to meet with her and give them the final information, and now she tried to remain calm as she did so.
There was a light knock on her door and Jeanette poked her head in. “The carriages are arriving, my lady.”
Aurora’s heart leapt and she moved to the window. Indeed, there were a handful of vehicles turning in, her one poor footman rushing out to help people out. “Good,” she said. “Send them in right away.”
She moved to the sideboard where tea was already waiting and began to arrange cups in case her guests wanted refreshment. They began to enter the room. Mr. Barber, Selina and Derrick Huntington all came in together. The Duke and Duchess of Willowby were on their heels. Greetings were exchanged and then Aurora smoothed her hands along her skirts.
“Thank you for coming. I really do appreciate your help in this terrible matter. Let me tell you what Imogen’s latest letter said and the final details for our meeting later today.”
Selina stepped forward with a shake of her head. “Shouldn’t we wait until we’re all here? Nicholas didn’t come with any of us.”
Aurora’s breath caught. She’d known someone in their group might be so direct. She might have guessed it would be Selina. She met the other woman’s bright blue eyes and said, “I didn’t send word to Nicholas,” she said softly. “I know he would help me. I know he wants to…but…”
“But?” Huntington encouraged her as he rested a hand on his wife’s back. Selina’s shoulders relaxed just a fraction with the action.
The heat that filled Aurora’s cheeks was instant and burning hot. Here were her sins and her secrets, all laid out for the world to see. Perhaps that was the penance for them. She glanced at the Willowbys and Mr. Barber apologetically, though they didn’t look vexed by this veering off topic.
“Nicholas deserves to receive his title,” she said at last, though her breath felt so short as she said the words. “I refuse to destroy his chances by involving him in this any more than he already has been. So I didn’t contact him.”
Selina’s expression softened. “I see.”
It was such a noncommittal tone to those two words. Aurora had no idea if his sister approved or disapproved those actions. She smoothed her skirts. “Perhaps we should get back to the matter at hand, at any rate. Imogen’s letter says that she wishes to meet with me at Fitzhugh’s Club.”
At that, Selina took a long step back. “F-Fitzhugh’s?” she repeated.
Aurora nodded. “Yes. It seems the man who has been sheltering her is the owner of the club and he has offered to close his club for a few hours so we can meet. Why? Why are you so pale at the mention of that that name?”
Selina shook her head and she looked at Derrick for…what seemed to be support. That response only made Aurora’s heart race faster.
“Selina,” Derrick said softly. “What makes you act this way at the mention of Oscar Fitzhugh?”
“He’s…he’s another of the Bastards,” Selina whispered. “Another half-brother. He never interacts with any of us. He’s rebuffed all connection.”
Aurora’s mouth dropped open. “Great God. But…do you know what kind of man he is?”
“A rogue. But in a different way than the rest of us,” Selina said.
“Oh no!” Aurora gasped. “My poor Imogen.”
“No, no,” Selina said. “I don’t mean he’s bad. I’ve heard he’s…decent. Too decent for the likes of Roseford’s children.”
Derrick put a gentle arm around her and glanced at Aurora. “I’ve never heard a cross word about the man. I would not assume Imogen is in danger from him, at any rate.”
That news relaxed Aurora a fraction, though the coincidence of this man’s relationship to Nicholas and his family made her head spin. “How many children did the last Roseford sire?”
At that Selina gave a pained chuckle. “That is an answer I could only give over a great deal of whisky, my dear.”
Aurora forced herself to refocus on Imogen. “She only wanted to see me, and I suppose I’m not being much of a friend by bringing you all along. But I fear so desperately for her.”
The Duke of Willowby stepped forward. “You’re doing the right thing, I promise you. What time are we to meet them?”
“Three this afternoon,” she said, and glanced at the clock on her mantel. “Almost exactly three hours from now.”
Selina nodded. “Then Derrick and I will come for you at two,” she said. “That will give us time to prepare and get there.”
Aurora let out her