Page 80 of An Arranged Betrothal with a Rogue

“How is she faring with the gentlemen?” she asked.

Greta giggled.

“I assure you, she has no shortage of suitors vying for her attention,” she said. “I cannot think of a single moment since the ball began that she has not been speaking with a fine young man.”

Cecily sighed happily. That was precisely what she had hoped to hear.

“That is wonderful news,” she said. “I truly hope that she will find a match during this Season.”

Greta laughed again and patted Cecily’s shoulder.

“From the looks of it, it is possible that she shall find one this evening,” she said.

Cecily nodded. She was grateful to hear such news. She hoped that her success that evening would be the final thing she needed to stop feeling the reluctance to marry and leave Cecily alone. Agnes deserved happiness, and Cecily hoped that her sister would begin to realize it after her ball.

The evening drew to a close some hours later. Cecily was pleasantly surprised that no one had gone out of their way to be rude to her. However, toward the end of the evening, she had heard some whispers and felt the sharp sting of watchful eyes from somewhere in the room. She had not reacted, but she was relieved when Greta came to help her to her chambers and dress for bed.

She was too ready to fall asleep. But when she smelled the lily perfume that Agnes had worn for her debut ball, she smiled and sat back up, patting the chair beside her bed.

“It is about time that you came to tell me how things went,” she teased, giggling.

Agnes sighed.

“Do not pretend that Greta did not speak with you earlier this evening,” she said, laughing.

Cecily feigned innocence and shrugged. Then, she reached for her sister’s hands and grinned.

“Even so, I want to hear it from you,” she said.

Agnes exhaled heavily again.

“It was lovely,” she admitted. “But I feel so overwhelmed by having danced so many times. I could never have imagined that a debut ball could be so fatiguing.”

Cecily nodded eagerly and squeezed her sister’s hands.

“Oh, but that is precisely what you want,” she said. “Trust me. That means you have had an incredibly successful debut and that you will have suitors calling on you in no time.”

Agnes gave her sister the sigh she had come to recognize whenever speaking about Agnes’s future.

“Perhaps, I should have waited a little longer before making my debut,” she said doubtfully.

Cecily shook her head.

“Do not be silly,” she said. “Waiting too long would have been a mistake. You must make the best of your youth. And, of the season, as well. It only comes round once a year.”

At this, Agnes giggled.

“Thank Heavens,” she said. “I believe I would die of exhaustion if it happened all year long.”

The two women laughed.

Chapter Two

Val Archer reread the letter his mother sent to him for the third time. It was not that he did not understand the words.

He just kept hoping they would magically change; that she was just writing to check in with him. But the words were still the same, no matter how many times he shook his head:

Dearest Val,

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