He’d sold it. The few coins it had brought allowed him to keep his mistress happy with baubles. “I rearranged a few of the knickknacks.”

He watched as she slowly gazed around the room, knew each time she noted the absence of a treasure.

“You’re selling things,” she said quietly.

“Here and there,” he admitted.

She faced him. “The statue was Father’s favorite.”

“He’s not here to enjoy it, is he? It serves us better elsewhere.”

“I gather this is not the only room that is not as it once was.”

“Nothing about our life is as it once was. I’m sorry, Selena, that I have been negligent in my responsibilities. I will step up and do my part.”

“That’s all I ask.”

He did hope she’d ask at a more reasonable hour in the future.

Chapter 16

The following afternoon, as the coach rumbled through the streets, Selena decided she didn’t care if she were castigated for behaving in a manner unbecoming of a woman so early into her widowhood. The girls’ delight at a distraction from their mourning was worth any glares of disapproval she might have to endure.

“I don’t recall Lady Aslyn calling on you the day of the funeral,” Connie said, sitting on the bench across from her with Flo.

“Her husband is not yet fully accepted by the nobility,” Selena told her. “She would not attend without him, but she did send me a rather nice missive, expressing her condolences.”

“And that’s when she invited us to join her today in this worthy endeavor?”

“Yes.” No. Her letter had expressed only her sorrow over Lushing’s passing. She did hope Aiden informed Lady Aslyn that she was to have issued an invitation to Selena and her sisters. Otherwise matters could become quite awkward.

“I’m not quite convinced we should be on an outing,” Flo said, her brow deeply furrowed.

“We shall be engaged in a good deed, helping a young lady earn her way in the world. Even while mourning, one is forgiven for partaking in good deeds.”

“Is one?” Flo asked.

“Yes, of course.” She did not need her sister pushing back on this.

“I think it’s exciting,” Alice said, from her place beside Selena. “Think of all the books we’ll get to touch as we put them on the shelves. We’ll be building a bookshop.”

“We’re not supposed to experience any sort of excitement while in mourning,” Flo said. “It’s the reason I’m questioning it. We’re all smiling a bit too much.”

“I like to believe that Lushing would approve.” Selena gave her glove a tug, finding it easier to look at the leather than her sister’s inquisitive stare. “He enjoyed seeing us happy. He would not like for us to be unduly sad.”