Love?
Impossible.
“Staring at your beauty again, sister?” Bonnie’s tone was teasing, but when Tiffany looked back to see the reflection of her sister standing in the doorway, she saw concern in her eyes.
And when Bonnie stepped into the room, her expression fell even further. “You are not, are you?” she whispered, moving to stand behind where Tiffany sat and placing her hands on her shoulders. “You are still mourning.”
It had taken some time, because Tiffany kept breaking down, but over the last week, she’d told Bonnie everything which had transpired on her ill-fated mission to York.Everything, including how she’d met “Laird Gaberlunzie,” the way he’d made her feel, and even the kiss.
Days later, even with a broken heart, she was still thinking of that kiss.
She reached up to pat her sister’s hand and tried to smile. “I am still feeling guilty.”
“About what you said?” Scoffing, Bonnie pulled at her shoulders until Tiffany twisted around in her seat. “I have told you before that, yes, youshouldapologize for your words about the heir, but what Lysander did in revenge was?—”
“Not that.” Tiffany shook her head and dropped her gaze to her lap, where she watched her fingers pluck idly at the fabric of her gray gown. In the last week, she just couldn’t seem to bring herself to wear her bright colors. Perhaps it was part of her new goal: to worry less about herself and more about others. “I know I received what I deserved, thanks to what I said.” Sheshook her head. “But Iamsorry I was not able to fetch the—that manuscript for you. Knowing Athena, she would cover you in gold for the chance to ownthatpiece of Oliphant history. I was socertainyou’d be able to use that money to buy Mr. Grimm’s publishing house!”
Bonnie scoffed again as she sank to a crouch in front of Tiffany and took her hands. “It is not your fault, Tiffany. A piece like that, no matter how scandalous—or perhaps because of it—is worth more than the pin money we have. If Athena would pay that much for it, then Ferguson could sell it directly to her.” Bonnie squeezed her hands until Tiffany looked up, then smiled softly. “I am beyond grateful you were willing to undergo such an adventure just to helpme, and I am so,sosorry I could not stop Mother from barging in here and learning you were gone.”
Tiffany’s smile was a little watery when she squeezed Bonnie’s hands in return. “No apology is necessary. It was likely an ill-thought-out plan in the first place.”
“Perhaps.” Bonnie’s smile grew. “But it was selfless and special, and I love you all the more for it.”
“I love you too,” whispered Tiffany, just as a call from down the hall had them both turning in the direction of the door.
“Girls!” screeched their mother again, as she skidded to a stop in their doorway. “Tiffany!What in the world are yewearing?”
Glancing down at herself, Tiffany shrugged. “My gray gown, Mother.”
“Well, it is hideous.Youare hideous in it. You are pale and washed out, and what is that—a bun? You wrapped your hair in a bun and thought that would be acceptable?”
She tsked as she stepped into the room, but Bonnie—her jaw set stubbornly, and her hair also wrapped in a simple bun of course—stood and placed herself in front of Tiffany.
“Ithink she looks lovely, Mother.”
“That is because you do not have a fashionable bone in your body,” the baroness said dismissively, peering around her at Tiffany. “My darling Tiffany does, but this—this?” She clucked her tongue. “I cannot believe I am saying this, but it will have to do. He insisted he would not be kept waiting.”
“It?” blurted Bonnie indignantly at the same moment Tiffany whispered, “Him?”
True to form, Mother ignored Bonnie and flapped her hand impatiently at Tiffany. “Him, lass,him!The Viscount Blah-blah-blah is downstairs, insisting on seeing you.”
Lysander? Lysander washere?
Mother, of course, knew nothing about Lysander being the man who’d accompanied her to York, disguised or not. She was likely ecstatic about aviscountcalling. In fact, the older woman clasped her hands together and sighed happily.
“My efforts have finally paid off, dear Tiffany. It is clear the viscount did not hear any rumors about your idiotic disappearance, or he would not still be willing to court you!”
The sisters exchanged a glance.
“Perhaps he is not here to court her,” Bonnie suggested quietly.
“Do not be stupid, of course he is,” snapped Mother. “He isinsistingon being allowed to see her, and that sounds very much like a man about to make a declaration, does it not?”
Aye, a declaration of some sort.
Had he returned to humiliate her further? To declare to the world what kind of woman she really was? To start rumors about where she’d been and what she’d done last week?
From the expression in Bonnie’s eyes, her sister was worried about the same thing.
