She allowed herself to witness her name ridiculed, before speaking, "It would be far wiser, dear ladies, if this particular matter remained confined to this room." Celia interjected then, with a smile so effortless and an air of innocence so perfectly assumed that none might reasonably question it. "Surely, we would not wish to embroil Miss Penelope in further distress," she said gently. "Her family is, regrettably, enduring rather tiring circumstances at present."
"Oh, Celia," Arabella mused. "You are always so kind. Did you forget how she almost made you a laughing stock at Lady Agatha's ball last season?"
Celia gave a tight smile in return, though those eyes remained harmless despite the painful memory that lingered at the back of her mind. "It's all in the past now, Ara. After all, isn't she paying dearly for the price?"
