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Both men stopped at Dominic’s side, and Everett whispered something in his ear as Hugo leaned forward and did the same to Tristan. Amelia raised a brow as she watched all four of their faces grow serious, then lean toward one another as the whispering continued.

“What’s going on with them?” Theo murmured at her side.

Amelia glanced at her friends and saw that they had all noticed the subtle shift in the four men and were watching them as closely as she was.

“I do not know,” she murmured back as the four men broke away from another.

Tristan went to Theo’s side.

“We’ve had a successful evening, but it is time to end the party,” he told her.

“Why?” Theo asked.

Amelia turned away from them as Dominic came to her side and laid a hand on her shoulder.

“It is time for you to go home,” he commanded. “Seraphina and Hugo are leaving as well, they will take you.”

She bristled at his command.

“You are not escorting me home?” She asked.

Dominic’s gaze was flat and unreadable as he looked down at her and shook his head.

“No. Everett and I have business to attend to.”

She scoffed.

“Of course you do,” she muttered.

She felt Dominic’s hand tighten on her shoulder, and she felt a sliver of guilt for speaking so frankly.

“Go home,” he commanded again in a low, even tone, ignoring her comment.

“I will meet you there later.”

Knowing it would not do to negate him while being surrounded by the people they were trying to impress, Amelia reached for first Theo, then Ophelia, then Rose to hug them all goodbye. She promised to see them soon, then she allowed Hugo to lead her and Seraphina out of the ballroom.

“What is going on, darling?” Seraphina asked Hugo when the three of them were situated in the carriage.

“Dominic is just taking care of some much-needed business, my love,” he replied, his tone coated with affection. “There is nothing to worry about, I assure you.”

Amelia said nothing on the ride home, contempt for her husband’s busy work life only growing. When they arrived she hugged Seraphina goodbye and thanked Hugo for escorting her home, and went inside.

Eve had just finished helping her into her dressing gown and was taking the many pins and gems out of Amelia’s piled up curls when a commotion erupted from the first floor of the house. Familiar, feminine voices rose from the foyer and up the staircase, and Amelia’s heart leapt as she got to her feet and hurried from her rooms.

She gasped, tears forming in her eyes as she saw Lydia and Sarah each racing up the stairs toward her.

“Sister!” They shouted excitedly in unison.

“My darlings,” Amelia choked out, opening her arms wide to embrace them. “What are you doing here?”

“Dominic came to fetch us,” Lydia answered.

“He says we are to live with you now,” Sarah added. “Is that not so very lovely?”

“Papa wasn’t even mad,” Lydia piped up.

Amelia’s eyes flicked to Dominic as he ascended the stairs; Miss Chiron and Miss Gerhardt flanking him. The three of them stopped as they reached the landing, and Dominic calmly thrust his hands into his pockets. Questions flooded her mind but it was as if her mouth refused to form the words. Dominic’s hard gaze softened as he looked away from her and toward her two younger sisters.