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At first, Mei had not known what to think about making friends with the ladies of the ton, but she’d met Astrid, who had then introduced her to the others. She knew she did not belong with them, not really, yet they made her feel as though she did. It was a relief to have other women she could be herself with and not always on her guard. She had been rather lonely before Astrid, and now she rarely was.

Paulson stepped back and gave her a nod, and Mei smiled at him in thanks as she walked past him into the room. She was only somewhat surprised to find Tiffany entertaining Lady Astrid Blackstone, a tea set and a small tray of delicacies set out on the low table in front of the couch where they were seated. The two had become rather close when Tiffany had debuted, even before she’d married the Duke of Clarence. Astrid’s betrothed was also a duke, though when they would actually be wed was a question that remained unanswered.

Dressed in her signature blue, though without the sapphires as she was in a day dress rather than a ballgown, Tiffany’s cheeks were pink, her hazel eyes bright, and the sunlight coming in through the window danced off the blonde and red highlights in her brown hair. She was as pretty as a picture, a true English rose.

Beside her, Lady Astrid was far more dramatic in appearance, as redheads were wont to be. Her hair was braided and pinned neatly into place, keeping the fiery tresses under control. Her emerald-green eyes were not matched by her dress, however. Astrid was an Original and tended to dress as though she was emulating a sunset, with deep oranges and burnt sienna, set off by cream or ivory trim. Today’s gown was a rusty orange shade, trimmed with cream lace, and a single stone of Cairngorm quartz hung from her throat. Personally, Mei thought the hot colors suited Astrid rather better than the green that Mei preferred for her own attire.

“Your Grace,” Mei said with a low curtsy to the duchess, bobbing a second one at Lady Astrid. “My lady.”

“Oh, stop that,” Tiffany scolded her, getting to her feet and holding out her hands. “You know there is no need in private.”

“But if I do not do it every time, I might forget,” Mei teased, exchanging cheek kisses with Tiffany, then with Astrid. “What if I were to forget in the middle of one of your balls? The scandal!”

Both of them laughed at the joke, though Mei spoke nothing but the truth. The foibles of the ton when it came to social standing were strictly enforced. Flouting them could be done by powerful ladies such as Astrid but not by someone like Mei, who was hired help. A rather unusual and specific class of hired help, and she did have some of her own power within the service she and her grandmother provided, but neither of them could do whatever they wished without thought.

She was glad that both Tiffany and Astrid recognized how ridiculous some of those strictures were. Tiffany might want her closest friends to eschew curtseying to her, but she could not change how everyone in the ton would view such blatant disrespect to her position any more than Mei could change the way Society would turn on her if she were to forget her position.

“What are you doing here? I thought you had an appointment this morning.” Tiffany tilted her head, gesturing for Mei to take a seat as she went back to her own. As usual, there were several empty teacups on the tray, in case of unexpected guests, and Tiffany moved to ready one for Mei.

“Unfortunately, I come bearing bad news,” Mei said gently. “My appointment ended early, and I decided to go for a walk, which took me past Bolton House… and I saw your mother disembarking from a carriage there.”

Tiffany had been expertly handling the pouring of Mei’s tea, her hand outstretched with the saucer and cup balanced on her fingers, when Mei revealed the presence of her mother in London. Her expression blanked immediately, and her fingers trembled, causing the teacup to wobble on the saucer. Mei quickly reached out and grasped the saucer, holding it together with the cup to keep them from spilling over.

“My… my mother?” Her voice was a little higher than normal.

Astrid scowled.

“I thought your brother sent her to rusticate in the country!” The fiery redhead’s temper was quick to appear, while Tiffany appeared to want to shrink into herself. She did not appear angry. It was as though Mei’s words had caused her to become smaller.

“He did.” Tiffany looked down at the tray in front of her. “She must have come back.”

“Perhaps he will send her away again?” Mei suggested, though she was not entirely certain what Bolton had intended to do after she’d left. He’d seemed shocked, but not as angry as Astrid was.

“Perhaps.” Closing her eyes, Tiffany swallowed hard and gave herself a little shake. Her head lifted up, some of the color coming back into her face. Mei was glad to see it. “Perhaps not. Either way, she cannot do anything to me.” The words were said fiercely, but there was still a tremor of fear in her voice.

“I’d like to see her try,” Astrid said darkly. She lifted her teacup to her lips and sipped delicately, a perfectly normal behavior when drinking tea, yet Mei had never seen it done in a manner that appeared so threatening. “You must always have one of us by your side at events, just in case she does try to approach you.”

“Us?” Tiffany asked, blinking rapidly, as though Astrid’s words had just shaken her loose from whatever thoughts she’d been having.

“Us. One of our… sisterhood. Me, Mei, Kalina, Delilah, Johanna. If at least one of us is by your side, we will be your ally if she should be, ah, rude to you.” Astrid scowled again, but her green eyes were gleaming with anticipation. Mei wondered if she planned to stick to Tiffany’s side in hopes of having just such an opportunity.

“I do not know how much help I can be,” Mei said a little woefully. “Though I would do my best, I am hardly a match for a duchess. I am not even one of the ton.”

“True, but you have the trust of many of us.” Astrid smiled at her. “I’m sure you could at least support Tiffany in fending off her mother until one of us other duchesses can rush to the rescue.”

“My mother-in-law would likely assist as well,” Tiffany said, her shoulders slowly relaxing over the conversation. “She holds no love for my mother, even before my mother began spreading the truth about me and Gregory.”

Forewarned was forearmed, as they said. Now that Mei had warned Tiffany, she was able to start planning. And she had no idea that Mei had been inside the house with Tiffany’s brother, not walking the street outside as she’d claimed. Mei had fulfilled both her friendship and employment obligations, which meant she could relax.

Sebastian

He had to tell Tiffany.

Once Sebastian had gotten past the arrival of his mother and the realization that he had to let her stay, he’d realized he needed to warn his sister. And Gregory. And very likely apologize to both of them. Hopefully, the news that he’d managed to wring promises from their mother to be on her best behavior would help soften the blow.

They were very likely both going to be mad at him, which he did not look forward to. Better they hear it from him than come across her with no warning, though. If that happened, they’d certainly be furious with him. This way, at least, he’d be able to explain himself, even if the thought made him feel a bit sick inside.

The urge to hide away in his home until someone came to drag him out of it was all too appealing. Unfortunately, it was also not an option. And not just because he did not wish to offend his sister and best friend, but because there were too many social obligations as a duke. His best course of action now was likely to lock down the bride he wanted and wed her as quickly as possible.