A profound, collective gasp traveled down the long, ivory-draped tables. Lady Clara's smug, triumphant smirk violently shattered on her face, her jaw dropping open in total, uncomprehending shock as she stared at the weeping future Duchess.
The debutantes who had been whispering insults froze like stone statues, the entire pavilion paralyzed by the unadulterated absurdity of the scene unfolding before them.
"Selene...? What... why are you crying? If the token is improper, I can..." I whispered out, my voice cracking under the sudden, immense weight of her emotion.
"No!" Selene interrupted softly, her voice breaking into a ragged, emotional sob as she tightened her warm grip around my fingers, completely ignoring the stunned glares of her high-society guests.
She looked at the saucer, her eyes wide with a deep, reverent awe that made my heart do a violent, dizzying flip.
