Even her sisters, sitting around her, seemed at a loss. Certainly one was to be reflective and portray sadness at a time such as this—and she was devastated Lushing had passed. But it seemed wrong somehow that the silence was deafening. She wanted to ask Constance to play a lively tune on the pianoforte or Florence to belt out a vivacious song to her heart’s content. She wanted joy and happiness. She wanted to laugh. God help her, she wanted to hear Aiden Trewlove’s laughter circling the room just as it had when he’d realized she did indeed know her way around a carom game.

Then off to her right, she heard a whisper of glee that had her heart expanding as she recalled how many times Lushing would whisper something untoward in her ear—

“Do you think Lady Lilith owns a mirror? That gown is a ghastly shade on her.”

“I daresay Lord Hammersmith will be sneaking into Lady Margaret’s bedchamber later if I’m reading the message of her fan correctly.”

“I believe Lady Downing is pouring spirits into her punch and it’s not even two of the afternoon yet.”

So she strained to make out the conversation, to hear something she might share with Lushing when she visited his grave, something that would have brought a smile to his face in life.

“. . . decadent. Gambling, drinking. I smoked a cigar in the billiards room.”

Selena closed her eyes. The billiards room. She’d done a good bit worse than smoke a cigar. Although perhaps the girl was talking of another—

“Mr. Trewlove prowls through the rooms like a great predatory cat, so lithe and smooth, and then suddenly he’s there, standing beside you, whispering something delicious in your ear.”

“Like what?” Lady Carolyn asked sotto voce.

Your skin reminds me of silk, only softer.

“That I should only ever waltz as I’m far too graceful for anything else.” This from Lady Georgiana, the smoker of cigars.

“You’ve waltzed with him?”

Oh yes, but not nearly enough.

“Well, no. He never dances with anyone. I suspect with his upbringing he doesn’t know how.”

Oh, he knows how.

“He waltzed with someone the other night,” Lady Josephine piped up. “My word, the way he held her, the way he looked at her, the way he moved with her—it was enough to make my mouth water.”

“Who was she?” Lady Carolyn had never been afraid to ask questions.

“I don’t know. She was masked. That’s the thing. If you’re not comfortable being seen there, you can wear a mask. Really, Lady Carolyn, you simply must give it a go.”