Elizabeth called over the noise of Hyde Park as the two ventured to take a closer look at the ducks. An afternoon away from Gabe’s house—and Gabe—was just what Elizabeth needed and the park was the perfect place for Phoebe to expend some energy. “Do you think the interest in Gabe’s daughter will ever die down?” she asked her aunt, sitting next to her. “Of course,” Millie answered in mid-wave to Lady Martin and Lady Callow as they stared and whispered intently under their parasols. “Once the next Lord So-And-So is caught with his breeches around his ankles while his wife is otherwise occupied with the head groom.” “Aunt Millie!” “Don’t be so dumbfounded. I didn’t teach my niece to be hoity-toity. We both know the only thing most members of the ton have in common is the ability to be complete hypocrites.” Her aunt did have a point.
