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“The Ladies of Opportunity shall continue as we have always done.” Aubriella also depended upon the income and would now, more than ever. “Of course, we’ll have to find a new location for our meetings and journey to London to attend them, but it’s only ten miles from Aunt Astrid’s. Perhaps, we shall expand our ventures. Discreetly, of course.”
Roxina pulled her winged brows together. “I’ll need to go to the house to pack my personal things.”
Aubriella needed to collect a few items herself, including da Vinci’s drawings.
Face ravaged with grief, Roxina swallowed and knuckled away a tear. “Shelby’s also using the furnishings to repay Mitchel’s debt. Not that the out of fashion, worn out furniture will bring much coin.”
“God rot Shelby Tellinger for an unscrupulous, self-serving cad.” Aubriella glanced around, double-checking that she’d packed all her belongings before crossing to the bell pull.
“He had no choice, Aubriella.” Roxina fastened the threadbare frogs of her cloak.
Roxina, defending her nemesis, brought Aubriella up short. “How so?”
“Mitchel borrowed money from dangerous men.” Roxina slipped her shoes on. “Shelby doesn’t have the cash to repay them. He didn’t say as much, but I believe they threatened him. He’s as much a victim as I am.”
Eyebrows arched in disbelief, Aubriella snorted. “Pshaw. What tripe. Men are never as desperate as women. Did he mention selling his house or using it as collateral?”
Mouth parted, Roxina stared at her. “No. He did not.”
“There you have it.” Aubriella pursed her lips, still frothing with frustration. “The inarguable truth is, men simply cannot be trusted. I won a wager last night, and Jackson Matherfield has already reneged. Without a jot of compunction or remorse, I might add. Had I been a man, I doubt he would’ve dared such blatant disregard.”
Roxina crossed to her and took her hand. “I trust you’ll tell me about this mysterious private wager on the way?”
“I shall.” Aubriella gave a distracted nod. “We need to hurry, however. The snow increases, Zina, and we must stop in London before continuing to Aunt Astrid’s. Once in Town, I intend to hire a hack to take us the distance, so pack sparingly.”
Roxina snorted this time. “Have no fear there. I own little.”
Aubriella’s heart pinched with sympathy, but Roxina was as proud as Aubriella and despised any show of pity.
Roxina laughed, a sad, hollow-sounding warble, despite her intrepidness.
“Let’s swear off men, dear friend.” She linked her arm with Aubriella’s. “And vow to remain spinsters. We’ll steer the ships of our lives and disdain the winds of fate, society, and men filling our sails to control us.”
“Indeed.” A wave of sadness sluiced through Aubriella. For a few days, Jack had ensured she wasn’t treated as an invisible wallflower. He’d even kissed her as if he truly desired her. With a ragged sigh, she shoved her ruminations into a moldering closet and locked the door. “Who needs men, anyway?”
What she experienced this past week would have to be enough. Yet even as she made her way below with Roxina, Aubriella knew it never would be.
