— TRY, TRY, TRY !

Of course, Camille has an answer to the lift of Devika's brow before she can fully perform the expression. The corner of her mouth twitches in amusement. "I concede that she is occasionally twit-like. What happened at the modiste?" She never knew the gossip until Whistledown wrote about it or Camille told her. Devika didn't talk to anyone else about that sort of thing. She didn't like anyone else, in truth.

avery was not as soft as his father, but camille knew the right buttons to press for him to crack open the cheque book. avery took no pleasure in the details of the debut or the balls. he spared no thoughts to it all — the girls had money set aside for their dowry and the rest of it was avery’s.

none of which he wished to share with camille. although they both know the extent of each other’s finances, it is only with his father’s advice that avery considers it, be kind to your sister and help her as she needs it. she is mourning. so is he. mourning all of money he is to lose over the next year.

"preventable indeed," avery says dryly. he could only imagine what his vapid sister was going through. if only her stupid husband had the faintest whiff of a business sense. “do you have a point to make to me, or are you simply complaining for the joy of it?”

❛❛ if i were seeking joy , darling , it wouldn't be found here with such a sour face before me. ❜❜ she presses her fingers together, examines the ring on her finger . now impassioned , she sits upright , leaning forward as she studies her brother's face. ❛❛ i do have a point , in fact , and it's one that you continue to fail to see . and that point is that i'm far less of a nuisance to you married than i am widowed. we both know that. maman won't see me disgraced , and papa won't see me penniless . unless you want to spite them , you'll have to look after me if i cannot secure a match . in order to do so , that means gowns , it means hosting dinners, and maintaining an image . so i'll once again posit the question : do you want me to be a financial convenience for a period of months ? or a burden for the rest of your life ? ❜❜

camille's iron exterior falters for a moment as the reality of what she has said settles on her shoulders , too . if she cannot succeed , she will always be at the mercy of others . if she cannot succeed , she will rely on a brother who already finds her too much of a burden to bother with . a thorn in the side , a little leech bleeding him dry . playing on his sympathy is pointless , for she's fairly certain he bears none. he cannot see the gravity of the situation , so she will hit him where it hurts : his coffers .

❛❛ tu as besoin de moi, mon frère. ❜❜ her mother tongue breaks free for a moment only . she dares her mother who forbade it to step into this room , if only so camille can explain why she must implore in french , as her brother will not see sense en anglais . ❛❛ tu ne le vois pas, mais tu as besoin de moi. ❜❜

 Though Devika's moments of relaxation are far and few between, Camille's company often brings them on. As does sitting in front of the big window on the second floor of her house, where she can see her horse lazing in a patch of sunlit wildflowers. "Oh, before I forget," she leans forward, cutting a small slice of the lemon almond cake between them. Given that they're home, she dispenses with the need for silverware, electing to pick it up with her fingers. "I went to the Sheffield's for dinner last week, and Lord Penhallow was asking after you. You know, the one who talks too much and has always spilled something on himself."

IT WAS RARE for drusilla to be let out of the house for so long, almost an entire day, and yet it still wasn't enough for her. her maid had been attached to her hip the entire time, citing duke castillo's concern that his daughter might wander off (she would, but she hardly sees how that's a problem). they'd traversed what feels like all of london at this point, stopping for tea, spending hours in almon's — and yet it wasn't enough, because she feels suffocated.

there are many boons to being a widow just out of mourning. people don't seem to scrutinize what one does or does not do, what they say, when one has already been previously made it to the altar. the best freedom of all comes with being able to travel unchaperoned. it is a liberation camille wishes on every woman. though , perhaps without the death of a spouse, particularly if there is a fondness. god rest george's soul , of course. dear man .