demurely.
Lady Demeroven gives Beth a significant look and heads inside. Gwen notices her father watching over the edge of his paper, quickly ducking down again when he catches her eye. Gwen snorts and pulls a chair around for Beth so they can squish together at her little table with Albie.
“Miss Demeroven,” Albie says, nodding to her.
“How are you, Mr. Mason?” Beth asks, her cheeks a pretty shade of pink, light green skirts rustling. She looks a bit like a pastry.
“I’m well,” he says.
“He’s going to propose to Meredith,” Gwen says conspiratorially, just to see him roll his eyes.
“Oh, how exciting! She’ll be so thrilled,” Beth says. Her hand snags Gwen’s in an enthusiastic squeeze. Gwen can feel the warmth of her palm even through both of their white kid gloves. “She was telling me yesterday how much she enjoyed going boating with you.”
“Didn’t you fall in the lake?” Gwen asks, clenching her jaw against a frown. She and Beth haven’t attended a single mutual event all week.
Albie glares at Gwen.
“Were you hurt?” Beth asks.
“You should be more like her,” Albie grumbles toward Gwen. “And no. Gave Mere a good laugh though.”
Beth smiles and then turns and meets Gwen’s eyes. “How are you? It’s been ages.”
“I know,” Gwen agrees, squeezing the hand she hasn’t yet released. “Montson’s keeping you busy?” she asks, scooting a bit closer to savor the time they have together without him.
“Yes,” Beth says. “My mother and his have scheduled so many events, it’s exhausting.”
“I assume he’s meeting you here?” Albie asks.
“That’s the plan,” Beth says. “Though it’s awfully crowded. Mother wanted to make sure we’d be seen,” she adds to Gwen.
“You can join us at worst,” Albie says gamely. “I see her all the time.”
Gwen does stick her tongue out at that, just to hear Beth’s high, bright laugh. The sound makes her smile.
“What have you been up to?” Beth asks.
Gwen shrugs, tangling their fingers together. Nothing’s felt as good as sitting here with Beth, soft and close and thrumming. “A few boring tea parties, a few small dinner parties and dances. Bobby’s getting better,” she adds for Albie’s sake.
“Good. Awkward chap,” he says, taking a sip of his tea.
“Did you ever finishMadame Bovary?” Gwen asks Beth. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it after the performance.”
“Yes!” Beth says, turning to face her more fully. Gwen basks in her excited regard, warmth spreading through her chest. “It was almost like a role reversal. I just lent it to my housekeeper, I hope you don’t mind—”
Albie raises a hand, breaking Beth from her thoughts.
Gwen follows his look and spots Lord Montson approaching them, looking thoroughly handsome and affable. Immediately all their cozy loveliness disappears, like being drenched in a bucket of ice water. Gwen sighs quietly as Beth stands up, dragging Gwen up with her, her hand still a vise around Gwen’s own.
