Page 14 of The Season of Lady Chastity

Triston leaned over and kissed his wife soundly. “Your prize, my love.”

Chastity would never tire of seeing the adoration the pair had for each other. That they were unafraid to show it before all of society only added to Chastity’s desire to find a similar connection with someone. She thought of her hand securely in the crook of Bastian’s arm—what if she’d leaned close and whispered in his ear?

Chastity had discovered a newly found brazenness, but such an action would have been noted far to forthright and bold.

Bastian retook his seat, this time barely an inch separating them. From Triston’s hardened glare, it had also caught her brother’s attention; however, just as Triston was about to speak on it, Edith leaned forward and whispered something in his ear. Triston frowned but kept his mouth closed, moving his attention to Roderick.

Chastity needed to remember to thank her sister-in-law.

Next, it was Chastity’s turn, and she reached into the silk drawstring bag that held dozens of scraps of paper with places, things, and people written on them. Edith had drawn Oliver Cromwell, which no one had guessed correctly. Ophelia had selected something simple, yet also unguessable: a rock. Now, it was her turn, and she desperately hoped she didn’t make a cake of herself before Bastian.

Shoving her hand deep into the bag, she riffled around until she finally clasped a slip of paper.

She unfolded it and immediately regretted joining the group.

Love letter.

It was written in Lady Luci’s bold script.

Chastity’s cheeks flamed instantly, and her pulse quickened as she scanned the gathering, searching for a way to convey the clue. She couldn’t retrieve the letter, written by her mother, from her pocket as a hint. Prudence had demanded they not inform Triston of their discovery, and Chastity had, unwisely, agreed without argument. Prudence had said they mustn’t tell their brother, while Chastity silently promised not to speak on the matter until she knew more about who their mother had penned her love letter to.

A knock sounded at the door, and Montrose bid whomever it was to enter while Chastity prayed it would not be more guests arriving to witness her embarrassment.

Chapman entered, extending an envelope to Lady Lucianna without a word before pivoting and exiting the room and pulling the door closed behind him.

Montrose and Luci appeared to expect the intrusion, and the duke’s betrothed quickly broke the seal and opened the letter. When Luci’s shoulders sagged, Montrose rubbed her back, whispering something in her ear.

“What is it?” Ophelia stood and hurried to Luci’s side, as did Edith.

Chastity followed suit, though a little more reluctantly. Despite their many months as friends, she was not always certain the trio accepted her and Pru within their close-knit circle. It didn’t matter. Chastity saw the women as more than mere friends. She longed to see them as sisters, just as Edith had become her kin when she wed Triston.

“My father…” Luci sniffed as her eyes grew heavy with tears, her blue irises twinkling in the candlelight. “He will be tardy to the wedding—if he is able to attend at all.”

Chastity had been witness to Luci’s father’s cruelty. The man had gone so far as to forbid his daughter from wedding Montrose and refused to stand by the couple or give his consent to their union. It hadn’t broken Luci’s resolve or diminished her love for Montrose. In the end, it had been decided that Montrose would host the wedding and celebration at Oxburgh Hall, and the planning had proceeded with Luci’s mother at the helm.

With Edith to one side and Ophelia on the other, Chastity moved to stand behind Luci to show her support.

Luci’s head fell forward, and her raven hair slipped over her shoulders, giving Chastity occasion to read the note in Luci’s hand.

“He says to carry on without him.” Luci hiccupped. “Not that this is the first—or the last time—my father will miss such an important day.”

Sorrow and outrage for Luci coursed through Chastity. She’d heard stories of Luci’s father’s depravity before, it was even rumored that he attended Luci’s coming out ball with his mistress, while Lady Camden and their children watched. Chastity’s own father wasn’t attentive to his children but he wasn’t prone to such outward displays of rakish behavior.

“We knew this might happen,” Edith consoled her friend. “We are all here, and when your father arrives, I am certain he will be happy for you.”

Edith’s murmurs of support faded as Chastity focused on the letter. The missive was short and to the point, signed not Father or Papa, but Cam.

Cam?

How had Chastity forgotten that Lady Luci’s father was Lord Camden?

Could he be…?

Her chest constricted, making it impossible to breathe.

Had Lord Camden known her mother? She’d never once heard her father speak of Luci’s family, nor had Chastity known of Lord Camden and his family before Edith came into their lives.

She needed to speak with Prudence, talk through what she feared might be true. Her sister would set her straight and confirm there was no chance their mother’s dearest Cam was Luci’s father, Lord Camden. If they were one and the same, it would change everything.