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just—well, things weren’t quite settled when I wrote, and even now, nothing’s been officially announced. But Father and Aunt Caroline approve,” she rushed on. “And I’m sure Mother will too, once she knows—”
    “Approve of what?” Aurelia demanded, catching her sister’s hands in hers. “For heaven’s sake, Amy, spit it out!”
    Amy took a deep breath. “I’m engaged—to be married.”
    “Married?” Aurelia echoed, astonished. “Good heavens!” She sifted through her memories of Amy’s many admirers. “Is it Lord Glyndon?”
    Amy’s mouth twisted as if she’d bitten into something sour. “No. Lord Glyndon is unofficially engaged to Lady Louisa Savernake. I am marrying the Earl of Trevenan.”
    “Trevenan.” The name meant nothing to Aurelia. “Was he courting you last year?”
    Amy shook her head. “He came into his title very unexpectedly—just this past January, in fact. But he says he saw me once when he was in London and never forgot me.” A dimple quivered at the corner of her mouth. “You can imagine how flattering that was to hear!”
    “What’s he like?” Aurelia asked, relieved by her twin’s returning good humor.
    “Tall, dark, and handsome—like someone out of a gypsy fortune-teller’s predictions. And he has a London townhouse and an estate in Cornwall, though the latter needs repairs. He apologized for that, but I told him my dowry should take care of any problems.” Amy shrugged lightly. “I was glad he didn’t pretend not to need money. We should deal well together, I think.”
    Aurelia fretted her lip at this dispassionate assessment. “Are you in love with him?”
    Amy flicked her an amused glance. “ You were always the romantic one, Relia. I do like and respect Lord Trevenan, but we’ve only been acquainted for a month.”
    Aurelia stared at her. “Only a month—and you’re marrying him?”
    “It’ll be at least three months before the wedding—plenty of time to get to know each other better. And he’s invited us all down to spend part of the summer at his estate. I wonder if Cornwall’s anything like Newport—” She broke off with a little laugh. “Goodness, Relia, your face! You’d think I’d just told you I was engaged to Bluebeard or Henry the Eighth!”
    “I can’t help worrying,” Aurelia pointed out with dignity. “Any more than you could if I were to tell you I was marrying someone I’d known for just a month.”
    Amy sighed. “Well, you needn’t. Lord Trevenan is quite the upstanding citizen.” She began to tick off his virtues on her fingers. “Well-educated, clean-living, hard-working—”
    “I thought English aristocrats prided themselves on never having to lift a finger.”
    “I told you, he hasn’t been an earl very long. Before that, he had to earn his bread. His mother’s family owns a tin mine. He inherited her shares and helps run the business. That’s one reason Father approves of him. Trevenan’s not afraid of dirtying his hands.
    “In fact, he’s been in Cornwall for the last week taking care of things there,” Amy went on. “But he’s supposed to be back by this evening. We’re seeing The Gondoliers at the Savoy. You will come, won’t you? I want very much for you to meet—and like each other.”
    Aurelia knew she could make but one answer; laying her doubts aside, she squeezed her twin’s hand. “Of course, dearest. Now, why don’t you help me pick out a gown for tonight?”
    ***
    From the private box the Newbolds had hired for the Season, Aurelia glanced around the theater. Seats were filling rapidly, even though The Gondoliers had played here for more than a year. Nonetheless, according to Aunt Caroline, the Savoy remained an excellent place at which to be seen, if one were a lady in Society.
    Amused, Aurelia plied her fan and admired the luxury of the Savoy’s trappings: the décor—all white, gold, and red, the gold satin stage curtain, and the steady luminescence of the theater’s