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Seleste was in a deeply ely public back-and-forth with the wickedly handsome and unfortunately impoverished Earl of Clare They were thein front of entire ballrooms as often as they swooned into each other’s arest sister, was courted by Mark Landry, owner of Landry’s Bloodstock, which was giving Tattersall’s a run for its money Landry was crass and loud and hadn’t a drop of blue blood, but if he ht--she would be the wealthiest of the sisters by far

The courtships drew constant public attention and co ladies Talbot adored the scrutiny, each doing her best to tempt the scandal sheets--much to their mother’s dismay The sisters flourished under Society’s censure, every tut behind a doyenne’s fan driving theeous behavior

All the sisters but Sophie, that was At twenty-one, Sophie had always been the daughter whom scandal had avoided She’d always assumed it was because she cared little for Society and their dictates and opinions, and somehow, Society seemed to understand that

But now that the Duke of Haven was doused in water from the fishpond, with several pieces of freshwater flora stuck to his previously impeccably turned out trousers, it see Sophie Talbot--widely considered to be "the quiet one" of the Dangerous Daughters--alone

Sophie’s cheeks blazed as she held her head high and exited the greenhouse, pausing in the doorway, eyes scanning the crowd They were all there Duchesses andfans, their whispers like cicadas in the suddenly cloying summer air It was not the ladies’ response to her actions that was shocking, however She had witnessed ladies gossip and feed upon scandal for years

It was the entle it in the purview of their wives as they turned their thoughts to other, more manly diversions But apparently that was not the case when one of their oas ned They stared as well--the earls and marquesses and dukes--each title more venerable than the last And in their eyes, in the force of theirwas so often described as cold; today, it felt hot as the sun She lifted her hand without thinking, as though she could block the glowering heat

"Sophie!" Herforward, her ss of whispering partygoers The countess wore a gown of deep scarlet, which would have been scandalous enough if it were not topped with a ridiculous construction in the sa her beauty in what she had been assured was "the height of Chinese fashion"

Right noever, Lady Wight was not interested in her hat Instead, she bore down on her youngest daughter, eyes filled hat could only be described as panic, Sophie’s three s

"Sophie!" the countess said "What a scene you’ve ht even think you were one of us," Sesily said dryly, her i to burst froht and bordering on garish Of course, Sesily had the te and appear teh he wished to murder you"

I shall destroy you

"I think he would have if eren’t so very public," Sophie replied

"So unfortunately public," her mother hissed

Sesily raised a brow and brushed an invisible speck from her bosom "And if he weren’t so very wet"

"You needn’t point out your breasts, Sesily We all have theold thread, cascading down her face and neck from a crownlike contraption

Seline snickered

"Girls!" the countess hissed

"It really was ht you had it in you?"

Sophie turned a scathing gaze on her next oldest sister "What does that irls," their ht ruin us all?"

"Nonsense," Sesily said "How many threats of ruination must we face before you see we’re like cats?"

"Even cats have a lie I where they were, on full view in front of all of London, and said, loud enough for all of London to hear, "We all sahat happened! His Poor Grace!"

Sophie stilled, the words surprising her "Poor?"