“Which is why,” her husband said, “love at first sight is a myth.”
“Not at all.” Her voice took on the tone of a philosopher waxing philosophical. “Love occurs when something in one person recognizes something basic and true in another. To borrow a term from my mother’s perfume-making, call it that person’s essence. One would see this essence embodied in everything the other person does—those thoughts, actions, responses, and choices that go to display her values.”
“One cannot see all of that at first sight,” Ford argued.
“I beg to differ.” Clearly enjoying this sort of debate, Violet waved her fork. “One person’s essence responds innately to another’s—it’s not a conscious response, nor one that knows time. Upon meeting a woman, some part of you will notice how she moves, gestures, talks, smiles—how she carries herself in general. Her essence—not only her surface appearance.” She focused back on Rand. “Take my sister Lily, for example.”
Though the pie was delicious, swimming in rich gravy, Rand nearly choked. “Lily?” He shot a glance to Ford, whom he’d told about Lily in confidence. But his friend avoided his gaze, industriously cutting an already-small-enough bite of chicken.
“Just as an example.” If Violet’s expression might have revealed ulterior motives, she expertly concealed it while sipping wine. “Lily is beautiful, isn’t she?”
Rand sipped from his own goblet. Lustrous mahogany hair, deep blue eyes, that delicate face and petite figure…
“I don’t expect any fellow would argue with you about that.”
“And perhaps most men would notice that first, but there’s so much more to Lily. She makes beautiful music. She’s also quite intelligent. One needn’t be bookish to be intelligent.”
“Did I ever say—”
“Those are all obvious things, but now let’s look at her essence, those values we can see in the way she carries herself and behaves. She’s nurturing and compassionate. People feel good around Lily, because she cares. She really cares, about everyone and everything. She’s benevolent, she seeks harmony, and above all, she endeavors at all times to make the right choices. The sum of these is what makes her Lily.”
“Her essence,” Rand murmured.
“Yes!” Beaming, Violet set down her goblet. “And the sort of man who would recognize a kindred essence in Lily, most especially on first sight, would also recognize that she will someday make a wonderful mother.” With that, her gaze lovingly went to her babies in their cradles.
And Rand was rendered speechless.
He wasn’t sure he could even eat.
He was just getting used to considering love and marriage…fatherhood was another matter entirely.
SEVENTEEN
“LILY, ARE YOU ready to leave?”
“Just a moment, Mum.” With a sigh, Lily stroked Randolph’s soft brown fur one last time. She’d put it off more than a week, but she knew what had to be done. Setting her jaw, she crouched to tenderly place Randolph on the grass.
Without so much as a thank you, the rat scampered happily into a flower bed.
Lily sighed again and fished Beatrix out from beneath her skirts. “May I bring her?” she asked as she rose.
“I suppose she’ll contrive to come along either way.” Mum sifted through the basket on her arm, checking that all her perfumes were in order. “But you must leave her in the carriage. You know cats make Lady Carrington sneeze.”
Half an hour later, Lily stood on the steps of Carrington House with her mother and Rose. As Mum lifted the knocker, a sneeze resounded from inside.
“Beatrix is in the carriage,” Lily said defensively. Glancing back to make sure, she saw a small black nose pressed to the vehicle’s window. Jasper and Lady sat atop the carriage’s roof, looking similarly innocent.
The door opened, and a butler ushered them into the drawing room, where Lady Carrington was waiting with coffee, expensive imported tea, and cakes. Judith sat on a sturdy carved chair, dabbing at her nose with a lace-edged handkerchief.
Mum set her basket on a table and raised the cloth covering. “Your usual blend,” she said to Lady Carrington, handing her a bottle of scent. “And for you, Lady Judith, a new blend to celebrate your betrothal. More fitting for a lady of your status.”
“It’s spicier,” Rose explained.
Judith’s eyes widened. “Oooh, may I see?”
Lily brought the perfume to her friend, pulling the stopper out as she went. She waved the bottle under her own nose and smiled before handing it to Judith. “It smells lovely.”
Judith dabbed a bit on one wrist and raised it to her reddened nose. “It does. Even all stuffy, I can tell. Thank you ever so much, Lady Trentingham.”
“You’re very welcome, dear.”
Replacing the stopper, Judith stood. “Would you care to see the fabric for my wedding gown?” she asked Lily and Rose. “And the style? Madame left a fashion doll for me to show you.”
They followed her up the curving oak staircase.
“I think the dress will be ever so beautiful,” Judith said, pausing for a sneeze. “Heavens, I’m so excited about my wedding.”
“You should be,” Rose said somewhat wistfully.
The wedding dress fashion doll reclined in a place of honor against Judith’s mauve pillows in her feminine room. “Isn’t it lovely?”
“It is,” Lily agreed softly. The doll’s gown was palest blue with a wide neckline and golden ribbons crisscrossing the stomacher. The underskirt was cloth of gold.
Suddenly, quite unbidden, an image popped into her head—of herself wearing such a gown and standing beside Rand. The blue fabric brought out the hue in her eyes, which were fastened on Rand as she recited her vows in Trentingham’s oak-paneled chapel. The golden underskirt shimmered, rustling when she moved…
“You’re so lucky,” Rose told Judith, snapping Lily out of her reverie.
She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them with new determination. She ought to be picturing Rose standing beside Rand, rather than thinking disloyal thoughts.
Settling into the window seat, Judith sneezed again. “Pardon me,” she said with a sniffle. Then her voice dropped a notch. “I’m lucky about the wedding,” she mumbled, “but I’m worried about the wedding night.”
Her heart aching for
