“Papa says I need to make a brilliant financial and status match. Mother is demanding I hold out for a title greater than Papa’s.”
“That’s whattheyneed you to do.Youneed to keep your own future in mind.”
“I would like to marry for love.”
Rose hesitated.
“You do not think I should marry for love?” Cecily’s eyes widened in worry. “Wait for the right man? Is that not what you’ve done?”
“No!” Rose’s word snapped a little too quickly, and she paused, pursing her lips a moment. Then she reached out and stroked Cecily’s hair. “No. That is not why I haven’t married. And the truth is, if you wait for love, both you and I will find ourselves wandering the hills of Aunt Sophie’s estate, tending the sheep.” She swallowed again. “Mostly you need to seek a man you like. One who will make you comfortable in his presence. Who respects you. Who does not push you into anything too soon.”
“How will I know?”
“You will. Look for a man who hangs back a little, who isn’t overly eager to impress you. He will bring sensible gifts, and his words will be fair but not too pretty. He won’t compete with the other men—he’ll treat them as equals, as friends, but he will not back off his suit in their presence. Believe it or not, he will stand out for you, even in a cluster of other suitors.”
“Is this the advice you gave Abigail and Beatrice?”
Rose nodded. “And Abigail married well her first season. Beatrice waited, and found her husband in her second season. I also gave the boys the same advice.”
“So there is hope for me.”
Rose laughed. “More than anyone in our family.”
“So if you are not waiting for love, then why have you not married? Surely there were offers.”
Rose did a quick bit of arithmetic in her head. Cecily had been but ten when Roger Bentley had crossed Rose’s path. The entire family had kept Cecily innocent of the events surrounding his brief presence in their lives. He had wooed, won, and wounded Rose, shattering her heart beyond repair, as well as her body, and setting her on another course entirely—that of a lioness. Rose had begun to put together her circuit of informants after Patience’s ruin, but Bentley had cemented her new path. She had entertained no suitors since, and her parents had finally accepted that she would be the spinster child to care for them in their dotage. “A few. None who were acceptable.”
“And you would not marry just to marry.”
“I could not. Papa will make sure I am well cared for, as will Albert and James. But your path will be different. You will take Society by storm, and I have no doubts you will one day be as grand as any patroness of Almack’s. A duchess, perhaps. Who knows? Foreign princes routinely drop in on the royal family.”
Cecily dissolved into a fit of giggles, burying her face in the pillow for a moment. When she looked at Rose again, her eyes were bright with excitement, the worry gone, and Rose almost sighed with relief.
“I’m so glad you will be there today,” Cecily said.
Rose scowled. “Um... I will be working with Mrs. Williams almost all day. We have a number of things to take care of regarding the soiree Mother is hosting next month.”
Cecily shook her head. “Mother said you were to be my chaperone today. She’s paying calls, starting this morning.”
Rose growled. “She did not tell me. I have things to—”
The worried frown returned. “Please, Rose. Don’t make me go through this with Mother. You know what she’s like. She will want me to marry the first title that crosses the threshold, even if he’s seventy with grandchildren and foul breath. I can’t do this with her.” Cecily pinched Rose’s shoulder. “I need my lioness at my side to tell me which ones to send packing.”
“Tell me Papa is still going to be here.”
“He said he would be in his study if we needed him. And of course Davis will be in and out all day.”
“Hmph. Many of your suitors won’t even see a butler past being ushered inside. Some of your partners last night were so high in the instep I bet they think their chamber pot is emptied by invisible fairies. I’ll see if I can find one of Albert’s cricket bats in the attic.”
Cecily’s burst of laughter echoed around the room. “You wouldn’t hit them...” She looked at Rose’s face. “You would, wouldn’t you!”
“Undoubtedly. One inappropriate touch and he will think he has turned into a wicket.”
“Rose!”
Rose flung the covers back. “Out with you. I have to get started, see if I can meet with Mrs. Williams before the hoards of suitors begin clamoring at the front door. And I should warn you and Mother both at if you want this soiree to be an event to remember, I cannot hover over your hoard every day.”
Cecily propped up on one elbow. “I probably should not tell you this.”
