Marianne opened her mouth, but Charlotte leaned forward.
“What is it?”
“I saw you elbow her, Marianne. What did you want to say? If we’re going to have a society for women, then we will not silence one another.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes and stepped to the window.
“It is just—you blame him for everything. But you played a part in all of this, too. Because truly, you do care for him. And you must believe that—well, at least believe at one point that he cared for you. You would not have pushed away Lord Halston if you believed Nathaniel was as bad as all that. I think the reason you are so angry is that you still care for him.”
“I do not. And it is a good thing. Annabelle told me that before he came to London, he was quite the rake in Scotland.” She turned to her aunt. “Did you know about this?”
Her aunt shrugged. “All these young bucks behave wastefully and are not gentlemanly before they come into their own.”
“So, he was a rake,” Evelyn said. The conversation with her friend had weighed on her for some time, but only now did she realize how much it had bothered her.
“I suppose someone could call him a rake, yes. But he has hardly been out on the town ever since he came here. Clearly, he has reformed. As many of these gentlemen do when they come into that position.”
“Hmm,” she grunted. “I would have liked to have known that beforehand. It does not change anything. But anyhow, it is a good thing that I have come to an understanding with myself in this regard.”
“Have you?” her aunt asked.
“Well, yes. He and I will continue to live side by side as we have been, each leading our own lives. He may do as he pleases. And I may do as I please. And that is it.”
“So you would not care if he went back to his philandering ways?” Charlotte asked from the window.
“He wouldn’t. He is a duke now. He cares about his reputation.”
“Whatever you say,” Charlotte replied, and Evelyn sat back. It wasn’t true, what she said at all. It would bother her greatly if he went back to his philandering ways, because that would just be another strike to her heart. He had gone out with Julian every now and again, but she thought that they only went to the gentlemen’s clubs.
“What do gentlemen do at gentlemen’s clubs?”
Her aunt looked at her. “Well, everything you imagine they would do. Eating, drinking, talking.”
“Most clubs,” Charlotte said and returned to the table. “But there are some where they do more. There are clubs,” she said, leaning forward in a conspiratorial manner, “where they have ladies of ill repute in the back, willing to do anything.”
“No,” she said. “I cannot believe that.”
“Of course. You cannot be this naïve. Not all the clubs are like this, of course. But some are. What do you think—that the realm’s most distinguished peers would venture into Saint Giles whenever they have a desire for a lady’s company? No. They taste something more refined, even when it comes to ladies of the night. Why? Are you worried that Nathaniel might be venturing out to such clubs?”
“Of course not,” she said. “And even if he was, I already said it would not bother me. But I would like to know, so I could be prepared.”
“I see,” Charlotte replied.
“Why not ask him?” Marianne suggested. “If your arrangement is as plain as you made it sound, then surely you could ask him. You could tell him that you were thinking of starting your own society, and you need to know what to be prepared for.”
“I think not,” she said, just as the front door opened and a carriage stopped as her father exited. He stopped and looked into the gardens. Seeing her, he dipped his head and then made his way into the house.
“You could ask your father,” Aunt Eugenia said.
All three girls immediately broke into protest, making their aversion to this known with all manner of retching and groaning.
“Eugenia!” Marianne said. “That is a terrible suggestion.”
“Yes. Father would never,” Charlotte said.
Evelyn’s eyes widened, and she looked at her sister. “And you called me naïve?”
“I do not wish to discuss this anymore,” Charlotte said. “Now, are we going to get shaved ice or not?”
