“You have already had dinner?” Mrs. Vaughn lifted a brow at him. They had not been to the house for long enough for him to engage in bad manners. At his casual look, she sighed and gave a nod. 

“Very well, Robert. I have sent for Fannie, whom I am sure you know, and I will send word and ask her to invite her sister, who is married but who must no doubt need time in the country. Last I saw of her, she was newly married, her husband in the clergy. One cannot go wrong in giving the girl an opportunity to air her dresses. Her husband will be too busy, but we must balance the table somewhat. The small numbers will keep it quiet for you, but Robert...” 

She settled upon her chair once more and watched him as he found the decanter and the dark brandy was poured into one of the snifters which they had equipped for their country home – oh how she missed the lights and liveliness of the city already, he was correct in saying she would be stifled with the drudgery. 

“Robert,” she waited until he had poured his drink and turned once more to her. “I do realize of course that you do not wish to upset your nerves overly much. It has been a long time for you and God knows that it has been a long while for me as well. They were unkind to you, all of them, and yet you run, Robert! You run from all they say to you, about you, and in running, you only further the rumors of our living in this shadow of your time overseas. Why, my dear, do you not realize that the adventures you have had, I know they are seen poorly in the salons, but it is merely in the telling of it. Should you choose, you were always so brilliant at the turning of a tale. It is primarily the reason you captured my heart, husband. I saw how often you were looked to, the rapture on the faces of your listeners. You are aware of audience and you exert your presence in a way that we must not throw away. Your tales, they are splendid ones if you set them that way.” 

She had gone pink with her hope as she spoke her desires to him. For a moment, young again, she wrung her hands together. “So if you must, I shall keep all gatherings small, dearest. But I beg of you to look outward, lest we be captured by your need to lick your wounds. You could harm our prospects, make lasting damage in less than a full season, if you continue to eschew company.” 

Touching her cheek, she looked away from him and gave a small sigh and went still. “I just hope for you, Robert. It is my every prayer that you find a tale to tell that brings you back to the world you left.”