Sophie ran her hands over the buttery-smooth leather cover, briefly flipped through the pages filled with heartfelt notes, and squeezed the journal to her chest. “Thank you. I’ll treasure this.”

Sarah pulled her into a warm embrace, then waved over Violet, who gave Sophie a lovely bouquet of tulips. “We’ll miss having you at the helm,” the younger woman said with a sniffle. “But even more than that, we’ll miss your calm, kind, generous presence. Thank you for bringing us all together.”

Sophie swiped at her eyes and addressed the assembly again. “I’ve loved being a part of this group and am so proud of the knowledge you’ve shared and of the relationships we’ve forged. If any of you is ever in a bind, I won’t be far away. Sarah knows how to reach me, and I promise I will help if I can. Once a member of the Debutante Underground, forever a member.” Since she was on the verge of dissolving into a puddle of tears, she concluded with a curtsy. “Farewell, my friends, and thank you for all you’ve taught me about courting, desire, intimacy, and, most of all, love.”

The room erupted in heartfelt applause and appreciative cheers. And when the din died down, the women approached Sophie one at a time, showering her with effusive hugs before reluctantly bidding her goodbye.

When the tailor’s shop had mostly emptied and only Sarah and Violet remained, Sophie invited them to sit in the pair of old leather armchairs and perched on an ottoman opposite them. To Sarah, she said, “Thank you for volunteering to chair the meetings. Especially since I know you already have so many responsibilities, not the least of which are your two precious girls. You must let me know if it becomes too much, and we will seek someone else to step in, if necessary.”

Sarah smiled, her blue eyes twinkling. “My sainted sister has agreed to watch Rose and Julia every Friday evening, and I’m beyond grateful for the chance to leave the nappies behind for a few hours and talk with other adults. Besides, I’m no longer worried about keeping a roof over our heads or food on the kitchen table. Now that Lord Warshire is paying our rent and providing a generous allowance, I can focus on the important things—like ensuring the girls never forget their father … and trying to fill the hole he left in their hearts.”

“You must look after your own heart as well,” Sophie said softly. Ironically, the mention of Reese had left hers aching too. God, she missed him. “Has Lord Warshire visited you again?” she asked, trying not to reveal how desperate she was for any scrap of information about him.