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The final notes of the music faded, and the curtain fell, prompting applause throughout the theater. The lights brightened, and Honoria instinctively shrank back into her seat.

“Thank God it’s over,” Lady Somerville announced, adjusting her gloves.

“It’s only the first act,” Elise protested.

“I know, dear. I’m upset about it, too.”

“No, I quite liked it,” Elise countered, but Lady Somerville wasn’t listening any longer. The curtain to their box opened, revealing visitors.

“Lady Somerville! How delightful to see you!” A silver-haired woman in lavender silk swept in, followed by another elegant matron and two young ladies, barely twenty. “Lord Caldwell, a pleasure.”

“Lady Crosby,” Lady Somerville replied with genuine warmth. “And Lady Royston as well. A pleasure indeed. And these must be your granddaughters?”

The ladies descended upon Lady Somerville and Lord Caldwell, barely acknowledging Elise and Honoria. The younger ladies immediately surrounded Lord Caldwell, while the older ladies exalted their virtues.

Lady Somerville smiled with poorly disguised satisfaction as she watched it all unfold.

Honoria shrank farther into her seat, wishing the floor would swallow her whole.

Elise leaned toward her and whispered, “Nory, would you like to take a turn about the theater with me? I’d like to see the Grand Foyer before the second act.”

Honoria hesitated, caught between staying trapped in the box amid Lady Somerville’s obvious scheming and risking being discovered elsewhere. She could be recognized here too, especially if the wrong people entered the box. And unlike in the busy foyer, escape from this little box would be far more difficult.

“Yes,” she whispered. “That would be lovely.”

“Aunt Claire,” Elise said, raising her voice slightly. “Miss Hartwell has kindly agreed to show me the architecture of the foyer. We shall return shortly.”

Lady Somerville glanced at them and gave a curt nod. “Very well, dear. Do not wander far.”

As they slipped from the box, Honoria caught Lord Caldwell’s rather panicked gaze. Or perhaps she was assigning her own feelings to his innocuous expression.

“Thank you, Nory,” Elise whispered, linking her arm through Honoria’s once they were in the hallway and tugging her along. “How am I supposed to find friends during my Season if girls my age keep gawking at my uncle?”

Honoria’s lips twitched into a smile. “I suppose your only hope is that Lady Somerville’s machinations work, and he finds a bride this year.”

Elise wrinkled her nose. “I’m not sure I’d want that either. I’d rather he married once I’m out of the house. I dread the thought of living with a girl my age as my guardian’s wife.”

That was the last thing Honoria wanted to talk about. Her heart ached at the very thought. Yet she found enough wit to joke, “Well, that would be one way to find a friend.”

Elise let out an infectious, sonorous laugh that Honoria couldn’t help but join.

“I would rather Uncle married you,” Elise said, giving her arm a gentle squeeze.

Me too. Honoria chuckled, unable to determine whether Elise was serious or merely joking.

They made their way down the curved staircase into the main foyer, where the crush of society’s elite was almost unbearable. Honoria kept her gaze modestly lowered, focusing on walking beside Elise rather than meeting any faces.

Had she made a huge mistake? Her heart beat loudly in her chest, warning her to turn back to the safety of the theater box. At the same time, Elise happily chattered away, pointing out art, architectural features, and the fashionable gowns of other ladies.

“The detail is remarkable,” Elise was saying, craning her neck to see the ceiling mural. “Look at those figures! They seem almost alive—”

Honoria didn’t hear the rest. She had violently collided with someone’s shoulder—so hard it turned her around. Large hands steadied her briefly before releasing her as though burned.

“I beg your pardon,” she murmured automatically, looking up. And froze.

No—she didn’t freeze. The whole world did.

Everything swam before her eyes, except for the man standing before her.