“And so you are returned to London!”

Jacintha nodded, rolling her eyes at her sister Jessica who was grinning at her in a rather knowing way.

“Papa wanted to return for the Season,” she replied, as casually as she could. “That is to be expected, is it not?”

“Indeed it is,” Jessica replied, with a broad smile. “Especially if you are to be the next in line.”

Jacintha shrugged, trying not to take her sister’s words seriously. Life had become rather different these last few years. Instead of having four sisters living together, there now remained only two at home to live with their father. Amelia was married to Lord Northfell, and had a beautiful daughter named Grace as well as her stepdaughter, Elouise. Jessica had married Lord Warwick last summer. It had taken some time to get used to the quietness of their estate and the loss of her sister Jessica, whom Jacintha had always been closest to.

“Well, I am glad Warwick agreed to us coming to London for a time, so that we might accompany you to a few dances and the like,” Jessica continued, just as Harmonia came into the room. “You are both looking forward to it, are you not?”

Jacintha frowned, not quite sure what to say. She had once been a carefree, light-hearted girl who had not had to take anything in life seriously. There had been balls and recitals and she had enjoyed every moment of them, knowing that it was not her who needed to consider matrimony. That fell first to Amelia and then to Jessica – but now that they were both wed, it was her turn.

“I am looking forward to dancing,” Harmonia answered, softly. “Beyond that, I cannot really say.”

“Cousin Luke is due to pay us a visit at some point,” Jacintha continued, shaking her head. “Not that we particularly want to see him.” Luke had, at one time, being eager in his pursuit of Harmonia – not because of any strong affection but simply because it would be a good match in terms of family. Harmonia had considered the prospect, finding the idea of searching for a suitable husband to be a rather overwhelming one. Thankfully Amelia had been able to convince her not to agree to Luke’s proposal. However, now that he was returning to London, would Harmonia be the object of his intentions again?

“Remember, Harmonia, there is no requirement for you to wed Luke, no matter how hard he presses you,” Jessica said, putting her hand over Harmonia’s. “You deserve the opportunity to find a gentleman who loves you, just as I have done.”

“And just as Amelia has done,” Jacintha finished, with a gentle smile.

Jessica shot her a quizzical look. “Does this mean that you intend to take this Season a little more seriously then, Jacintha?”

Jacintha blew out a long breath, flopping back in her chair. “I am not quite sure what I will do, Jessica. Papa no longer has the same urgency he once had to have his daughters wed. His health seems to have improved somewhat, although his gout still flares up, he is no longer as tired as he once was. I believe his concern that he would pass away without any of us wed to gentlemen who would care for us has been abated.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “After all, we can expect you or Amelia to take us in if we should require it!”

Jessica laughed, just as Harmonia began to pour the tea. “That does not mean you cannot find yourself a good husband too, Jacintha. There is no particular need for you to put it off.”

Not particularly enjoying the topic of conversation, Jacintha shrugged. “I know. Papa has joked about it with me on a few occasions but there is no great rush. Mayhap I will find someone suitable, perhaps not.”

“Suitable?” Jessica replied, sounding astonished. “Jacintha, this does not sound like you! When we were young, you were filled with dreams over who you might meet and who you might marry, hoping for love and affection to fill your days.”

Jacintha shot her sister a wry grin. “That was when I was a child. I hope I am rather more sensible now.”

“You truly do not wish for affection and love, then?” Harmonia asked, softly. “I had thought you would be searching for just that.”

Struggling to explain herself, Jacintha gave a small shrug. “I can see just how wonderful a marriage both Jessica and Amelia have, and truly I am glad for them, but that came at such a cost that I cannot help but wonder if it was worth it.”

“Of course it is worth it!” Jessica exclaimed at once, sounding rather horrified. “I love Warwick with all my heart.”

“I know you do,” Jacintha replied, soothingly. “But you forget that I have witnessed both yourself and Amelia go through great heartache and pain. I do not think that I have the fortitude for such a thing. I would much prefer a quiet, simple arrangement where there is very little effort involved.”

Jessica and Harmonia both regarded her for a moment, equal looks of confusion on their faces. Apparently, she had surprised them both a very great deal.

“You have changed, Jacintha,” Jessica murmured, eventually. “Not that I am saying that such sensible practicality is a bad thing, but rather that it is so very different from the sister I once knew.”

Jacintha pondered Jessica’s words for a moment, before smiling softly. “I think we all change as we progress in life. You forget that I have had a year without your company – not that Harmonia has not been a wonderful sister – but it has certainly given me time to reflect on things. I knew that papa would want us to consider matrimony, albeit not as urgently as he had once intended, and so I spent the year considering my future.”

Harmonia cleared her throat, her eyes fixed on Jacintha. “I am surprised, then, that you feel so strongly about me continuing to refuse Luke, since you are now quite enamored with the idea of an arrangement.”

“That is quite different,” Jacintha declared, firmly. “If I am to have a marriage of convenience, then I must find a gentleman who is at least amiable and kind, a gentleman who has similar interests as I do. When it comes to Luke, he is so different to you that I am sure even you know you could never be happy with him.”

Harmonia glanced away from Jacintha, her eyes dimming. “Yes, I know you are right.”

“Do not allow yourself to be convinced by him,” Jacintha continued, softly, glad that the conversation was now turning back to Harmonia. “If, like me, you do not intend to search for love, then find a gentleman who will, at the very least, bring you happiness in your marriage. A gentleman who will be your friend and companion, not one who will treat you with disdain and put himself first in all things.”

Following her words, there came a few minutes of silence, broken only by the sound of Harmonia refilling her tea cup. Jacintha hoped she had not spoken out of turn, for Harmonia was so quiet and gentle that she could be easily wounded.

“Oh, I quite forgot!” Jessica exclaimed, looking over at Jacintha in delight. “Both Lord Warwick and I were out at a recital last evening and you will never guess who we met!”

Jacintha chuckled, trying her best not to roll her eyes. “Jessica, we have so many acquaintances that I will never be able to guess!”

“Then I shall tell you,” Jessica declared, her eyes bright. “I saw a tall gentleman that I was quite sure I recognized but could not quite place. He recognized me, however, and came over to greet me. We have not seen him for some time, of course, but the moment he spoke, I recalled his name at once!”

“Who was it?” Harmonia asked, glancing over at Jacintha. “Someone important?”

“Jacintha knew him more than you, I believe,” Jessica replied, “since they did spend a great deal of time together a few years ago. His father’s estate was only an hour’s ride away from our own and given that we did not have a lot of company near us, he would come by rather often.”

Jacintha caught her breath, her hand at her heart. “You are not talking about Henry, are you?”

Jessica clapped her hands together, a bright smile on her face. “Indeed I am! Although it is Viscount Musgrove as you must address him here. Claudia’s brother!”

Not quite sure what to make of this news, Jacintha stayed silent, sitting back in her seat as Harmonia and Jessica continued to talk. The last time she had seen Henry, it had resulted in a rather awkward encounter.

They had been rather close when she was younger, a good four years ago now when she had been the tender age of seventeen. He, of course, had been trained to take on the responsibilities that would come to him as Earl once the title passed to him. Rather unusually, his father had insisted that he remain at home during his time away from Eton, rather than let him go to London as most of the other young men did and so, since there was very little other company, he had spent a great deal of time with the four sisters and his own sister, Claudia Musgrove. They had all made a rather merry band and their friendship with Claudia had remained for many, many years.

Her sisters had always teased her that Henry had a preference for her company, for he did appear to fall into conversation with her more than the rest and certainly sought her company more often. At the time, she had brushed it off, although had smiled to herself in secret whenever she thought of him, wondering if there might be something in their future – but then he had come to tell her that he was to be sent across the sea to look over his father’s holdings in various distant countries.

She could still remember the excitement in his eyes, the happiness that practically exuded from him. This was where the twining of their lives had come to a sharp, abrupt end and Jacintha had been astonished to realize just how much she would miss him. They had embraced for a moment, in the quietness of the Duke’s gardens, and then she had made to step away – only for Henry’s arms to hold her still.

Jacintha closed her eyes for a moment as she recalled how her heart had begun to beat wildly in her chest, how she’d looked up at him and wondered if he was going to kiss her. There had been a strange look in his eyes, as though he wasn’t quite sure what he was feeling. He said her name as her hands pressed lightly against his chest, his head slowly lowering – and then someone had called her name and they had sprung apart.

She’d forced herself to forget that moment, pushing Henry out of her mind and her thoughts. He’d gone to do his father’s bidding, and she had not heard from him since. Even though Claudia had been in town recently, they had never spoken of Henry. Jacintha had never wanted to inquire about him, choosing to forget about their close acquaintance and not wanting to make her partiality for him too obvious. At times, Claudia had mentioned that he was traveling or doing some work for her father, but it had never amounted to more than that.

It would be rather strange to see him again after all this time. Jacintha wondered whether he too remembered that moment, whether he sometimes mused on what might have been should they not have been interrupted.

But, she decided, it was much too ridiculous to even think of such an episode, not when it had been so long and so much had happened. They had been close friends at one time and that was all she could hope for now. To be reacquainted with him would be certainly interesting, but she would not allow any memories of the past to dog her mind.

“I should think he will be at the ball tomorrow evening,” she heard Jessica say, as she slowly came back into the conversation. “He told me he has been in London for a few weeks already, so is already well known within society circles and, of course, Claudia will be there.”

“And what of his character?” Jacintha asked, wondering how he had turned out. “I recall him being full of fun and less than serious which, of course, we all found extremely amenable, although I know his father was not best pleased.”

“Which was why he was sent away,” Jessica finished, with a wry grin. “I am not sure as to how he has turned out. It was a rather brief conversation. Claudia has never really spoken of him either. I suppose you will find out soon enough, Jacintha, do not worry. I am quite sure he will be just as amenable as before.”

“I hope so,” Jacintha replied, softly. “I do very much hope so.”