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Seline laughed at thecareful," she explained to Sophie, pouring scotch frolasses around "He won’t use the front door"

"Why does he care what people think?" Sophie asked Mark Landry had more money than most of London combined, and not an ounce of interest in Society She would never have iined he’d worry about reputation

"Haven has power," Sesily said, accepting the drink froined And he’s furious The aristocracy is shunning Landry’s for Tattersall’s They won’t buy horseflesh from anyone close to you Presuoddamn coward"

"Sesily!" the countess barked

"Well, he is," Sesily said "See if he gets back into races after this What a betrayal" She toasted Seline "You should keep Mark, though He’s a poppet"

"I should like to," Seline said before turning to Sophie, "but he’s waiting for you to fix it"

"You must fix it!" their mother cried

Sophie looked from one to the next "How am I to do that?"

No one seeined that you would be the scandal?" Sesily opined, taking the chair by the fireplace, "Landing Haven in a fishpond and running off with Eversley?"

"I did not run off with Eversley," Sophie said

"Youoff! I landed e!"

"Oh, well, let’s tell the scandal sheets I’ht," Sesily said "They do work so terribly hard to check their facts"

"You needn’t be unkind, Sesily," Seraphina said

"We’re all in a state," Sesily replied "None more so than you Or must we remind you that you and your child are currently without a home?"

"Of course that’s not true," Sophie interjected

"No?" Seline asked, "Then you’ve a plan to marry the marquess and rescue us all?"

The casual question reminded Sophie of earlier in the afternoon, when she’d faced the truth about King--that he’d never love her That he was never to be hers That she was going to leave hi that their future would be different

She shook her head, sing around the knot in her throat "I’ hi up residence as his mistress?"

"That won’t help at all," Seline pointed out

"We need discretion!" the countess cried

Sophie ignored the willingness that flared at the suggestion If he’d offered her the role of mistress, she would take it She would take whatever she could get of hiive her

She’d take him here or in London, forever or for an afternoon

She loved him

Surely, of all the emotions the human heart could explore, love was the worst

She looked away fro to Mossband when you arrived He was returning roaned "We’re ruined!"