‘Oh, the captain is certainly a flatterer!’ a musical voice trilled. ‘A flatterer and a jester, are you not,sweetCaptain Elliot, no matter what idle gossipers might say.’
Phoebe frowned as Aurelia paused next to the captain.
‘And Captain Elliot Damerel always keeps his admirers close to his heart, don’t you,dearcaptain?’ she added with a tinkling laugh. ‘Allsortsof admirers.’
‘It is the best and most noble place to keep them!’ Phoebe injected swiftly, aware the captain had gone unusually quiet.
‘Indeed,’ he nodded gratefully. ‘A gentleman never divulges anyone’s confidence. It would be most … dishonourable.’ He bowed sombrely. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me.’
‘Lady Aurelia! How are you?’ Sophie muttered, as the captain took his leave.
‘Oh, I’m positively radiant!’ Aurelia smiled archly, lifting her hand in a way that invited everyone to admire the emerald stone on her engagement finger.
‘I am somewhat accustomed to the idea of beingpromisedto the viscount, so our betrothal isn’t exactly news. And we aren’t to marry until my twenty-first birthday, of course, but he has been most attentive since the announcement.’ She turned to Phoebe. ‘Still, you know all about that, don’t you, Phoebe? Now that your own special announcement is on the horizon?’
Her voice had softened, but there was no mistaking the subtle crow.
‘Indeed,’ Phoebe replied coldly. ‘And I am most grateful I’ve not had to rely on the confidence of others to make it thus far.’
Aurelia stared for a second, before smiling slowly, showing her pearly white teeth.
‘What a strange creature you are,’ she murmured. ‘I do hope you revise your manners once you’re married, for the earl will surely expect his countess to behave better than a common actress!’
‘Indeed, well I hope you revise your tongue when you’re married, for a countess will surely expect a viscountess to show more respect!’ Phoebe retorted.
‘Phoebe,’ Sophie whispered as Aurelia whitened, before reaching for the arm of a gentleman in conversation behind her.
It was already too late when Phoebe realised it was the viscount.
‘Did you hear, Alexander?’ Aurelia quizzed. ‘Miss Fairfax believes I should curtsey and simper on account of her forthcoming nuptials.’
The viscount stared briefly, before appearing to collect himself.
‘Those are the rules, Aurelia,’ he replied abruptly. ‘I understand we will be addressing you as Countess before the month is out, Miss Fairfax. May I offer you my felicitations.’ He nodded, avoiding her gaze. ‘And now, if you will excuse me…’
Phoebe nodded, her chest hollowing as the viscount bowed and walked away, as indifferent as the day they met.
‘These notorious rakes of the haute ton!’ Aurelia sighed. ‘It is such a skill toretaintheir attention – thankfully that is a role for which I’ve been preparing my whole life.’
Phoebe wondered if she was imagining the relief in her voice.
‘What a sad prospect,’ she replied, after a beat. ‘For a girl to be prepared for life solely on the basis of the husband she will attract and marry? Far better she is prepared to think for herself, for the gentlemen I know rarely think beyond their own situation.’
‘Oh, I am all in favour of thinking for oneself, as I’m sure you’ll agree!’ Aurelia retorted. ‘But I’m also a realist. Society works a certain way, and we cannot change it. Any talk or behaviour to the contrary just makes a man vexed and, as we know, a vexed man is … unforgiving.’
She levelled her gaze straight at Phoebe, triumph in her eyes.
‘I do not accept that the only way forward is deception,’ Phoebe returned sharply. ‘If we do not try to influence things for the better, how can we look for change? We will go on living this same meaningless existence?—’
‘It isn’t meaningless if we’re exactly where we wish to be, living exactly how we wish to live! Have I not explained this already?’
‘All you have explained is a willingness to expose others to ridicule and danger!’ Phoebe replied, her anger flaring. ‘Because the hard, inescapable truth is, you’re as trapped as the rest of us!’
She watched Aurelia’s smile die with satisfaction.
‘From the moment we met, you’ve done nothing but scheme and deride and undermine, and while I may not understand the extent of your disdain, I do know this – the one thing you long for, the thing that evades you during the day, and keeps you awake through the night, is the same for you as it is for all of us – your freedom!’
‘No!’ Aurelia hissed, making several mamas in the vicinity look up with interest. ‘I’ve never wanted anything more than my birthright,’ she defended furiously. ‘In exchange, I will do those things that are required of a society wife – and in between, I will live my life exactly how I choose.
