She had always felt they were closer than most siblings, given what they’d faced on the battlefield together. But it had been nearly three months since his disappearance, and she hadn’t received a single note from him. She hoped Will was having better luck at finding his sister though if his demeanor at the Smithfield musicale was anything to judge his success by, he was no better off than she was herself. Things had gone from uncomfortable to untenable by the end of the evening. From the moment they arrived, they had been the object of scrutiny with the other guests paying little attention to the Smithfield sisters’ attempts at singing, reciting poetry, and playing the pianoforte. While the other women present had been polite, they spent most of their time whispering about her in tones just loud enough to be heard. With each comment, Will had become quieter and quieter, his expression carved in stone by the end of the recital. Perhaps he had been correct in first refusing her invitation.
