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“The roads are dangerous, Ava,” Eveline continued. “I could not let you go on such a journey just to spy on my husband.”

“I shall take some of the footmen with me,” Ava assured her.

“But I could not live with myself if you get attacked by scoundrels and you are badly injured.”

“I would risk that for you,” Ava declared. “I would do anything for you. Never forget that, Eveline.”

“Truly, Ava, you do not have to do that,” Eveline insisted.

However, she did not tell her sister that another reason she did not want her to go to Bath was fear—not just for her sister’s safety but also for what she might find there.

What if Ava indeed found her husband frolicking with a mistress? The mere thought was painful enough for Eveline; she was not certain she would survive if she got confirmation that her husband had, in fact, left her for a mistress.

She decided that she would rather refuse to have that knowledge.

Ava shrugged. “It does not matter anyway. If I ever catch a whiff that he has taken a mistress, I shall ensure everyone knows. I might not be able to challenge him to a duel, but there are certainly other ways to ruin a man.”

Eveline could not help but laugh as she imagined her elder sister challenging William to a duel.

“You do not have to challenge him to a duel or ruin him,” Eveline said. “I know I shall be fine as long as I am here with you two.”

It was true.

Eveline shuddered as she imagined what would have happened if she did not have her two confidantes.

Ava excused herself for a moment, and Eveline was left alone with her younger sister, who now had a rather hard look on her face.

“Do not be so sad, Stella,” she urged. “I am certain there are other bachelors who would love you and treat you with the respect you deserve.”

Stella shook her head. “I could never trust any bachelor again. In fact, I do not want anyone. I shall stay alone forever and become an old spinster.”

“You shall not, Stella,” Eveline quickly retorted.

Ava reentered the drawing room then. “What shall we do about Papa?” she asked.

“How do you mean?”

“Papa will not react well if he returns and sees you here.”

Eveline’s heart sank. Her father would be furious to see her back at the manor, and he would simply take no explanation.

“He will certainly send me back if he ever sees me here,” she said.

“You do not have to tell him the truth of the matter,” Stella assured her. “You could simply say you decided to return home because you missed us.”

“But Papa would expect me to return to my new home only in a few days,” Eveline pointed out.

“You could tell Papa that your husband took a trip overseas to check on some of his businesses. Papa would definitely believe that,” Stella suggested.

Eveline was taken aback, as she could not help but be impressed by her sister’s effortless lies.

“Where did you learn to lie so effortlessly?” she asked.

Stella simply shrugged. “Papa can be rather strict, and I sometimes have to bend the truth just a little to have my way.”

Ava shook her head.

“I suppose I could tell him that my husband has gone on a trip,” Eveline relented.