The carriage wheels rattled rhythmically against the cobblestones as Lavinia leaned her head against the window. The rolling countryside had given way to the bustling streets of London, with its sooty skies and cacophony of voices. Despite her relief at returning to familiar territory, her mind was heavy with the events of the house party.

Percy, seated across from her, was uncharacteristically quiet. He had spent the journey with his arms folded and his gaze fixed out the window, only occasionally making a dry remark about the state of the roads.

When the carriage pulled up to Lavinia’s townhouse, Percy disembarked first, offering her his hand. She hesitated, then took it, allowing him to help her down.

“You’ve survived, Miss Somers,” Percy said as they reached the door. “Surely you must be relieved to escape the madness of Kirkham’s hospitality.”

“I survived you,” Lavinia replied. “That, I think, is the greater accomplishment.”

---

The Ton's Repercussions

The following days were a blur of visits, invitations, and letters. Word of the scandal at the house party had spread like wildfire, though the details had been distorted with each retelling. Lady Beatrice and Mr. Linfield were now the subject of every whispered conversation, their reputations hanging by a thread.

Lavinia, to her chagrin, had not escaped unscathed. While she had done nothing scandalous herself, her association with Percy had sparked rumors of its own.

“Miss Somers,” Mrs. Aldridge said, calling on her one morning, “you do realize your name has been mentioned in conjunction with my son’s?”

Lavinia’s cup of tea rattled slightly on its saucer. “Mrs. Aldridge, I assure you—”

“Oh, I’m not accusing you of impropriety, my dear,” Mrs. Aldridge interrupted, her smile sharp. “But you must understand, gossip is rarely interested in facts.”

Lavinia sighed inwardly. She had no illusions about the ton’s appetite for drama.

“I appreciate your concern,” she said carefully. “But I assure you, there is no cause for alarm.”

---

A Stroll in the Park

Determined to clear her head, Lavinia took a walk in Hyde Park the next morning. The crisp air and gentle rustle of leaves provided a welcome reprieve from the suffocating weight of society’s expectations.

Of course, her peace was short-lived.

“Lavinia!” Percy’s voice rang out, cutting through her thoughts. She turned to see him approaching, his hat tipped at a rakish angle and his expression one of mock indignation.

“I wasn’t aware you had taken up avoiding me as a hobby,” he said, falling into step beside her.

“It’s not avoidance,” Lavinia replied. “It’s self-preservation.”

Percy laughed, though there was a hint of something else in his gaze—concern, perhaps.

“Am I really so intolerable?” he asked.

“Do you want an honest answer?” she countered, though her tone was lighter than before.

They walked in silence for a while, the hum of the park providing a backdrop to their thoughts.

“Do you ever tire of it?” Lavinia asked suddenly.

“Of what?”

“The games. The scandals. The... performance of it all.”

Percy glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “And if I said yes, would you believe me?”

Lavinia hesitated, then shook her head. “No.”

“Exactly,” Percy said with a small smile. “You see, Lavinia, we all play a role in this grand farce. Some of us simply do it better than others.”

---

The Unavoidable Invitation

That evening, a letter arrived for Lavinia.

Miss Somers,
It would be my honor to host you for an intimate gathering next week. Do bring Mr. Aldridge; I find his wit most entertaining.

Lavinia groaned aloud. She could already imagine Percy’s smug expression when he learned they were both invited to yet another gathering.

When she saw him the next day, she handed him the letter without a word. Percy read it quickly, his grin widening with each line.

“Intimate gathering,” he mused. “I do wonder what that entails.”

“Nothing good,” Lavinia said flatly.

“Come now,” Percy said, tucking the letter into his coat. “If we’re lucky, perhaps we’ll witness another scandal. We sure are returning to our routine, now aren't we.”

Lavinia rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t suppress a small smile. "Unfortunately."