Chapter 1
“Anastasia, my dear! Whatareyou doing here? And without sending word ahead! We were not… expecting you.”
Anastasia winced at the tone of her mother’s voice. The Viscountess of Wilkins had always been a woman of theatrics, quick to gasp, sigh, or flutter over the smallest of things. To anyone else, her words might have sounded no more than pleasantly surprised, but Anastasia heard the familiar tremor beneath. Her mother not only had not expected her, but was also not at all pleased to see her.
It hurt. She had imagined a warmer welcome after two years away at her aunt’s quiet country home. When her mother had drawn her straight into her private chambers, Anastasia had allowed herself to hope it was a sign of welcome.
I should have expected as much. Yet, foolishly, I still hoped for something… different after all this time.
Anastasia set the thought aside and forced a smile onto her face.
“I am sorry not to have written ahead, but I was eager to come home… it has been so long and…”
Whatever her mother might have replied was drowned out by an excited cry from the room that connected to her mother’s private quarters. Moments later, Serenity came hurrying in, her skirts rustling and her soft chestnut locks flowing around her face. “Anastasia! Welcome back! I did not know you were coming home.”
Anastasia clasped her younger sister’s hands and drew her into a swift embrace, glad to see one person who was pleased with her return.
“I… I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“It is! And a perfectly lovely one. Mama and I were just speaking the other day about my plans for the Season, and I was saying—”
“Serenity. That is enough. There are guests to attend to in the gardens, and it is not polite to leave them without a hostess to greet them.” There was an edge to her mother’s voice that made Anastasia’s heart sink further.
A party—likely a garden party at this hour. That explained the carriages along the drive. And it explained why her mother had ushered her into her private quarters. She must have wanted to be sure that none of her guests would see her arrival—or gossip about her return.
Of course, she would hide me away. I am still the family’s shame. Perhaps I deserve it… but I thought two years of exile was punishment enough. Am I never to be more than my scandal?
The thought made Anastasia straighten her shoulders and lift her chin. While it was true that she had been relieved to escape from the eyes of society two years ago, things were different now. “I apologize for not offering more warning, but I was eager to be home. After all, it is Serenity’s third Season, and after two years away, what better time to—”
“Oh, you simplymustbe in jest!” Lady Dawson put a hand to her forehead. She feigned a stagger before falling heavily—though gracefully—onto the couch that looked as if it had been placed there solely to accommodate her mother’s dramatics. “You want to come backhere? For your sister’s Season? How could you think… Your father would be furious to see you! And the way the ladies of thetonwouldtalk!”
The last word was almost a wail as her mother drooped into a reclining posture, her face twisted into a carefully elegant mask of tragic distress.
“Howcouldyou risk tainting Serenity’s prospects, after everything…”
“Surely, it is not that bad, Mama.” Anastasia bit her lip. “It has been two years. I am certain most of thetonhas forgotten all about me. With two Seasons’ worth of scandals and news to gossip about, they will find me utterly uninteresting.”
“Oh, you foolish child!” Morticia sniffled into a lace handkerchief. “You do not understand… Serenity’s prospects if she remains under the same roof as someone withyourreputation… Oh, it is not to be borne. The strain on my poor nerves…” She huffed pitifully.
Anastasia remained unmoved. She had seen her mother succumb to such fits of hysteria before, and it only served toreinforce her privately held belief that her mother was wrong; no one would care about her presence. Serenity frowned, a worried line creasing her youthful face before she stepped forward.
“Mama, I do not think it so bad as all that, but if you are worried, I am certain Evangeline might let Anastasia stay with her if it would ease your… Ouch!”
Serenity jumped and yelped in an almost unladylike fashion as her mother, in one of the sudden reversals Anastasia had suspected might occur, darted from her fainting couch and seized her youngest daughter’s ear. “That is out of the question. Anastasia will most certainlynotbe imposing on your elder sister after her disgraceful behavior when she jilted His Grace and ran away. It would be the height of poor taste. No, absolutely not.”
The Viscountess marched her youngest daughter to the door and directed her firmly into the hallway. “Now, you will go and entertain our guests, as a proper hostess should, while I speak with Anastasia.”
“But, Mama…” The door shut on Serenity’s entreaties, and Anastasia braced herself as her mother turned to face her.
“Mama…”
“Now listen to me. If your father knew you were here, he would be quite livid. Especially if you were to embarrass him by showing up at a public event like this. What would people say to see you swanning about like some unrepentant hussy?”
Anastasia flushed despite her determination not to allow her mother’s words to sting. “Mama, are you sure you are not exaggerating? It cannot be so terrible as all that. It has been two years…”
“And if it were two decades, your appearance would still set tongues wagging among thetonafter what you have done.” Her mother shook her head. “No, you simply cannot be here! Serenity has already struggled too much with her past two Seasons because of yourscandals.”
“Mama, I think you are overreacting, like you so often do.” Anastasia stiffened her spine once more. “But there is a simple way to test the truth, and prove to you that people barely remember what happened.”
