CHAPTER ONE
“Ionly mean to say – the polite thing to do would have been to ignore it. Ignore them both – who cares what cruel little Estelle and her mother think?”
Nora Wightman huffed in annoyance as she folded her arms.
“It was not polite of them to look down on you for your interests. God knows a few of those would help them seem less like the bland ladies they are,” she stated.
Jane Fenwell sighed, looking sadder than she had been moments earlier.
“It does not matter what they said. I mean – it is not as though they were wrong –”
“They were,” Penelope Waverly insisted in her usual headstrong manner. “Ridiculously so, in fact. Who cares if you prefer to beindoors with your room full of books than mingling with an air of pretense like most of these brainless –”
“Penelope,” Jane and Nora chastised, both of them sporting the same exasperated but fond expressions.
Around them, music and laughter filled the air as people mingled and chattered the night away, some of them pairing off towards the dance floor. A ball was certainly not the right place for Penelope to air her… less than savory opinions about certain members of society, and Nora only hoped that her friend would realize this and choose to let go of her aggression.
Penelope folded her arms and rolled her eyes.
“You both are beginning to sound like my mother. Look, Estelle and her vulture mother do not matter. I believe we came here to find Nora another match after the last one disappointed her greatly. Perhaps we should focus on that?”
Nora and Jane exchanged a look, then both of them moved, assuming a place by Penelope’s side, intertwining their arms with theirs.
“You are absolutely right. Our Jane is lovely and perfect – even with the countless facts she has rattling in her wonderful mind.” Nora nodded.
Jane blushed and mumbled something about how it was pointless to flatter her, and they giggled. But their joy was short-lived as conversations around them began to swell.
“– that her? I thought she would be prettier in person. It’s no wonder –”
“She does not seem to be disappointed. Perhaps it was her fault indeed.”
“She is no doubt here tonight in search of another poor man to make her victim. It has not been too long since things ended with the last one.”
“I’m surprised she can show her face so boldly. After such a shameful –”
“Why should the shame be hers to bear alone?” Penelope spoke up then, silencing the whispers buzzing around them. “I do hope you are being just as critical of the man responsible for this, just as you have chosen to persecute her.”
Nora shook her head, feeling the excitement that had been welling up within her wilt at the whispers that reached her ears.
“Pay them no mind, Penelope. It is not worth it.”
She nudged her friends to the other side of the room, Jane following along easily, whereas Penelope resisted slightly so she could engage in an argument.
“Such uncouth behavior displayed so publicly.” Penelope tutted in disgust.
“I do not care,” Nora stated firmly, her words serving as encouragement to herself as well. “Their words are merely a reflection of their thoughts, and it doesn’t matter what they think. Very soon, this whole charade will be behind me.”
It was not surprising that people were talking, honestly. It was rare for engagements to break so suddenly as hers did, after weeks of courtship no less. But she would not let it slow her down.
Other suitors had expressed interest in her, many of whom had sent her gifts and flowers upon hearing the end of the engagement. That alone said she still had their interest.
This was bound to be her last season. She would make absolutely sure to have secured a proposal.
“There are quite a lot of better options for you to choose,” Penelope nodded, glancing around the ballroom. “But you should err on the side of caution. Do not let any man take advantage of your kind heart, not again.”
“And find someone who is smarter too. Not… one that tries harder to hide his transgressions but rather knows better than to attempt to fool the one he claims to love.” Jane piqued softly.
“If he’s a man, she’ll likely have some trouble with that. They’re as thick as they come, believing somehow to be pioneers of ancient wisdom.” Penelope snorted, walking around her friends to a table laden with appetizers and drinks a few feet away.
