He arched an eyebrow in disbelief. After the things he had said to Miss Pendergast, it would have been ‘insane’ for her not to inform someone—after all, the corruption of a young lady, even if only in words, was a blight upon all of society. But that was not his purpose, not today.

“Miss Abecrombie has made it plain to me—and to Roman—that, if we do not sever ties with you, things will be very difficult between our families. I am not certain how valid her claims our, but that is two careers in jeopardy if we run afoul of the Lestranges, our sister’s social life, various friendships, all in the privy. I would have thought that after twenty-eight years of life,” Aldous said more sternly, “you would have learned that your actions impact more than just you. I trust that after the dust has settled, you will have taken that lesson to heart.

“I have here,” he pulled the papers from his pocket now, “a first-class ticket for passage to Canada, round trip, for six months. It leaves on Monday, if you’ll take it, and you’ll be kept abreast of family news and welcomed back when you return. If you should rather stay,” Aldous continued, placing the ticket on the bureau, “I have researched the Ivana Memorial Asylum, and they apparently are able to ‘cure you’ of the perversions Mrs. Abercrombie seems to believe you hold. If neither option is amenable to you…”

He trailed off, hoping he did not have to spell it out—and that Reuben did not decide isolation was superior to allowing things to settle down.

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