“How is your husband?” Verity asked happily. She had always enjoyed the company of Lord James Barrington and thought he was a wonderful man for her cousin. “It has been a while since I have last seen him.”
“Oh, he is quite busy with his work,” Faye chuckled, smoothing her skirts as she relaxed into an armchair. “I have hardly had time to see him, if I am honest with you. But I have to admit, the fever of the Season is catching up with me, and the memories of being a carefree debutante are hard to ignore.”
Verity’s smile faltered. “I am not sure that I feel the same way at all.”
Faye furrowed her brows. “What do you mean?”
“While I must attend, I am afraid that I find little joy in the prospect of endless social gatherings.”
Verity hung her head low, her eyes brimming with tears that she refused to let fall. She could not continue to weep over what happened four years ago, but at the same time, it had affected her life terribly ever since.
“Oh, Verity, I am so sorry to hear that.”
“I just cannot envision how I am supposed to enjoy myself after everything that has happened…”
Faye’s expression was full of sympathy. “Oh, Verity, I know it’s terribly hard for you. But you can’t allow the past to hold you back forever. It may still be a painful memory, but all of thathappened four years ago. It may well be time for you to consider opening up your heart once more.”
Verity sighed heavily and allowed her eyes to drift to the window, almost as if she was seeking an escape of some kind. “It’s not that simple, Faye. It will not be easy for me, especially after the scandal that Cedric caused me. Not only am I unsure if I am willing to risk my heart once more, knowing what kind of pain I might face, but I also have to accept that I am a spinster now. My age puts me on the shelf, which will make it impossible to compete with all the beautiful young debutantes.”
Tears filled her eyes as she remembered her debut season, when she was flush with the advantages of youth and blooming under newfound attention from men.
If only she had given other gentlemen a chance and not fixated on Cedric so much.
If she had known what he was going to do to her, then everything would have been very different.
Faye reached out and took Verity’s hands in hers, bringing her attention back towards her.
“I understand, Verity, I really do. I know that you find yourself in a very challenging situation, but I still don’t think you should close yourself off to the idea of love I am sure that you can find happiness.”
Verity bit down on her bottom lip, trying to fight the tears. “I would love to find the sort of love that you have with your husband, but I suppose it will never happen for me. Remember, you met James in your second Season. I stand far less of a chance.”
The things that were said about Verity after her broken engagement still sent painful chills down her spine. The ton could be so cruel with their gossiping. It wasn’t something she ever wished to face again. She was going to have to find a way to face all of this, whether she was ready for it not. She would haveto face all those judging eyes, even if she would have much rather hidden away at home forever.
“I appreciate your words more than you know,” Verity said softly, squeezing Faye’s hands. “But the thought of facing all those people again, of enduring their whispers and judgments, it terrifies me. Every year I get older and the comments become more cruel. How can I ever move past that?”
Faye gave her a gentle, encouraging smile. “You are stronger than you think, Verity. Remember, the ton’s opinions are fickle and ever changing. You are not defined by their judgments. You define yourself. You can use this Season to define yourself however you see fit.”
Verity nodded, trying to absorb the strength in Faye’s words. “I will try, Faye. Truly, I will. But it feels like such a daunting task.”
Before Faye could respond, the maid entered with the tea, setting it down on the table between them. The familiar, soothing ritual of tea helped to ground Verity, if only for a moment.
***
There was a strange atmosphere around the dining table.
Verity glanced at her mother, but Elizabeth did not look like she had any idea that anything was going on. But when her eyes traveled towards her older brother, Henry, she felt it… a strange prickle tearing down her spine.
Once upon a time, Verity had been very close to Henry. They got along well, so much so that they even seemed to know what the other was thinking. But that all changed four years ago, when Cedric shredded her heart, and she felt Henry distancing himself from her. It seemed to her that the disappointment was too much for him to bear and he did not want to get all caught up in her bad luck.
Sure, the broken proposal had affected her whole family, but it was hard for Verity to feel that blame when she did not think that she had done anything wrong.
All she had done was trust the wrong people.
Henry seemed to sense her eyes upon him, and he glanced her way sharply. Verity sucked in a deep breath as he started to speak.
“Today I made a new acquaintance,” he declared with pride tinging his tone. “Lord Ambrose Aldford, a wealthy widower with several young daughters.”
“Oh, I have heard of him,” Elizabeth chimed in. “I have heard that his lordship is on the marriage mart, seeking a wife to care for his children and provide him with an heir.”
