Alexander let out a bark of laughter. “Thewhat?”
Spencer chuckled. “Do not ask me. I do not understand half of what they do. They meet mostly at the Dowager Countess of Thornwall’s house, and the rest is a mystery.”
Alexander leaned forward, intrigued despite himself. “And who attends?”
Spencer ticked them off on his fingers. “Anna, naturally. The Duchess of Winterleigh. And Miss Dowell.”
Alexander’s breath caught.
Theodora.
Of course, she would be part of something with a name as absurd as theCorset Chronicles. He could practically hear her voice now in their little meetings: sharp, clever, and infuriating.
He cleared his throat. “Do you think Rosalind could be part of it?”
His friend’s hesitation was answer enough.
“Spencer,” Alexander pressed, “why not?”
Spencer looked slightly amused. “It is not that she would not be welcome. It is simply… the group is lively and spirited. I believe that they discuss things Rosalind may not be ready for.”
Alexander frowned and tried to imagine what scandalous things a group of high-class ladies would chat about.
“Discussions such as?”
Spencer coughed. “Books mostly.”
Alexander’s brows shot up. “You truly are a terrible liar.”
Spencer waved a hand. “I am sure that they are not improper. Just… bold. Miss Dowell is there, after all. An unmarried young woman she is, so I am sure that they keep the topics innocent enough.”
Alexander’s mind immediately conjured her, and he shifted in his seat.
Spencer watched him with mild curiosity. “Why do you look like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you swallowed a lemon.”
Alexander scowled. “I do not.”
“You do,” Spencer said, amused.
Alexander ignored him. “So, the ladies of theCorset Chroniclesdo everything together?”
“Yes,” Spencer said with a sigh. “Everything. They are inseparable. If one attends an event, the others follow. Speaking of which, will you be attending the Winterleigh Ball?”
Alexander groaned. He had completely forgotten about that.
But if Theodora attended…
Alexander waved a hand dismissively to his thoughts and the ball. “I am not interested.”
“Neither am I,” Spencer admitted. “But Anna’s friend, the Duchess of Winterleigh, is hosting it. So…wemustgo.”
His friend let out a resigned sigh and Alexander both pitied and envied him. Anna had brought a lot of joy into Spencer’s life, and he admired the man he had become because of her.
Alexander’s thoughts halted.
