Sophie was delighted that the group’s numbers had consistently grown, and this week was no exception. That morning’s edition of The Debutante’s Revenge had created a stir, and all the women seemed eager to talk about it.

At eight o’clock, Sophie launched into her usual greeting and review of the rules before ceremoniously handing her copy of the London Hearsay to Ivy, one of the dress shop’s seamstresses, to read the latest column:

Dear Debutantes,

Young ladies are often taught to be passive and undemanding; to avoid creating a fuss. In a romantic relationship, however, it’s important to make your desires known. Tell your partner what pleases you, or, if it is difficult to speak the words, show him. Do not be afraid to ask for the things you want; encourage your partner to do the same.

A true gentleman will appreciate and respect a woman who communicates her desires—and who does not expect him to be a reader of minds.

The accompanying sketch depicted a couple in a field of wildflowers. She sat among the blossoms, plucking the petals off a daisy, while his head rested on her lap. They looked perfectly content and at ease with each other—and also very much in love.

As Ivy read the column, Sophie tried to picture Lord Singleton’s head in her lap. Tried to imagine speaking to him about personal things—the sorts of things that weren’t discussed in polite company. The sorts of things that mattered.

And she couldn’t.

To be fair, she didn’t know him very well. But he’d never seemed very curious about her. Never sought to understand her. Not in the way Reese did.

As the discussion around the column began in earnest, Sophie retreated to the side of the room near the counter and recalled the night she’d spent with Reese on the floor of that very room.

She knew she shouldn’t be so eager to meet with him again, but she’d thought of little else since waking that morning. Last Saturday, before they’d said goodbye, she’d agreed to meet him outside the tailor’s shop at eleven o’clock that night so he could take her to Warshire Manor. He’d promised to dismiss the staff for the entire night so she wouldn’t have to worry about being seen—and becoming the subject of gossip.

Sophie’s family and friends would have no inkling as to her whereabouts. Mama assumed she was staying with Fiona and Gray as usual, but Sophie had informed her friends that she wouldn’t be sleeping over for the next few weeks, due to a project she was undertaking.

Fiona had arched a brow at that, but thankfully hadn’t pressed Sophie to elaborate on what the project entailed. All she’d said was that any project Sophie undertook was destined to be a smashing success.