God, Kit. He would learn of this, too. Her mother was embarrassing his close friends, ruining Maddie’s reputation. Alice wouldn’t blame him if he never spoke to her again.

He wasn’t going to speak to you after the party ended, anyway.

That stung, and something twisted in her chest. They were supposed to have more time together—another day, at least. Now she’d never see him again.

Her throat began to ache. She tried swallowing, but the feeling wouldn’t go away. Their time together had been cut short and there wasn’t anything she could do about it.

You’ll learn to live with it, just like you learn to live with everything else.

She was no stranger to disappointment. Kit would become another one of those longings tucked away, buried deep, that she rarely allowed herself to think about. He would move on, charming and bedding women up and down the island of Manhattan, while she would marry a man and start her own life, far away from her mother.

Alice’s maid arrived and the next hour was spent listening to Mama issue orders while overseeing their departure. Alice could do nothing but sit and wait, and with each second her sadness mounted. She dreaded hobbling downstairs and coming across any of the houseguests or Maddie. Or, God forbid, Kit. Everyone must hate her.

It won’t be any different from before the house party, before you made friends.

“Alice.” Mama poked her head into Alice’s room. “I am going downstairs to meet with Mr. Webster. Be ready to depart when I return.”

Clasping her hands together tightly, Alice nodded. Her maid had already helped her to dress, which had been nothing short of torture with a hurt ankle. The doctor seemed certain Alice would recover within a week’s time, but it didn’t feel as though that were possible at the moment. Instead, her leg and foot were throbbing like she’d been run over by a carriage wheel.

A knock on the door startled her. “Yes?”

Nellie appeared. “How are you—?” Her jaw snapped shut as she took in the trunk on the floor. “What’s going on? Are you leaving?”

She might as well confess to Nellie. “Yes. Come in and close the door.”

“Is this because of your ankle?” Nellie drew closer to Alice’s chair. “Has it worsened?”

“No. This is because my mother caught Maddie and Harrison kissing last night.”

Nellie gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. “Are you serious?”

“Entirely. My mother is meeting with Mr. Webster right now to tell him everything.”

“Oh, shit.” Nellie’s eyes grew huge and she glanced at the door. “I have to wake Maddie. I have to warn her. Thank you, Alice.”

“You shouldn’t thank me, not when I ruined the house party. All the chaperones have already been notified.”