“Vice is not an option.” Ada took a small step back. “That makes it easier to tell him how I feel.”
Minnie cocked her head to one side. “Is that why you can walk a straight line when you’re with him? You don’t think he likes you?”
Heat rose in her cheeks. “I might be able to walk but I literally fell on top of him during the ceremony. Besides, I’ve seen the women he prefers.”
Minnie pressed her fingers to her cheeks. “He does generally spend time with women of far looser moral code.”
“I meant they are more beautiful than me.”
Minnie’s eyebrows went up. “Ada. Please. I wish to look like you. Where did you get the silly notion that you weren’t stunning?”
Ada stared at her sister then. “But everyone notices you. No one sees me.”
“That isn’t true at all. They are trying to catch your attention, you keep your head down so they don’t think they can approach you. I think you’re afraid to talk to men because you become so clumsy.”
Ada gave her head a shake but the words hit her like a slap. Did she keep people at bay? “That can’t be.” But the truth was, it was often easier to ignore them than to deal with her embarrassment. Since she’d been a small child, Ada had been awkward socially.
“Ada, if you want to catch a man’s attention, you need only look at him.” Her sister touched her arm. “I promise you he will eagerly approach.”
Ada looked back at Diana. “And once I have his
attention. How do I keep it?” She thought back to Walter.
“Well.” Minnie nibbled her lip. “That is when you should make yourself less available. Don’t be afraid to make him wait. Or interrupt him when he talks of himself. Once you have his attention, make him work for you.”
“Interesting,” she answered. She had been near rude to Vice, he didn’t seem less interested at all. In fact, he had grown more so. “I shall think on that for certain.”
“Good,” Minnie answered.
Ada clasped her hands. In fact, she may test out a few theories this very day. And she knew just the man on whom to try them.
* * *
Vice sat next to Sin, leaning away from the man. Sin had been his favorite cousin and one of his closest friends. His circle was growing smaller by the day.
Sin gave him several short glances. Finally, he leaned over. “You’re angry with me.”
Vice backed away. “Not angry. I don’t blame you for wanting your daughter back.” But he was disappointed. Vice couldn’t deny that. He felt…betrayed.
Sin grimaced. “Abernath had taken my daughter. What length would you go to get back someone you loved?”
For some odd reason, Ada’s delicate features rose up in his thoughts. “I understand, Sin. I do.” Surprisingly, he did. If someone took Ada…when had he gotten so bloody protective?
“Sin, we all understand. That’s why you’re still here,” Daring added.
“Agreed,” Bad said. “And now that we have your daughter back, we need your help.”
“Anything.” Sin spread his hands out on the desk in front of him.
Daring leaned forward. “How were you acquainted with Lady Abernath?”
Sin shrugged. “Socially. I’ve begun looking for a new wife to help me raise Anne.” He pulled his hands back into his lap. “I met her a month ago and she confided in me that her husband had passed. She told me that she needed help financially, which was why she hadn’t made his death public. She didn’t want to leave society in order to grieve.” He clenched his hands. “It made sense at the time. Looking back, I see how foolish it was.”
Vice cleared his throat. “She’s a very persuasive woman.” This time, he moved in closer. “Were you intimate?”
Sin shook his head. “No. I mean, we were moving in that direction but I wanted to woo her, not seduce her. I thought…” He raked his hand through his hair. “I thought she’d make a good stepmother. What a bloody fool I am.”
“She has fooled more than one person,” Daring replied. “Many of us have fallen prey to her charms.”