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“Skip the pleasantries, girl,” he spat. “What is your explanation for this disgrace?”

“Nothing happened, Father,” she tried to explain. “It was only a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?” he yelled, slamming a hand on the table. His face was red with anger as he threw the papers down. “You were found in a room with a duke. Unchaperoned!” he sneered. “I cannot repeat what else is written here for propriety’s sake.”

“Nothing happened between the Duke and I, Father!” she insisted. “Yes, we were found together, but it was only because I accidentally stepped into the chambers he was in, and we were there for only a brief moment.”

“I do not need to hear your lies, Eveline,” the Viscount snapped. “Where is your sister? Is this what her education has led you to do?”

“I am here, Father,” Ava announced, stepping into the room.

She looked as though she had also had difficulty falling asleep the night before. Guilt for being the reason her sister got scolded again hit Eveline afresh.

“Where were you when your sister decided to go frolicking with a man at last night’s ball?” the Viscount growled. “It is bad enough that she is unmarried still. Now, this? I am disappointed in both of you.”

“Father, the rumors are not true. Nothing happened between the Duke and Evie. It?—”

“It doesn’t matter what is true or not. You were supposed to guide her and be her chaperone to prevent things like this from happening,” he scolded. “And Evie, you are no longer a debutante to make such a mistake. You should be bringing home a suitor, not tales of how your reputation is ruined.”

“Is that all you care for, Father?” Eveline spat, despite her sister’s warning to keep silent. “Did it take a scandal for you to finally acknowledge our presence in this home?”

“How dare you speak to me this way?” the Viscount sneered. “After everything I have done to provide for you, to clothe you so you can dally away every Season, is this how you choose to repay me? Don’t I do more than what other fathers do?”

“Is that all you think is necessary?” Eveline asked, feeling tears well up in her eyes as years of pain rushed forth. “You have barely looked at us since Mother died, and all you have to say to Ava, who has sacrificed so much, is that she hasn’t done well? She was only a child when Mother passed, yet you handed over your responsibilities to her?—”

“Keep silent, Eveline,” the Viscount warned.

“No, Father.”

“Eveline!”

“It is not fair to?—”

“Eveline, be quiet,” Ava ordered, shocking her.

“Ava?” Eveline sputtered, confused, staring at her sister’s frowning face.

“I said, be quiet,” Ava repeated, going to take her seat at father’s right-hand side. “Take your seat, and we shall discuss this in a civilized manner.”

“I do not want to eat.”

“It matters not. Now, sit.”

Feeling deflated, Eveline trudged up to the chair at their father’s left-hand side. Thankfully, Stella had yet to come down, so she was spared the scene.

Eveline still did not understand why Ava had chosen to stop her when all she had been trying to do was defend her.

“I apologize on Evie’s behalf, Father,” Ava started. “And I apologize for how poorly last night went. I should have kept a closer eye on her, but I had hoped to give her some independence while she conversed with the gentlemen I had selected as probable matches.”

“This is where trusting her gets us.” The Viscount frowned. “You should have known better than to trust her to be well-behaved. Eveline has always had a mischievous side to her. I let you handle your sisters because I believed you had learned betterunder your mother’s tutelage, and as such you embodied the best of her. I should never have expected so much from you.”

Eveline felt pain lance through her when she saw a lone tear roll down Ava’s cheek, which Ava quickly wiped with her napkin before placing it on her lap. Eveline watched her sister try to school her features as she buttered a scone, but every so often, her face would crumple as she tried to fight back tears.

Having known their mother the longest, Ava had suffered her absence the most, especially since she had had to handle her responsibilities while their father grieved the loss of his wife. It had been even harder for her because she and their father had shared a close bond which turned into cold silence once he emerged from his mourning.

Eveline felt guilty, for it was because of her mistake that Ava was being punished with the memory of the relationship she had with their mother. Fresh anger at her father kindled in her blood. But for Ava’s sake, she tried to quell it.

“Father,” she began. “The blame lies fully with me and not Ava. I was the one who ran from her when she tried to guide me. I am the one who has brought shame to our family. Not her.”