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She really did not want to endure the dinner which had yet to be announced, or all that came with it. Fortunately, Fortune decided to give her a helping hand.

“Where have you been?” Judith questioned with a severe frown as she walked back toward the parlor and the other guests. Before she could answer, Judith continued, “Never mind. Hilarie is unwell. We are leaving immediately.”

Portia did not say a word, but followed her relations to their waiting carriage. The only words that were on the tip of her tongue were demands to know what had happened to the letters Titus had sent her, and why she’d been locked up when he visited. But again, common sense and utter obedience won.

She could not help but wonder if Hilarie was truly unwell, or if that was just an excuse. Her niece appeared quite hail in her estimation. She suspected something else had occurred. As long as it didn’t involve her, it was none of her business. She had her own worries to contemplate.

B y the next morning, whatever had ailed Hilarie had passed, and mother and daughter were ready to conquer whatever might come their way.

The pair spent the entire day preparing for the evening.

Although Portia didn’t understand why this particular engagement was so important.

A dinner party was a common enough event during the Season.

“Are you coming?” Judith called to Hilarie, then stomped her foot on the marble tile. “We don’t want to be late!” Then she turned and eyed Portia. “Not a word. You’re fortunate even to be included.”

Portia wanted to remind her half-sibling that they shared the same father, the father who’d been a baron, and—except for having no money of her own—she was not beneath her half-siblings in status.

“And remember, you are to accept Lord Webber the moment he offers for you,” Judith added.

Not if I can help it . Portia’s situation might be dire, but she would not marry the obnoxious old lord, with whom she had nothing in common.

Not for the first time, she could not help but wonder what information Judith had on the man.

He’d never really shown any real interest in her, apart from ogling her breasts.

Regardless, she still did not know how she was going to get out of this predicament, but there must be some other gentleman—a more agreeable one at that—that would offer for her.

Once married—and not to Lord Webber—with a home of her own, her half-siblings would become a distant memory.

She hoped that, when she did have a home of her own, Albert and the twins—when they were old enough—would come to visit.

They were the only family she truly cared about, and who cared about her.

Nearly ten minutes later, Hilarie descended the stairs in a flurry of disdain, with Katie following close behind. “Mother, Katie is useless. She doesn’t know the latest hairstyles! How am I to garner Lord Ravensworth’s attention when I look like this?”

Hilarie’s own lady’s maid had taken ill, and so the task of helping her ready for the evening had fallen to Katie. The poor girl looked on the verge of tears. Portia would make sure to comfort and reassure her later.

It made Portia sick to her stomach to think that Hilarie had set her cap at Titus. Regardless of the past, she knew Titus to be a good man. She also knew Hilarie to be the complete opposite.

Judith eyed her daughter’s hair, then adjusted some strands. “It will have to do for tonight,” she said on a long, disgruntled sigh.

Portia was surprised her half-sister did not rant any further, but they were running late. She felt sorry for Katie. The young maid always tried her best and was willing to learn. It was as difficult to work for Judith as it was to be related to her.

Portia offered a sympathetic smile to Katie, who gave one in return. Both women had been subjugated to Judith’s tirades and tyranny numerous times this Season.

By the time they arrived at Lord and Lady Sutton’s dinner party, Judith and Hilarie had calmed down enough to be pleasant. Or perhaps, a more likely scenario, Portia decided, was that they’d managed to mask their annoyance over Katie’s lack of hairstyling skills for appearance’s sake.

It wasn’t a grand affair with hundreds of guests, but a gathering of several dozen, most of whom were interested in Lord Sutton’s eccentric collections. How her relative had secured an invitation to an event such as this, and accepted, was hard to fathom.

While Portia still pondered those questions, the answer to the latter came a moment later when Judith nudged Hilarie’s side and murmured with excitement, “My sources were correct. Look who’s just arrived!”

Portia followed her half-sister’s gaze. Nervous tingling soared through her body at the sight of…

Titus .

He looked far too handsome in dark navy, the color enhancing the green of his eyes.

Remembrances of the kiss they’d shared crept through her thoughts.

Had he thought about that kiss as much as she?

Even if he did, he did not know it was her, so why bother wondering.

There would be no other kiss from him. But still…

He scanned the room as if looking for someone when their eyes met for the briefest of seconds. No longer did his gaze hold anger, but something else. Something foreign and unspeakable passed between them, something she could not describe. Heat rose from within, settling on her cheeks.

“Please gather round,” Lord Sutton announced, breaking the spell she’d been under.

He waited a few moments before continuing with his speech.

“Thank you all for joining us this evening, and a special thank you to my darling and very patient wife, who indulges my hobbies with grace and understanding.” With those words, Lord Sutton glanced at his wife, the love between them shining as brightly as the stars in the night sky.

A dull ache weighed down Portia’s insides.

Would she ever experience such a glance from an adoring husband?

Lady Sutton’s warm smile filled the room. “You are most welcome.” A silent moment passed as the pair shared something unspoken before she cleared her throat. “First we will dine, and then we’ll view my husband’s latest acquisition.”

And with that, couples were arranged and began the promenade to the dining room.

Portia, being the unmarried daughter of a baron, did not rank very highly amongst the guests and found herself near the bottom of importance, finding herself paired with a Mr. Smith, the son of a wealthy, yet untitled, shipbuilder in London.

She’d learned during the course of the meal that Mr. Smith and his wife—who was unable to attend this evening as she had caught a cold—were very well connected with other collectors of antiquities, and that was the reason he was invited.

She was enthralled by Mr. Smith’s stories of all the adventures he and his wife had had, especially their time spent in Egypt.

“And what was the highlight of your time in Cairo?” she asked.

“There were so many wonders for the eye to behold, but if I had to choose one, it would be the Great Pyramids.” He took off his spectacles and removed a cloth from his pocket, then proceeded to clean them as he continued, “The sheer size is like nothing I’ve ever beheld.

My mind kept trying to work out how exactly they were built.

” After blinking several times, he returned the spectacles to his face.

“I must admit, the incredible feat has kept me awake many a night.”

“I would so love to see them,” Portia confessed. Experiencing the world had always been a dream of hers. The more she read, the more she longed to explore.

“I hope you do one day.” Mr. Smith turned out to be a wonderful dinner companion. She could not remember the last time she’d enjoyed a conversation this much.

It was in Father’s library with Titus .

She shook that thought away. Although they’d come to a better understanding of the past, there would be no more such conversations with him. Their lives were far too different, and they were on very divergent paths.

Once dinner had concluded, the women adjourned to the drawing room for some light entertainment and conversation, while the men stayed behind for cigars and brandy.

Portia looked about the room, wondering which grouping of ladies she’d fit in best with.

Lady Whitby was in attendance, but Miss Beaumont was not with her, and Portia was not familiar with the other lady Lady Whitby was speaking with.

There were the usual gossips in the far corner, led by Lady Baldwin, who were all enthralled by a salacious scandal involving two ladies and a footman.

She wanted nothing to do with those rumormongers.

Then there was a covey of young ladies who sounded more like birds chirping in excitement, although over what, she could not fathom.

And then there was a circle of misses, presided over by Hilarie, whose only thoughts were how to ensnare eligible gentlemen in the marriage mart.

She certainly did not want anything to do with anyone of her niece’s association.

Not to mention that she still had hopes to marry for love, not to ensnare or be snared.

Despite her hope, she still had no prospects this Season.

But there is… her heart sped up, tempting to remind her.

No. He is not a possibility .

But…

No. Friendship is all you could possibly hope for.

If Judith only knew that she was arguing with herself, she would give up her insistence that she marry Lord Webber and send her straight to Bedlam instead.