Everyone knew that Lementeur gowns cost the moon and a half. Every fashionable lady of London recklessly bankrupted her family coffers for one or two of the exquisite works that were guaranteed to make the most of her assets and render her flaws negligible — or even miraculously turn them into assets as well!

However, Worthingtons didn't pay. Attie didn't know why and she really didn't care, but although their house was comfortably shabby and their carriage rickety and their horses old — but beloved! — they all still wore the most brilliant fashions of the great and elite Lementeur.

Attie had decided some time ago that Button must've lost a bet. Probably with one of the twins.

It didn't really matter to her, for she had no intention of dressing in other than her own preferred wardrobe of baggy gowns swiped from her elder sisters storage trunks accessorized with trousers and boots swiped from her brothers. In the alley, she'd worn a shepherd's cap and an old seaman's coat. Her cousin Bliss had married a ship captain. Attie had scrounged in their storage trunks as well, on a boring rainy day much like today. Secretly, of course.

Abruptly she wearied of Button's insistence. Time for a counterattack. "I want to know the truth about Cabot."

Button's cordially piercing gaze dropped at once. If he had been anyone else, Attie would've felt a twinge of triumph. But scoring points off Button — sweet, generous, loving, uncomplicated Button — well, it was simply cheap. She was ashamed of herself. Wild horses and bamboo splinters under her nails would never convince her to admit such a thing out loud, but she did have a fledgling, awkward sort of conscience. It was creaky from disuse, and she preferred to keep it locked in a cage and fed rarely, but she had one nonetheless.

She couldn't take it back without making it worse so she looked away too and said nothing more, giving him the opportunity to ignore her.

To her astonishment, Button actually answered her.

"Cabot is working with me again, having tendered his resignation with the Prince Regent. It's wonderful to have things go back to normal, of course. I'm terribly happy about it."

Attie knew she wasn't the most sensitive person in the world, but even she could see that Button was not quite happy about it. She very seriously doubted there was anything normal about it either. If the two of them were any more stilted or awkward with each other, she'd have imagined them to be strangers.

She thought for a long moment and then carefully ventured a neutral comment. "He seems satisfied to be back."

Button's pensive expression lightened somewhat. "Do you really think so? Such a prestigious position to walk away from! Of course, it must've been a terrible sacrifice."