They followed the crowd that had gathered on the pavement outside.Jessamine remembered their first sight of the Institute so many weeks ago. She had avoided this street and nearby Grafton Street since that embarrassing day when Mr. Marfleet had caught them lurking outside his residence.How silly and naïve she had been then. In the ensuing weeks of parties, balls, and theatrical events, she felt she had changed much from that brokenhearted girl who’d run to London to begin a new life.“Your father would enjoy seeing the inside of this place,” Megan whispered at her side.“Indeed,” she whispered back then wondered why she was whispering. There was a growing drone of voices around them as more people filled the vast marble entryway.They continued following the crowd until they entered a semicircular theater with a lectern down at the center.“To think we know someone who belongs to this august scientific body,” Megan said once they were settled in their seats. They were about halfway up since the best seats had already been taken by those arriving ahead of them.“Yes . . .”
