Dearest Gentle Reader, humankind has accomplished extraordinary feats in its attempt to compete with nature. Built ships to travel the globe, castles nearly to the clouds, and now, great balloons to traverse the skies. But no matter how many accomplishments our debutantes have displayed for Queen Charlotte, it seems Her Majesty is interested in only one. And though other young ladies may scramble for Miss Francesca's leftovers, they would be wise to remember the higher one flies, the further one has to fall.
I sit in the drawing room with Lydia and Peter. Charles is off doing whatever it is that a duke does.
"Charles was telling me that Lord Balham was asking about you," Lydia tells me.
"Lord Balham is five and forty," I remind her. "He has already been married twice."
"There was that rumour about the death of his second wife," Lydia admits.
"And the rumours about the death of his first wife," I remind her.
"You are not getting any younger," Peter remarks.
"So your solution to me being unmarried is to marry off to a man who may or may not have killed two wives already?" I question.
"Well if Colin would simply get his head out of his arse," Peter starts.
"I do believe I am working on it."
I smile as Colin walks into the room with two bouquets of flowers.
"You are here," I state.
"Of course I am," Colin tells me.
"And he brought flowers again," Lydia remarks as she takes the flowers from Colin. "Thank you, Colin. You are too kind."
"I should like to make a good impression on at least part of Ruth's family," Colin offers.
I grab Colin's hand and drag him towards the settee. "Now Peter will leave me alone about Lord Balham."
"Has Lord Balham been calling on you?" Colin questions.
I shake my head. "Not yet. But he has been talking to Charles."
"Then we shall tell everyone," Colin insists. "I do not want anyone getting the idea that you are anything other than mine."
I smile slightly. "I like that."
El and I sit in her family's drawing room.
"I went to see Pen," El tells me.
I look at her surprised by the confession. "You did?"
El nods her head. "She has been hiding away after what Whistledown wrote about the three of you. It is not pleasant to have Whistledown write about oneself, is it?"
"It had to be done," I state. "El you must know that."
"I fear it may have been my fault the rumor about you, Pen, and Colin got out," El confesses. "But you should know it was not intentional.
"I am happy to hear that at least," I tell her.
"I am sorry if you still feel as though I have not been much of a friend lately," El tells me.
I shake my head. "We are both busy. We see each other when we can. I am just glad that we are friends at all, El." I take a deep breath. "And because we are friends I must make a confession."
"What is it?" El questions.
"Colin and I are courting," I confess.
"My brother Colin?" El questions.
"Of course your brother Colin," I tell her. "Do you know another Colin?"
El looks at me for a moment. "It does make sense. You have always cared for him. That has never wavered."
