Free Arcana by Jessica Leake Page B

debut.”
    We face each other and sink into curtsies. As we are all around the same age, they give me their first names as well: Miss Eliza Gray and Miss Amelia Uppington.
    “Did you just come to town?” Eliza, the one who first addressed the earl, asks.
    “Yes, my grandmother was kind enough to invite me here for the season.”
    “I know of Lady Sinclair,” Amelia says with a smile. She has a heart-shaped face and dark hair, and she seems the more approachable of the two. “She is a very dear friend of my aunt’s.”
    “And when will you have your debut?” Eliza asks, though it seems she has a difficult time keeping her eyes on my face when Lord Thornewood is much more interesting to look at.
    “Wednesday next,” I say, and her eyes dart to mine.
    “Where did you say you were from?” she asks, sharply.
    “I didn’t,” I say.
    Her friend giggles nervously. “We will both be debuting then as well.”
    Eliza puts a gloved finger to her chin. “I seem to remember a Lady Sinclair who is a rather upstanding member of the peerage.”
    “She’s her grandmother,” Amelia says.
    “Ah,” Eliza says, “she must have arranged for your debut then.”
    I open my mouth to retort, but she turns to Lord Thornewood. “My lord, I hope you will be in attendance at Duchess Cecily’s ball next Wednesday.”
    He looks at me when he answers. “Yes.”
    Her eyes narrow, and I find myself stiffening in response. “Now that I think of it,” she says, “I believe I heard talk about town of a Miss Sinclair from Gloucestershire.”
    I don’t like the idea of anyone in London talking about me, especially after what poor Margaret witnessed just a few days ago. “My father’s estate is located in Gloucestershire,” I say in as neutral a tone as I can manage.
    “Indeed? Well, then, you must be the country beauty I heard talk of.” She casts her eyes over my dress as though appraising whether this is true.
    “How very kind,” I say.
    Eliza turns to Amelia. “But what else did we hear? Something about a girl who has become so headstrong, her father sent her to London because not even the country gentlemen would have her.” She laughs humorlessly, her eyes trained on mine. “But that must have been a different girl from Gloucestershire as the one who stands before us is so well-turned out, there can be no doubt of her gentle upbringing.”
    If I were one of my father’s hounds, my hackles would be standing on end. I cannot imagine what I did to deserve such animosity from this perfect stranger. I glance at the earl, whose mouth is turned down in an irritated frown, though whether it is directed at Eliza or the gossip she deposited at our feet, I’m not sure.
    I smile as though she’s said something amusing. “Perhaps. Though I’m not sure headstrong would be such a terrible insult. I find it is much preferred to that of a vapid gossipmonger.”
    The earl lets out a noise somewhere between a snort and a cough. His frown has been replaced with bright amusement in his eyes, but I cannot even enjoy it. My body thrums with nervous energy. I’ve wielded my tongue like a sword, and I know I have yet to pay the consequences.
    Eliza makes a sniffing sound and turns to Amelia. “We should continue our walk. I believe we have trespassed on his lordship and Katherine’s private conversation.”
    “We weren’t—” I start.
    “It was nice to make your acquaintance, Katherine,” Eliza says. “I look forward to seeing you again soon.”
    My eyes narrow at her back as she walks away. If anyone I’ve met so far is a member of the Order, it’s Eliza. Why else would she hate me on sight? Though if that’s the caliber of its members, I fear my mother worried herself for nothing.
    “My dear Miss Sinclair,” the earl says, his tone steeped with regret, “as amusing as that was, I do believe you’ve made yourself your first enemy.”

SIX
    T HE rest of the week is unbearably dull, and yet busy at the same time. After that