Page 12 of The Wildcat and the Rogue (The Shifter Season #8)

JANE

A servant shows me into a bustling drawing room full of ladies who are chattering away to one another as if they don't have a care in the world. I recognise many of them from the fringes of balls, most having been married long before I came to London, but I do not know much about them beyond their names. And in some cases, I do not even know that.

"Jane!"

I turn at the sound of my name, pleased to find Harriet approaching. At least there is one person I know I can rely on, and who will help guide me through the evening.

"I'm glad you came," she says as she threads her arm through mine and leads me further into the room.

"I'm grateful that you asked Lady Ferrington to send me an invitation." And I'm grateful that the deer shifter agreed. I look over to where the hostess is surrounded by ladies all wishing for her attention. I shall have to give her my regards once she is free, but I shouldn't interrupt her when she is in such lively conversation.

"It is a good evening to have come, Lady Whitstripe is in attendance, and you really should meet her," she says, not knowing that is precisely the reason I wished to come in the first place. "She also holds soirees for married ladies, and you must come to one of those."

"I would very much like to." A tiny hint of guilt worms through me at the reason behind my enthusiasm, but I push it to the side.

"Ah, here she is. Lady Whitstripe, it is a pleasure to see you," Harriet says brightly, nodding her head as she does.

I smile at the older woman in front of me. Even if I wasn't already aware that Lady Whitstripe was a badger shifter, I'd know from looking at her, though I can't pinpoint exactly why. Maybe it's the set of her eyes or the way she feels to be watching me.

"May I introduce Mrs Milne?" Harriet asks. "She has recently married Mr Milne, the heir to Baron Striline."

"You just did," Lady Whitstripe responds, giving me a shrewd look that makes it feel as if she knows that I'm thinking about taking something from her.

My gaze slips to the necklace she's wearing, and I have no doubt that it's the same one Ewan is tasked with stealing. Though several of the clasps around the gems appear to be a little more worn than in the drawing. "That's a beautiful necklace, Lady Whitstripe." My heart races as I draw attention to it.

She puts her hand to it and a small smile twists at her lips. "My husband gave it to me."

"He has exquisite taste," Harriet says.

The older woman wrinkles her nose. "Perhaps. You should see it when it is not in need of cleaning."

"I would very much like that," I say. "It is a wonderful piece."

She nods tersely. "Then perhaps I shall invite you to my next soiree, Mrs Milne, particularly if your taste in jewels is as good as it seems."

"It would be my honour, Lady Whitstripe," I respond, trying not to feel too much excitement over the prospect. I have no idea how Ewan could use this opportunity, but it is closer than he has been so far this Season.

"Now, I should go speak with others," she says. "A pleasure to meet you, Mrs Milne. And to see you again, Mrs Stoaly." She sweeps away to go and speak with someone else.

"That was unexpected," I say as I watch her leave.

"Her husband is known for not being very free with his money," Harriet explains. "Other than when he is in the gambling rooms, then he will lose more often than he wins."

"Ah. So the necklace..."

"Whispers around the ton are that he won it in a card game, only to lose it again, but not until after he'd gifted it to his wife."

"What happened to the person who won it from him? Did they get paid?"

"I don't believe so," she responds. "Mr Stoaly says there are many gentlemen who refuse to play Lord Whitstripe at cards because he doesn't pay his debts."

"I can't imagine that is particularly pleasant for his wife."

"No," she agrees. "But there is nothing we can do about that save not treat her worse because of her husband's choices. It is not her fault that he has bad habits in the gaming rooms. I suspect that is why she can be rather prickly on occasion, though."

"You realise there's irony in you saying that considering some members of your family are hedgehog shifters?" I ask.

"You've met my aunt, you know as well as I do that prickly is a good way to describe her."

"Well, I wasn't going to say anything," I tease.

"It is no matter, I'm aware of who I am related to. In truth, if Lady Stoaly hadn't worked to trap her son and me in marriage, then my aunt may have done it for the same reasons. I can not be too harsh on her."

"Or, perhaps if they'd let you and Mr Stoaly work things through on your own, you'd still have come to the same conclusions and now been happily married."

"Perhaps the same could be said of you and Mr Milne."

I sigh and gesture for us to take a seat at one of the tables. "It is complicated with Mr Milne."

"That is something you have said multiple times."

"And it remains true," I point out. "I haven't told my family yet, and I do not know how they are going to respond. Baron Striline is an enemy of my family after what he did, and now I'm married to his heir?"

"Mr Milne is not his father," Harriet says. "You must know that."

"And I do." I sigh and resist the urge to rub a hand over my face. Given that we are in a room with all the most important ladies in Society, I don't want to be seen as disrespectful of anyone. Especially not my host, or my new husband. "We still have not kissed," I whisper to my friend.

"Jane! I have seen the two of you looking at one another when you dance. How have you not?"

I swallow hard. "I think he is waiting for me to be sure that it's what I wish for."

"Is it?"

"Yes. But I do not know precisely how to tell him that. He says that we're just courting even though we are married."

"That is rather charming," Harriet responds. "Perhaps he can teach Mr Stoaly something about that."

I laugh. "I don't believe your husband needs teaching anything. You have been undeniably happy since your wedding."

She lets out a wistful sigh. "Indeed I have. And I'm not the only one. There are lots of ladies I should like to introduce you to who are just as happy."

I raise an eyebrow. "I thought you said you were glad of my company this evening as you had no one to entertain you at these events?"

"That remains true. I know some of the ladies in passing and through friends, but I do not know them that well. See over there." She gestures to a couple of women talking to one another. "That's Lady Cygnus and the Duchess of Clawdon."

"Should I know them?" I ask.

"They're friends of Mrs Stone," she responds. "Captain Stone is a friend of my husband's. Both of them married during the last Season and are particularly pleased with their matches. Beyond the fact that one of them is to be a countess and the other is already a duchess, that is."

"I hardly believe titles are everything," I respond.

"That is easy for you to say when you are a future baroness," she points out. "And for me as a future viscountess."

"When you put it like that, we have done well for ourselves. Both of us untitled, and yet here we are."

"Our children shall be noble without a doubt," she agrees.

"Children," I echo. "I have been so focused on the family I already have that I have not thought of that."

"If you and Mr Milne are yet to kiss, then I suspect you have longer to think of children before they are a reality for you."

"I don't believe it is polite to speak of such things."

"And yet, if we don't, who will help us to understand them?"

"Mmm." I nod and look around the room. It's strange to think that all of the ladies here have been in my position. New to the ways of married life and the way that influences everything, from the way they talk to other women to the way they dress. I haven't had a chance to change any of that myself, but it is only a matter of time before I do.

My gaze falls back on Lady Whitstripe and the necklace that I now know for certain came into her possession in a manner that was not intended. I feel for her if it is the only token of affection her husband has gifted her, and is stolen, but I cannot let sentimentality stand in the way of Ewan's work, especially when it is what is going to ensure a future for my family.