Midnight Masquerade

Brotherly Return

The Sinclair household buzzed with anticipation as the staff scurried about, preparing for the arrival of Lord Henry Sinclair. Evelina stood beside her mother, Lady Margaret, at the grand entryway, smoothing out her dress for the umpteenth time. Though her composure was immaculate, her heart fluttered with excitement. Her brother, Henry, had been away for months, and his absence had left a quiet void in their home. The news of his return brought a warmth that Evelina hadn't realized she missed so dearly.

At last, the sound of hooves on cobblestone reached her ears. The carriage rolled to a halt outside, and the butler swiftly opened the door to reveal Lord Henry, tall and broad-shouldered, his handsome face lighting up with a smile as he saw his family awaiting him.

"Henry!" Evelina called, her usual restraint forgotten in her eagerness as she rushed toward him.

He caught her in a brotherly embrace, lifting her off her feet as they both laughed. The scent of the cool evening air clung to his coat, a reminder of the world outside that he had come from.

"It's good to see you, Evie," Henry murmured, using the childhood nickname only he was allowed to call her. Setting her down, he moved to embrace their mother.

Lady Margaret dabbed at her eyes, clearly overwhelmed by emotion. "Oh, my dear boy, it's been too long."

Henry grinned, his arm around his mother. "Longer than I intended, but I'm here now, and you won't be rid of me so easily."

They moved inside, the warmth of the fire in the drawing room enveloping them. Clara, ever the observant friend, made a grand entrance from one of the side rooms. "Ah, our wandering heir has returned! Tell me, Henry, have you come bearing tales of adventure, or were you too busy breaking hearts across the continent?"

Henry chuckled, a mischievous gleam in his eye. "A bit of both, I should think. Though I must say, no hearts have been as difficult to win as the ladies here at home."

Clara feigned shock. "Surely not! I refuse to believe that our countrywomen are anything but the most devoted!"

The family settled around the dinner table, the atmosphere alive with stories and laughter. Henry recounted tales from his travels, from near-misses with runaway horses to an impromptu duel between two noblemen over a misplaced handkerchief. Lady Margaret watched her son with adoration, her stern exterior softened by the joy of having her children around her again.

But as the night grew later and the house quieted, Evelina found herself restless. After saying goodnight to Clara and her mother, she wandered through the halls of the manor, the firelight casting long shadows on the walls. She tugged the edges of her nightdress closer to her body, feeling the chill of the evening air as she made her way to the kitchen. A cup of warm milk, she thought, might help her sleep.

As she descended the stairs, a faint light caught her eye. It flickered under the door of the study. Curious, Evelina approached, her footsteps soft on the floor. She hesitated for a moment before gently pushing the door open.

What she saw inside stopped her heart.

There, in the dimly lit room, her brother stood, locked in a passionate embrace with none other than Lady Arabella. The sight of them, so intertwined and unaware of the world around them, struck Evelina like a physical blow. Her hand flew to her mouth to stifle a gasp, but the sound escaped before she could stop it.

Henry and Arabella sprang apart at the noise, both turning to face her, their expressions a mixture of shock and guilt. Arabella, ever the opportunist, quickly gathered her skirts and fled the room, leaving Henry standing there, staring at his sister with wide eyes.

"Evelina—" he began, but she cut him off.

"What in heaven's name are you doing?" Evelina's voice was low, but trembling with fury and hurt. "With *her* of all people? Do you have any idea what this could do to us? To *you*?"

Henry sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "It's not what you think—"

"Not what I think?" Evelina's voice rose, the shock giving way to anger. "Arabella is my *enemy*, Henry! She would ruin me if she had the chance. And you... you've given her everything she needs to do it."

Henry took a step forward, his expression softening. "Evie, listen—"

"Don't *Evie* me!" Evelina snapped, backing away. "You're reckless. Do you even understand the scandal this could cause? Do you think Arabella will keep this a secret for long? She will use this against us the first chance she gets."

Henry's face tightened. "I'm not a fool, Evelina. I know what I'm doing."

"Do you?" She shook her head, the betrayal cutting deep. "You're playing with fire. If this gets out, it won't just be you who suffers. It will be all of us. The Sinclairs. *Me*."

The weight of her words hung in the air between them. Henry looked down, his brow furrowed, as if realizing for the first time the gravity of what he'd done.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, but the apology felt hollow.

Evelina swallowed, her throat tight. "Sorry won't fix this, Henry. You need to end it. Now. Before it's too late."

Without waiting for his response, she turned on her heel and left the room, her heart pounding in her chest. The betrayal was fresh, raw, and the weight of what she'd seen hung over her like a dark cloud. As she made her way back to her room, Evelina's mind raced with fear of what would come next.

Arabella wouldn't keep this a secret for long. And when the truth came out, it would be far worse than any of them could imagine.