Though she still wasn’t sure she felt up to what Rose had planned, Lily was touched. “Thank you,” she said, “for caring.”
“Gemini,” Rose said, hefting the vase, “you’re my sister. Of course I care. Now, I must get this arrangement to the supper table. I made it specially for tonight—won’t it cheer up the dining room?”
As Rose bustled away, Lily looked after her in wonder. She’d never seen her sister so industrious—nor half so thoughtful.
A soft drizzle continued outside, turning the world gray and dismal to match Lily’s mood. The whole story was told again to Violet and Judith over supper. By the time they all made it up to Lily’s room for their sleeping party, laden with a decanter of wine and the refreshments that Mrs. Crump had prepared, Lily was exhausted to the point of numbness.
She collapsed crosswise on top of her white coverlet. “I’m afraid you’re going to have my party without me.”
Violet set down a bowl of fruit and reached a hand to help her sit. “I’m sure you’re tired,” she said sympathetically, settling beside her on the bed. “But we have a mission to accomplish.”
Even in her state, Lily couldn’t help but notice the faint circles under her oldest sister’s eyes. “You look rather tired yourself.”
“Two babies will do that to you,” Violet said with a tender smile. But it faded as she watched Lily lay a hand on her abdomen. “You’ll have children, too, Lily.”
“We just have to put our heads together and come up with a brilliant idea,” Rose said as she sat herself on Lily’s other side.
The three of them against all the injustice in the world.
“I think I’ve missed something, Rose,” Violet said, swinging her feet back and forth. “Why all of a sudden are you willing to help Lily wed Rand Nesbitt?”
“Baron Newcliffe,” Rose corrected, her cheeks reddening. “And as to why…well…” She darted a questioning glance at Lily, who made a locked lips gesture, indicating her silence. Rose looked relieved. “Seeing them face so many obstacles to be together made me realize I’d never loved him like that. I only wanted him because he’s handsome.”
“And titled,” Violet reminded her, leaning across Lily to send their sister an arch look.
“Well, that, too. I do want someone of consequence, you know. But Lily and Rand—they belong together.”
“Thank you,” Lily whispered, hearing truth in Rose’s words even though it wasn’t the whole story. How bittersweet it was to have her sister finally approve at the same time her betrothal was falling apart.
Seated at Lily’s dressing table with a platter of bread and cheese, Judith stopped eating long enough to release a languid sigh. “You and Rand are so romantic.”
Lily eyed her friend thoughtfully. “You look happy.”
“I am.” Judith’s pale blue eyes shone. “I’ve spent some time alone with Edmund—I mean, Lord Grenville—”
“You’d never been alone with him?” Rose interrupted.
Buttering bread, Judith blushed. “Well, it’s not exactly proper, I know, but Papa managed to talk Mama into allowing it. I was so very unhappy, not really knowing Edmund and thinking I might never come to love him.”
Lily began filling four goblets with wine. “So what happened?”
Judith looked up, her cheeks flushed with wonder. “He’s ever so marvelous. The sweetest man. I cannot imagine why I expected to fall in love at first sight. It takes getting to know someone, don’t you think? What a gentleman looks like doesn’t matter as much as what he’s like inside.”
Rand, Lily thought, was marvelous both inside and out. She would never find another like him.
She handed Judith a cup. “So what is Lord Grenville like inside?”
“Thoughtful. Kind. He answered all my questions and listened when I answered his. He loved his first wife dearly, but he was ever so sad that she couldn’t give him any children. More than anything, he wants children. And I…I want to give them to him.”
“Have you considered,” Rose asked, “that the failure to have children might be due to some lack on his part?” It was just like Rose to say out loud what others would only wonder silently. “After all,” she added, “he’s thirty-five.” She said thirty-five as though the fellow were likely to topple over and die of old age at any moment.
“That’s not so ancient!” Judith burst out defensively. Lily’s sister blinked, clearly taken aback, but Judith went on. “Do you know, Rose, that someday you will be five-and-thirty, too? And for your sake, I hope by then—”
She broke off, leaving the rest of the sentence unspoken. But they all knew what she’d been about to say.
I hope by then you’ll have found a husband.
“Well,” Rose said stiffly. “I hope for your sake that Lord Grenville’s childlessness wasn’t due to his own shortcomings in the marriage bed.”
“Rose,” Violet groaned, raising her gaze to the heavens.
“I think,” Judith said just as stiffly, “I can safely reassure you on that count. He’s a very good kisser.” A hunk of cheese halfway to her mouth, she paused and glanced around as though waiting for a reaction. “Are you not scandalized,” she finally asked no one in particular, “that I allowed him to kiss me?”
Lily laughed. “No, we’re not scandalized. As a matter of fact, Mum always advised us to kiss a man before assenting to marriage. After all, it’s a lifetime commitment, so it’s a good idea to ascertain your compatibility in that area.”
“Oh,” was all Judith said.
In fact, Lily thought she looked a mite disappointed they didn’t think her a fallen woman.
“I’m so glad you’re happy,” she told her. “I imagine that now you’re really looking forward to your wedding.”
“Oh, yes,” Judith breathed.
Lily wished she had her own wedding to look forward to instead of dreading Rand and Margery’s. Five days now. While she was thrilled for Judith, for some reason her friend’s newfound happiness made her own situation seem that much more miserable.
Judith
