“Then it is a mighty fine thing that you were not chosen to be the Almighty,” Georgie snapped, smiling to soften the blow. “None of us would make it to heaven if you were. I like Hugh as he is now, and I will even go so far as to say he is good for Elinor.”
“I am not hearing this.” Charlotte covered her ears and pointedly looked out of the window.
Grace waved a dismissive hand. “It must be exhausting to have that much indignation about so many things. Are you all going to the theatre tomorrow? Henshaw asked Aubrey if we had a box, and we do, naturally, but…”
“I would love to attend,” Kitty Morton chimed in, her soft voice ringing out clearly, surprising Edith.
A gentle beauty, Kitty was the shyest creature Edith had ever known, but in the last year, she had begun to come out of her timidity. Not entirely, but just enough that Izzy may wish to warn her husband, Kitty’s brother, about the potential for an increase in suitors this Season.
The poor man would not take that well.
“Edith? Will you go?”
Edith inhaled sharply as she looked around, belatedly realizing the room’s attention, including Charlotte’s, was on her.
Wetting her lips, she answered carefully. “I would be delighted, provided I can find something suitable to wear.”
Kitty’s brow furrowed. “Why should that be an issue? You always look lovely.”
Edith could have hugged the girl for her innocence, if not for her lack of understanding of fashion. “I took an inventory of my gowns this morning, and there isna much suitable for fine occasions. I can do well enough by visitations and outings, but for balls and parties, I should attract more attention for standing out in a poor way, no’ a good one.”
“What do you mean ‘something suitable’?” Charlotte asked suddenly, giving her a look of scrutiny. “You have plenty of lovely things, you have always looked well.”
This was not the direction this conversation should have gone, yet there was no escaping it. Not with that glint in Charlotte’s eye and the mixture of interest and concern she saw on the other faces in the room.
She met Charlotte’s eyes briefly. “I had lovely things. Once. I still have those lovely things, but it has been a few years since I’ve worn them, and they are out of fashion now. You have seen me wear what is appropriate for small gatherings and evenings with friends, no’ the finery and elegance expected in Society.”
“Can you not afford new things?” Grace asked as she set her teacup down, her eyes widening. “Your gown the other evening…”
Edith swallowed and shook her head without saying a word.
“What about updating the things you have?” Kitty suggested. “I know that Mrs. Forrester down on Bond Street can do some lovely things to old gowns.”
Again, Edith shook her head, her cheeks beginning to warm. “I canna afford that, either.”
All the ladies looked at each other, then back at her.
“Edith, how bad are things?” Georgie asked softly.
So long as the topic of discussion remained on her finances, and did not venture into other distantly related parts, she could bear the explanations she must give.
If things turned, however…
Edith bit her lip and felt tears start to rise as the strain of burden began to weigh more heavily on her. “I told you all from the beginning that I was in diminished circumstances. But the truth of the matter is that I have almost nothing, and it will only get worse. If I don’t succeed this Season, I will be ruined beyond any hope of saving.”
The silence in the room was complete, and somehow, her next swallow was the only thing to break the moment.
“Succeed how?” Izzy whispered.
“Ruined?” Prue repeated.
“Edith, I think you had better tell us everything,” Grace said sharply, coming to sit beside her and take her hand. “All of it. From the beginning.”
Edith nodded, though her mind spun as she quickly separated the complicated matters of her life into what she would share and what she would not.
Slowly, she told them about the loss of fortune with Archie’s sudden death, the loss of Haidh Park, the sharply reduced number of servants, the condition of her house in London, her current finances, and Sir Reginald, but only insofar as to his forcing her out of York and now descending upon her in London. His offers, behaviors, and threats would remain unspoken, her secret shame, and were it not for her need to gain security in some manner, she would have left him out entirely.
Even so, shame filled her with every admission, until she was nearly ill with it.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Charlotte cried, looking a little shaken. “We could have done something!”
“There’s nothing to be done,” Edith assured her softly. “I’ve tried, both in York and discreetly since my arrival here. I cannot refuse Sir Reginald’s coming to call; he could make so much more trouble. But he wields such power over my living.”
“I can spare some additional servants,” Grace said firmly. “And Aubrey will find you a bodyguard.”
“Tony will be your bodyguard,” Georgie ground out, looking murderous as she set her son on the rug to play. “Or call in his old company. Henshaw and Sebastian…”
“Sebastian will go,” Kitty and Izzy said in almost an identical tone.
Edith laughed a watery laugh, shaking her head. “I have a servant that will do very well for that. You all know Owen, he has been with me for ages, and he is from home. He takes care of me as well as he can.”
Grace nodded. “Good. But I will still send some servants.”
“I cannot pay them,” Edith reminded her.
She smiled with genuine warmth. “That’s all right. I can.”
Prue sat forward as much as she was able. “Cam might be able to help your situation, Edith. His brother-in-law, Mr. Chadwick, has some high connections and works closely with Mr. Andrews. They are very familiar with the law and have a great many connections. Will you permit me to ask them?”
Edith nodded, feeling as though she might cry. “But discreetly. I cannot have Sir Reginald suspecting that I am working against him. He has all the power now, and I have none.”
Prue grinned a bit mischievously. “Oh, you have plenty of power, my dear. Between us and our husbands, who, by the way, are already quite protective of you, you will be quite powerful, indeed. Cam has already very passionately quashed some rumors and declared his loyalty and support of you, and I am delighted by it.”
Edith grinned at her sudden energy, as well as her complete lack of stammer. She was most touched by Prue’s words. “I hoped your husband might think of something, Prue.”
“He will,” she vowed, smiling at the mention of him. “He has a very intriguing view of the world and is quite brilliant. I think many would be shocked at how much he holds back. He will stand by you, Edith. He may even sleep on your doorstep to assure himself of your safety.”
Edith laughed at the image of the tall and rascally Camden Vale sleeping outside her door.
What nonsense!
“I shall be grateful for his help, however he may apply it,” Edith told Prue, taking her hand. She looked around at her friends, her heart tightening in her chest. “From any of you, and any of them.” She exhaled a short breath, then ventured to admit one thing more. “The fact of the matter is that I must find some protection this Season. If that means marriage again, so be it. If I may only find protection by the law, that will suit, as well. But the more my circumstances are made known, the more dangerous the path will be.”