Winter Ball

"I am quite excited for this year's Winter Ball. The atmosphere in these parts has been too sorrowful! It's all thanks to the news of the king's withering health, tsk." Adeline was as chipper as usual, speaking without a filter or a second thought.

Sophie was glad nothing much had changed while she was stuck in her bedroom. A part of her was worried she would return to an unfamiliar world and be treated like an outcast—much like when she first reentered elite society as the Duke's wife.

Everyone scrutinized her for being a low-ranking noble. She was using her husband as a stepping stone, many of them would say behind her back, including most of Luke's relatives.

A troubling time it was.

But pleasantly enough, her friends were still themselves. A bit rough on the edges but still their authentic selves.

"You are complaining as if it is his choice to be ill in the first place." Lady Maude was still as sharp as a well-polished knife.

The two were too honest for their own sake but in completely different ways. It was amusing to witness them express themselves so freely, a motion Sophie struggled with her entire life.

While recovering, she had greatly missed her friends' clashing dynamics. They were too occupied with their own household matters to make visits. Not to mention, Adeline's cousins were back in town once more so the blonde was busy making accommodations.

Admittedly, their eccentricities made for interesting and raw conversation—something that was painfully lacking whenever her husband had to attend to his responsibilities.

"Of course not! I wish the king all the best, but somebody needs to lighten the mood." Adeline deflected, pulling her less threatening friend by the arm as if to protect herself from Maude's ferocity.

Sophie complied with a small smile and let herself be used as a shield.

"Speaking of," Adeline started, deciding to direct her mischief elsewhere. There was nothing but promises of trouble in that saccharine smile of hers.

"Sophie dearest! I am so glad you're recovered enough to be walking with us. Maude has been so antsy as of late. It's no fun, no fun at all."

Sophie raised a brow in surprise. Maude? More antsy than usual?

Sophie believed that everything operated with a maximum capacity. It was hard to surpass something that was already at its peak every second of the day.

"Is this true, Maude? I never thought it was possible." She asked, partially concerned for her agitated friend, partially entertained by Adeline's teasing.

"What? There are many things to be antsy about." Maude snapped, highlighting the 'ansty' part as if to mock Adeline's usage of the word.

Beneath her fiery demeanor was an underlying hint of playfulness—something only Maude's closest companions could discern—it was to indicate that the exchange was nothing more than friendly banter, although many would argue otherwise.

Ah, well, Maude's comment wasn't necessarily untrue.

Important affairs in high society were unfolding in ways that were less than ideal. But what could three ladies do against the pull of a current? Not much except be carried away to wherever it led them and, in this case, wherever it led the rest of the nation.

"Bringing this back to the topic of the Winter Ball, have you been made aware of who is hosting this year?"

Sophie nodded. At the mention of the ball's hosts, her mental musings became less than agreeable or kind. If she had to assign a taste to her current stream of thoughts, they would be as bitter as those cranberry jams Luke would sometimes bring home.

"The Barringtons. Miss Gabriella's family, correct? What about it?" She answered a bit too harshly.

Lady Adeline, and unexpectedly even Lady Maude, gave her a look as if urging her to share her true thoughts.

She held back the urge to roll her eyes at their faces—how nosy! Why couldn't they just accept the civil answer?

"She has been awfully active after arriving from her out-of-country travels. Do you think she is searching for a husband?" Adeline asked, not so subtly fidgeting away from Sophie's scrutinizing gaze. No fire burned as harshly as a lady who held a grudge.

It was ridiculous that Adeline couldn't handle the consequences of the drama she had stirred.

And Sophie, well, she was fully aware of what they were trying to coax out of her.

Miss Gabriella this. Miss Gabriella that. What was so special about her anyway? Anyone was capable of belittling others through backhanded comments.

She was no enigma.

Luke, her husband, seemed fond of her. Her unpredictability, her wild and uncontained attitude that resembled his.

Maude and Adeline, her friends, were curious about her and even more so about their dear friend's last interaction with her.

So what if she had ventured across the world? It was nothing impressive if she still hadn't learned manners from all the places she had been.

Sophie thought of Gabriella as disgraceful and arrogant! She would never admit that though because talking badly about others behind their backs was not ladylike.

"Perhaps." Sophie dismissed, keeping her indifferent facade.

Why was the audacious woman the focus of their conversation? Since when had Sophie expressed interest in Gabriella's pursuits?

Even if Gabriella was looking to bag a marriage that season, she should've learned long ago to stay away from other ladies' husbands. It was common etiquette for goodness' sake.

"Have you two decided on what to wear for the ball?" Maude diverted, leading the conversation for once.

"Oh? Lady Maude! This is the first time I've seen you express interest in these things." Adeline exclaimed.

Even Sophie was stunned.

"It's nothing dramatic. My recent read described a rather unforgettable dress. It piqued my interest."

"You wish to replicate it?" Sophie asked.

"Well," Maude's cheeks flushed into a pretty pink color. At moments like those, Sophie was reminded that every girl was as delicate as a rose deep inside, despite all the thorns they carried. "If that is possible."

"We'll make it possible, of course!" Adeline cheered, excited by her friend's newfound interest. Maude appeared embarrassed by the attention, but the light in her eyes was undeniable.

Smiling, Sophie watched as her two opposite friends bounced off of each other.

She eventually spoke up, "Come. I think I know where our next stop is."