“Spoken from the heart of a sister.” He chuckled.
After Seth escorted his sister home, he went on to The Emerald Garter to oversee the establishment, except his mind wasn’t on the books in his back office, or the players. It was on Frances. He was more determined than ever to renew their acquaintance and the return of their friendship, if it was at all possible.
Her eyes burned from lack of sleep. Not just last night, but the two nights before and all because of Seth. Frances had not seen him for five years and then encountered him three days in a row.
She also needed to put him from her mind and eradicate him from the one small place where he still lingered in her heart or she might never sleep again.
Stifling a yawn, Frances entered the dining room seeking a strong cup of tea. “I thought you would never wake up,” Bethany complained from the end of the table where she sipped tea.
“I did not get to sleep until the early morning hours.” She had a recollection of the sun rising before sleep finally claimed her. But even that had been fitful and when she woke again, she had simply lain in bed wondering what to do and what she would say if she happened to see Seth again. “What time is it?”
“Noon.”
Her eyes widened. “Noon?”
“Yes, noon.”
This needed to stop. She could not continue to lose sleep. It did not matter if he wanted to call on her or not because she would not allow it. Frances knew that she could not trust him, but was more afraid that she could not trust herself.
“I will ask Cook to prepare something for you to eat, but we need to hurry,” Bethany said, pulling Frances from her thoughts.
“Why?”
“We have an astronomy lecture to attend.”
Frances blinked at her. “Astronomy? You wish to attend an astronomy lecture this afternoon?”
“Yes,” Bethany answered brightly.
“Why? Is that not the reason for hosting salons? Those are discussions that can be held here.”
“Yes, but this lecture is on the discoveries made by Caroline Herschel.”
“Who is she?” Frances enjoyed reading but was not as knowledgeable in the sciences as Bethany, or the arts like Tessa.
“Caroline Herschel was the first woman to discover a comet and detected three nebulae. She was the world’s first professional female astronomer and has presented to the Royal Society.”
“Is she giving the lecture?” Frances asked. While astronomy was not an interest of hers, Caroline Herschel certainly sounded fascinating.
“Someone else is giving the lecture,” Bethany answered.
“I have little interest in attending.” In fact, Frances would be happy to just enjoy an afternoon at home. “You and Tessa can go without me.”
“You must go,” Bethany insisted. “People who attend lectures about a female astronomer are the very people who would be interested in attending our salons.”
“Several people already attend,” she reminded Bethany. Sometimes the ground floor of the house was nearly overflowing.
“Mostly women. We need more gentlemen, especially ones who are willing to gamble.”
Without money being lost at the tables, the salon could not remain open.
“What if there are only women at this lecture?” Frances asked.
“Tessa and I have attended similar lectures previously and they are mostly attended by men.” Bethany grinned. “Now that Tessa has married and convinced her husband to join us, we will attract attention.”
“I still do not think it is necessary that I go as well.”
“It is,” Bethany said. “Consider it as part of your duties.”
