According to both parents, the best thing for all parties was to let the elder generation secure an impressive, titled suitor. All Philippa had to do was say yes and I do when instructed, and her parents and the groom would live happily ever after.

“I was thinking,” said Mother. This was never a good sign. “I could limit your access to this parlor only to the days when your reading circle is in session.”

“What?” Philippa burst out in unconcealed horror.

Her personal sanctuary—and the books it contained—was her only escape.

She moved in front of the glass case containing her prized collection of illuminated manuscripts, as though blocking them from her mother’s view would likewise erase their existence from her mother’s mind.

Philippa fully intended to sneak a few volumes to her bedchamber before Mother locked her out of the parlor.

“You already forbade further literary acquisitions until I am back on the marriage mart,” Philippa reminded her. “It is not my fault that the new season won’t begin until Parliament reopens in January.”

“Humph.” Mother looked unimpressed with this logic.

Mother was always unimpressed with logic.

Philippa was just relieved to have fourteen-and-a-half more weeks of glorious spinsterhood.

“Perhaps your weekly reading circle should become fortnightly until you’ve an acceptable lord on the line,” Mother said.

“Again,” Philippa said as patiently as she could. “It is astonishingly difficult to fish for lords when London has yet to stock the lake. The season will begin in three months. Surely that’s soon enough to—”

Voices sounded down the corridor.

Philippa relaxed. She adored her witty, clever friends. Being limited to a mere hour of their company once a week was punishment enough. Losing a single minute more was unthinkable.

“They’re here,” she said. “May we please continue this discussion another time?”

Her mother’s expression could best be described as disgruntled, but the excited voices were already drawing closer.

Philippa and her mother had not heard the rap of the knocker, because Underwood took his post as butler seriously. He held the door open for all ladies before they reached the threshold. After four-and-a-half years of weekly reunions, the ladies did not require any guidance to the familiar parlor.

Having all her friends descend upon her at once was the best moment of Philippa’s week, and her mother was literally blocking the path.

“Very well,” Mother said. “But only because Lady Eunice has arrived.”

Philippa gave a tight nod.

Mother had long made it clear that titled guests like Lady Eunice not only outranked Philippa in society, but were also more important than Philippa in her own home. Thus, the reading circle continued to happen because Lady Eunice wished it to happen.

Not because it brought happiness or comfort to Mother’s sole offspring.

Mother stepped from the doorway into the corridor and let out a squeal as though she had just noticed the sounds of guests approaching.