When the others separate after dinner, we say our goodbyes.
“Leaving so soon?” Charles asks as we wait for one of his doormen to fetch Sabine’s clutch.
I lower my voice so the others won’t overhear. “Sabine needs to rest her voice.”
Charles nods as if that’s reasonable. “I’ll take Candace home soon as well.”
When we finally break away from the group, the cool evening air is a pleasant change from the house's heat.
“The weather is changing,” Sabine says as we walk to our waiting carriage. “Plants are growing tired—I can feel the shift.”
“You’ve been here almost two months now. We’re nearing autumn.”
“I wonder if I’ll be here long enough to see the colors change.”
A weight settles in my chest, and I don’t answer.
“Oh, I forgot my gloves,” Sabine says when we’re almost to the carriage.
“Shall I go back for them?”
“Do you mind?”
“Not at all. You’ll be all right for a moment?”
“Of course.”
I hurry inside, meeting Frederick in the foyer.
“Forget something?” He offers me the gloves.
Candace joins us, standing next to Frederick. “I thought you already left.”
“Not quite.” My eyes go between the two of them. “Is Frederick taking you home?”
“I’m tired, and Charles started talking business.” She rolls her eyes. “He can go on for hours when someone gets him started. Frederick was leaving anyway, so he said he’d take me.”
“Perhaps we can postpone our talk?” Frederick asks me.
Distracted, I nod. “Where’s your father? Is he riding with you?”
“He left right after you and said he’d wait for us in the carriage,” Frederick answers. “You didn’t see him while you were out there?”
A strange anxiousness settles over me. I can’t put my finger on what it is exactly, but I turn back to the entry, running before I’m even out the door.
Frederick calls my name, but I don’t stop.