“I read about your jewels in the papers; the auction at Rundell’s was quite a to-do, wasn’t it? Were thosedivinepearls part of the collection?” Rosie said brightly.
Touching the lustrous strand around her neck, Gabby gave a glum nod. “You should see the sapphire necklace. It was owned by acomtesseof something or another, and I feel like an utter imposter wearing it. But the jewels are the least of it. Father’s had an amphitheatre built to showcase the entertainment. He’s hired The Great Nicoletti to perform magic tricks, and there’s a troupe coming from Astley’s—”
“Astley’s?” Violet’s mind had drifted off during the jewelry discussion, but now she bolted upright. “As intheAstley’s Amphitheatre?”
“The one and only. Madame Monique and others will be performing.”
“Gadzooks,” Violet breathed.
Excitement blazed through her. She adored Astley’s—and Monique Le Magnifique, the famed French acrobat, was her ultimate idol. “That’s smashing news! I cannot wait to meet Madame Monique. Do you think she’ll share the secrets behind how to stand on a moving horse or how to balance on a tightrope—”
“Have a seat, dear,” Marianne said mildly, “and let Gabby finish.”
Violet hadn’t realized that she’d risen. She sat again, her heart thumping.Meeting Madame Monique in the flesh. Absolutely brilliant!Through the years, she’d practiced countless moves inspired by the acrobat; she wondered if the diva would mind giving her some tips.
“… Father wants me to be a success ever so much, but the fact is I’m just a wallflower,” Gabby was saying. “What if nobody deigns to come to my party?”
Understanding suddenly perforated Violet’s delight. Gabby’s father was a banker whose fortune came from clients who were, well, a bit unsavory. In fact, while the Kents adored Gabby, they were not fans of Mr. Billings, whom they’d first met during the course of a murder investigation. With his wealth, Billings could purchase his daughter’s entrée into the upper echelons, but acceptance was another matter altogether.
The banker’s background and lack of blue blood made him and his daughter parvenus in the eyes of theton, who treated them with barely disguised scorn. In fact, some cruel wit had saddled Gabby with the title of “Paper Princess” due to her papa’s trade in banknotes. Like Violet, Gabby knew what it was like to be an outsider.
Vi summoned a teasing grin for her friend. “What arewe—chestnuts? We Kents will be there in full regalia to support you. Even Thea and Tremont will be coming, although they’ll arrive a bit late.”
Thea, the second eldest Kent sister, had recently married the Marquess of Tremont. Given the adventures that had brought the pair together, they’d opted to spend their honeymoon rusticating at Tremont’s country seat.
“We wouldn’t miss your fete for the world,” Rosie chimed in. “Weadoreparties.”
“Society is agog to see what has been done to Traverstoke since the Earl of Woldier sold it to your father,” Marianne said. “I predict you’ll be bursting at the seams with houseguests, albeit curious ones.”
“I don’t care if they’re curious—only that theycome. I’m so grateful to all of you. I’m terribly afraid of disappointing Father: he wants so badly for me to make a splash.”
“Be careful what you wish for.” Eyes sparkling with mischief, Rosie said, “Or haven’t you heard about the most recentsplashin Society?”
Violet’s stomach plummeted.Crumbs. Not this again.
“You mean Viscount Carlisle?” Gabby said, an odd note in her voice.
Rosie’s golden ringlets bobbed as she nodded, giggling.
“It’s not funny. It isn’t Christian to laugh at another’s misfortune,” Vi blurted.
All eyes turned to her.
Em blinked. “Well, I suppose that’s true. But usually you’re the first one to laugh at the ridiculous, Violet.”
“Carlisle’s not ridiculous. He just slipped and fell…” Violet’s face heated; she bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from revealing more.
“I didn’t sayhewas ridiculous, just the fact that a grown man managed to tumble into a fountain.” Emma’s head tipped to the side, her clear brown gaze narrowing. “You weren’t somehow…involvedin the incident, were you? At the time, we were looking all over for you, and you were nowhere to be found.”
Vi didn’t like the keen look in her sister’s eyes. Before becoming a duchess, Em had aspired to join Kent and Associates, Ambrose’s private enquiry firm. In fact, it was during the course of Em’s first investigation that she had captured Strathaven’s eye and his heart. Even now, with her husband’s permission—and, on occasion, without his knowledge—she participated in the odd case.
Vi tried not to squirm. “Like I said before, I witnessed some of it, but I didn’t linger.”I hightailed it out of there as fast as I could.“I just don’t think it’s fair to laugh at the man.”
Marianne’s lips thinned with distaste. “I wouldn’t think you’d defend Carlisle, of all people. After the abominable rumors he started—why, Ambrose had half a mind to call him out.”
“So did Strathaven,” Em said, “but doing so would have damaged Vi’s reputation further. It was best to ignore the whole thing and let it blow over. Which it has, thank heavens. Otherwise His Grace would have had Carlisle’s head on a spike—and I would have encouraged it.”
“You always were a bloodthirsty thing, pet,” a deep masculine voice said.
