He walked out and shut the door with a definite click, leaving Carenza unsure whether to scream or cry. She walked over to the window and watched the brothers drive off in Julian’s curricle. If Julian thought to bully her into giving up her scheme, he would be disappointed. All he’d done was make her realize that even he—her oldest friend—had double standards. It made her angry enough to ignore society’s opinion of her.
Olivia was correct. What right did any man have to dictate how she behaved during her widowhood? Her gaze followed the carriage as it turned the corner. She’d expected better from Julian. They’d grown up on neighboring estates, and he’d always been her ally. His disapproval hurt. She sat back in her chair with something of a flounce. She refused to be cowed. Having her name bandied around in the gentlemen’s clubs was nothing new. Hector had even bet on her himself when his finances were particularly low.
But how to manage the matter now that every gentleman in town was aware of the advertisement? She walked over to her desk and took out a sheet of paper. As Olivia had gotten her into this mess, her friend was honor bound to find a way to make things work as planned.
Allegra came into the drawing room, a plate of cakes in her hand.
“Oh! Where has everyone gone?”
“Anton escorted Olivia to her carriage. I think she had him convinced that she’d been the one to place that advertisement. Julian stayed behind to advise me to stop her from doing anything further.”
Allegra set down the plate. “Anton didn’t even come and find me to say goodbye.”
“He’s always had a horrendous crush on Olivia, you know.” Carenza tried to be gentle.
“Hasn’t every man? Even Hector—” Allegra stopped speaking.
“Flirted with her on every occasion they met?” Carenza finished her sister’s sentence for her. “I was quite aware of that, but Olivia would never betray me.”
“Yet she happily monopolized Anton’s time when she knows how I feel about him.” Allegra ate a cake and then another one. “She isn’t always nice, Carenza.”
“I know, and if you wish me to chastise her, I’d be happy to do so.” She indicated the letter she was writing. “I am halfway through composing a note to her demanding she sort out the mess she has created. I can always add an extra paragraph on your behalf.”
“I’m not sure there’s any point.” Allegra was obviously reluctant to let the subject of Anton go. “She’ll just want to know why I didn’t tell Anton how I feel about him and claim that anything she did was to make me jealous enough to stand up for myself. And she’d be right.”
“Unfortunately, she often is.” Carenza blotted the letter. “I should have insisted on reading the advertisement before she took it to the newspaper. I didn’t realize she intended to includeeverythingwe joked about.”
“You should have known she would.” Allegra offered her a cake. “What did you tell Julian when he asked you to intervene?”
“I told him it was none of his business.”
“Does he know her family?” Allegra asked. “I do hope he won’t tell tales on her.”
“As she can honestly deny that the advertisement concerns her, she has nothing to worry about, does she?” Carenza selected a cake and bit into the jammy center. She had no intention of telling Allegra that Julian knew the truth about who the advert was for and wasn’t at all pleased with her. “I am the one risking my reputation.”
“Then perhaps this is a sign that you should not proceed,” Allegra said. “The idea that they are betting on you at White’s is insufferable.”
“But why should men be allowed to get away with such behavior when women are not?” Carenza asked.
“Women are allowed,ladiesare not.”
“Unless they are married or consort with other married men. It is most unfair.” Carenza ate the rest of her cake, as she pictured the revolted expression on Julian’s face when she’d told him the truth. “If Olivia can come up with a suitable way for our scheme to go ahead without drawing any more attention on ourselves, I am still willing to proceed.”
Allegra shook her head. “I believe you are making a mistake, sister.”
“Then I will do everything in my power to make sure that if things do go awry, you are not held accountable in any way.” Carenza met her sister’s worried gaze. “The last thing I want is to damage your reputation.”
“What reputation?” Allegra raised her eyebrows. “I’m Hector’s sister-in-law, and our father married an opera singer who isn’t received in society.” She smiled. “And as Anton has left for India, my heart is already broken.”
“You can do far better than Anton, my love.”
“We shall see about that.” Allegra offered Carenza the plate of cakes again. “As our visitors have all deserted us, why don’t we finish the refreshments ourselves? I can’t bear to see Cook’s good work go to waste.”
CHAPTER2
“Carenza …” Julian glanced over at his companion’s obstinate face as she steadfastly ignored him.
She was pretending to listen to the Italian opera singer serenading the party.
