The conversations ebbed and flowed around her, voices louder than she was accustomed to hearing during a meal. When someone laughed, an echo of “What’s so funny?” reverberated through the room, and a story was retold so all could join in on the mirth: an overly drunk patron at the tavern who had decided to shed his clothing, a woman who had locked her husband out of their hotel room because she didn’t like the way he smiled at the maids. Then there were the somber tales of discarded children taken in by Lady Lavinia, the articles she wrote describing the women she met who were shamed for giving in to their passions, who brought her their babes because she would see them well cared for. Selena listened to these women discussing matters that were normally the domain of men, was ever conscious that they lived in a world apart from hers. Two had once resided in it with her, but she couldn’t recall ever seeing them looking so satisfied, so happy. They’d found love and fulfillment, but then neither had siblings for whom they were responsible. They’d been able to put their own wants and needs first. Selena couldn’t imagine being so free.

When the dinner was finished, it appeared that people were going to lounge around and visit a bit more. But darkness had fallen, and Selena had grown weary of the test. Surely by now, Aiden had made his assessment of her sisters. She made their excuses, thanked Aiden’s mother for the lovely meal, wished Fancy success with her business, said her goodbyes to the others, and was grateful when Aiden began leading them back the way they’d come. Through the hotel and across the street. Then around to the back of the corner bookshop, where her coach waited. The footman leaning against it straightened and opened the door, assisting her sisters into the conveyance.

Selena stopped a short distance away in order to have a private word with her escort. Distant light from the streetlamps cast his face in shadows, making it impossible to read his features, to know his decision. She certainly didn’t want to ask outright. “I shall come to the club later, shall I?”

“I want to visit the ducal estate. I want to see what my son would inherit.”

Not the response she’d expected, and she couldn’t prevent her heart from kicking against her ribs or her eyes widening slightly. “We are in a bit of a rush here. To make my claim believable, I must be with child before my next menses and I am already more than a week gone from the ending of my last one.”

“Then we’d best not delay. Have your coach at the club at dawn.”