Emalyn sniffed, gave Philip a quick smile, then left.
Robert left the fireplace and moved in beside Thomas. They both looked at the closed door as if to make sure their mother were truly out of the room. “You are not going to pursue other women, are you?”
“No.”
“Are you going to pursue Rose?”
“Not immediately. I need to take care of some things first.”
“Ah. So Bentley is not going to remain unscathed.”
“Not while I still draw breath.”
“You are going to need Robbie Green’s help.”
“Without a doubt.”
Philip cleared his throat. “All right. Bring me the details when you have a plan, and I’ll see how I can help. Just do not get involved in any duels.” He returned to his desk chair. “Now, may we take care of some immediate business? I’d like to make sure Beth still has a dowry before I start intimidating suitors.”
*
One finger. Onelight touch with the tip, and it felt as if he had claimed her.
Don’t be ridiculous, Rose. You’re making too much of this.
But his actions had not appeared spontaneous. They felt... planned... in some way. As if he intended to let her know that he wanted her—beyond their agreement. To present himself to her. And he had.
Rose’s hand rose to her collar, her finger following the same path as his, just over the pulse in her neck. The bare brush of his lips. Then he had paused after. As if he intended to see if he had succeeded in—
In what?
“Convincing me.”
Cecily looked around at Rose, her eyes wide in question. Rose stared back, then blushed, realizing she’d spoken aloud. She shook her head, heat filling her cheeks, as she glanced down through her spectacles at her unread book. In fact, her book lay open to the same page it had been since early afternoon.
Cecily, however, did not relent. On the settee, her current caller had apparently exhausted her patience with his recitation of Shakespearean sonnets, which had been going on—and on. “Did you say something, sister? About the time? Is it late already?”
Rose swallowed a laugh. “Why, yes, Lady Cecily, I did.” She put the book aside, took off her spectacles, and stood. “I apologize, Lord Simon, for interrupting your elegant reading of the Bard, but it’s time Lady Cecily had a rest.”
Lord Simon looked puzzled, and tugged out his pocket watch. “It’s seven past four.”
“Which simply means that I am late with the announcement.”
“I’m sure that—”
Cecily stood, which drove Lord Simon to his feet immediately. “I do appreciate you calling on me, Lord Simon. It has been a most pleasant visit.” She held out her hand, and he bowed over it, kissing her knuckles with his lips a little more open than Rose found polite.
“I do hope you will see me again, Lady Cecily.”
“There is always that possibility, sir. I do have your card.”
“Yes.” Lord Simon looked awkwardly from one sister to the other.
Davis, who stood in the hallway near the open door of the drawing room, cleared his throat. “I will see you out, my lord.”
Finally accepting the inevitable, Lord Simon left, and Davis followed him.
When they heard the front door close, Cecily released a shudder that made her quiver head to toe. She jerked off her gloves. “He slobbered on them!” She shook them at Rose.
