It’s such a pleasure to have you back,” Isobel said as she accepted the cloak Lysander placed on over her shoulders. It was time to leave for the theater. “Andrew said he’d meet us there. It’s all about his friends now. Can barely spare any time for his mother.”

“All the excitement of London open to him,” Lysander said. “Now that his studies are finished, he wants to enjoy the delights.”

“It’s not every day that family return after spending a few years on the continent. I suppose he’ll wish to travel soon.”

“Nothing expands the mind more,” Lysander added, helping Adele with her cloak.

The wind blustered outside, and Lysander wondered if they’d chosen right to come back, but they had two children now, who neither had set foot on English soil. It seemed the right time. Also, traveling with two small children was more difficult. Adele sought stability, so back they were. As for himself, he truly didn’t care where he was. His family was his home.

The carriage ride wasn’t far, but the traffic made it longer. They arrived at the theater just as they were called for their seats. A few familiar faces, but he didn’t have time to see any of them. They were led to their box.

“He isn’t here,” Isobel said with concern.

The box was dark and they emerged to the full murmur of people taking their seats, talking and excitedly as they expected the evenings entertainment. Lysander hadn’t even bothered asking what they were here for. Isobel had suggested the evening.

Their presence would be noted, he expected. There would still be some who felt he should have made better choices with regards to an errand wife, but they didn’t understand the happiness he’d found with his wife and family. It was worth every sacrifice—none more so than the opinion of people who didn’t matter to him.

“Harry is here,” Adele said quietly to him. Lysander immediately searched the theater and saw him on the opposite side, sitting in a box with his wife. A curious feeling he couldn’t identify wheedled through him. Their friendship had fallen by the side. It had never been the kind of friendship where they wrote to each other, so their connection had dwindled. However, the chill had developed even before he and Adele had left for the continent.

Harry didn’t approve of Lysander’s choices, and he’d made his opinions known. Lysander had been torn, and in way forced to decide his loyalties.

Fingers slipped into his, and he looked over at his wife, his heart. She was worth the sacrifice. It was a sacrifice he’d forced on himself for refusing to see how wonderful she was from the very start. His punishment had been to let go of Harry—because his loyalty was clear.

The production started. After endless performances in Italian, and French, or German, it was nice to see something in English. As much as he’d enjoyed their travels, there was a deeper understanding of the context with English playwrights.

Andrew slipped into the booth just as the curtains raised, and his mother trying to silently chide him. The boy was more of a young man now, and Lysander saw himself in him. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be prone to the mistakes Lysander had made, but he also wouldn’t be faced with similar circumstances. Isobel had raised him more sensibly than to emerge from his schooling with the same prejudices and pompousness. Saying that, school did tend to enforce those perspectives.

The play itself was about a troubled relationship between two families. Lysander saw hints of Shakespeare in the telling, but a more modern setting. It wasn’t a bad play, as such.

Intermission came and refreshments were brought to them.

“You should go see him,” Adele said.

“No,” Lysander replied. It wasn’t hard to understand who she meant.

Turning to him, Adele placed her hand on his. “Go see him. He’s your friend. Friends are important.”

“Family is more important.”

“Your family is not at threat.”

“You know he’s never approved of you. If I had to choose between him and you, I choose you a thousand times.”

“And I choose you, but my heart will survive the onslaught of Harry’s disapproval,” she said with a certain dismissal.

“Why would I invite that into my presence? Into your presence? My loyalty is forever with you. He doesn’t understand what we have. We both, in a sense, behaved like bachelors when neither of us were.”

“The friendship may survive the shift.”

“It may not. I have no interest in dealing with a man who would seek to drive a wedge between us. Why would you promote this?”

“Because I want you to have the richest possible life, and reconciling with your friend may do that. Or it may not. You won’t know until you find out. If the friendship doesn’t evolve, then perhaps it must die, but give it a chance. Sometimes a gamble is worth the risk.”

She didn’t know him like Lysander did, but he supposed he saw the point. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she said with a smile.

*

“Are you certain this is a good idea?” Isobel asked as Lysander left their box. “He could be right that it simply invites chaos.”

“Lysander won’t let that happen, but he misses the friendship. I can tell. I can do much for him, but I cannot be male companionship.”

“I’m a male,” Andrew said.

“Yes, but you’re too young,” Isobel said and patted him on the arm. “You and Lysander’s relationship will build, but friends one’s own age provides a common understanding. Or not. Harry was always a stupid boy, but I do think he’s suffered more in Lysander’s absence. Lysander’s right to be cautious.”

Adele wasn’t worried. As she watched, Lysander appeared in Harry’s box across the theater. They spoke. Harry’s wife seemed delighted to see him too. A woman Adele had never met. They spoke for a while, and Harry was smiling. The relationship would either evolve or die, and the ball was in Harry’s court now. Perhaps he didn’t understand that. Second chances could lead to the most wonderful things, but both parties have to play their role.