As if sensing his eyes on her, Mary-Jane lifted her hand to the scar, running her fingertip over the raised line.
“I was always too weak for him, wasn’t I?” she remarked meditatively. “James was the one he was most proud of. If he was proud of any of us, that is. I think it was most fitting that he met his end in the way that he did.”
Lucien gave a wry smile. “I agree. And as to being too weak, well. You are not weak, Mary-Jane.”
“He said I was. Society said I was, too.”
He snorted. “Let me introduce you to my wife, Mary-Jane. This is Frances. Society called her a wallflower, too. They called her weak. I have learned the hard way that she is nothing of the sort. People are wrong about all sorts of things, Sister.”
Mary-Jane glanced at Frances, faintly curious.
“Ah, yes, your new wife. I hear there’s some sort of scandal attached to you two, and I cannot wait to hear it.”
Frances smiled, stepped forward and extended her hand.
“Then you shall hear it,” she responded. “I always wanted a sister, you know. I suppose you are the closest thing I will have to one, if you wish it.”
Mary-Jane’s gaze sharpened, and she glanced between Frances and Lucien.
Perhaps my sister is just now realising that I am in love, just as I suddenly realized that she was in love.
“I should love to hear your scandal, Sister,” Mary-Jane said at last, flashing a tentative smile and seizing Frances’s hand in hers. “We should all sit down and enjoy the delicious tea Gray has made for us. As a family.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Lucien said, smiling. He glanced at Thomas and lifted his eyebrows.“Allof us should sit down, as we are all a family.”
Something like relief crossed Thomas’ face, and Mary-Jane shot him a quick, happy look.
They sat, and Frances took it upon herself to begin pouring out the tea. Thomas said something about the weather.
It would take time, of course, to build up his relationship with his sister and to get to know his new brother-in-law. Lucien sat quietly, letting Frances and Thomas exchange polite small talk.
But we have time,he realized, catching his sister’s eye and smiling.We have all the time in the world.
When a pause came in the conversation, Lucien cleared his throat and leaned forward, catching Mary-Jane’s eye.
“Are you still fond of reading, sister?”
“I am,” she answered, taking a sip of her tea. “I don’t have much time to read, but when I can, I enjoy a good novel. I still like romances, too.”
“Excellent,” Lucien smiled broadly. “Then you simplymustread the book that Frances has written.”
Beside him, Frances choked on her tea.
“No, you must not!” she yelped.
Mary-Jane chuckled, leaning over to talk to her husband. Lucien rose, moving over to the sideboard, and Frances hurried after him.
“Don’t mention my book to your sister, you wretch!” she whispered, narrowing her eyes. “And don’t smile when I’m scolding you!”
Lucien slid his arm around her waist, pulling her close.
“I love your book as much as I love you, my darling,” he murmured, and Frances broke into a smile. She stood up on her tiptoes, pressing her lips chastely to his.
“Then I shall forgive you,” she whispered, his breath tickling her nose.
“What a great benevolence our contract was, my dear duchess,” Lucien responded softly. “I count my blessings daily.”
The End?
