Chapter 293

Sylvia's POV I couldn't help but smile as I watched Claire with her mother. In that moment, I saw exactly where Claire had inherited her fiercely generous spirit. Once Mr. Bennett had excused himself to join his business associates, only Mrs. Bennett, Claire, and I were left in our cozy—if rather opulent—corner of the hall. I'd been quietly worried that we were keeping the Bennetts from mingling with the other guests, but the second her husband's back was turned, Mrs. Bennett let out a genuine, relieved sigh. "Finally, he's gone! A man hovering about ruins all our girl talk, doesn't it?" Claire huffed in unmistakable agreement, nodding vigorously. "Exactly! Dad's always so stiff with all that business chatter. Poor Aria could barely keep up!" Mrs. Bennett reached for my hand, her touch warm and unexpectedly maternal. "Claire calls you Aria, so I hope you won't mind if I do the same, dear? And please don't pay Mr. Bennett any mind—he's spent far too long in the corporate world; he can't