“Do you think it is also because they have a book of names of people they wish to matchmake?” Melody theorized. “All of our names and all of the eligible bachelors’?”
“Perhaps,” Lizzy agreed. “A book club with a book of their own.”
Selina sighed as they reached the rocks and sat down. “I doubt we will ever know who is responsible. It is the height of secrecy. Although it musthave something to do with those tea parties. That is where they find us, name us, choose us, decide for us.”
“Whoever it is, I am not sure I like it,” Lizzy said, to Selina’s surprise. “Obviously, I am delighted that you will soon be my sister, Selina, but they have turned your life entirely upside down. I do not think I want that happening to mine. I rather like my life as it is.”
“As did I,” Selina muttered.
Although what had she truly had to be excited about? Her life had been comfortable and predictable. Was that why the matchmakers had chosen her?
She shuddered to think what their criteria might be.
“Anyway, it has only quickened the inevitable,” she added, resting back on her elbows, her face turned up to the sunshine. “I would have had to get married to someone I did not know and did not want anyway. The only difference is that it would have been my father’s choice instead of the matchmakers’ choice.”
“Or you might have met someone of your own accord,” Melody pointed out. “That has been taken from you. It is an injustice.”
Selina released a laugh of self-mockery. “Would I really have met someone of my own accord, though? That would have meant leaving the wall. Indeed, that is why my father chose the Marquess of Ramsbury for me—because I refused to leave the wall.”
“Someone might have cometothe wall to find himself a flower,” Melody said, uncharacteristically poetic.
Selina shook her head and closed her eyes to the summery warmth. “At least this way, I am in the same place as one of my best friends.”
“Until the matchmakers targether,” Melody said.
A dramatic retch sounded from Lizzy. “Don’t say that! Why would you say that? If there is a pattern here, they would match me with someone utterly boring.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Selina cracked one eye open.
“Well, you are amusing and shy in public, so they put you with someone who is… neither shy nor amusing. Opposites.”
Selina closed her eye again, satisfied there was no insult. “Oh, I see.”
He is more entertaining than you let on.
She kept that to herself, like a secret only she knew.
There was a lot about Philip that Lizzy had told her that had not yet revealed itself to be true. He wasn’t cold unless she was pulling away from him or him away from her. He wasn’t short-tempered. He wasn’t a brute… unless trapping her between the door and his body counted.
Maybe Lizzy had not had much time to get to know her brother, seeing as he had been fighting abroad for most of her life.
“What do you think of Lizzy’s brother?” Melody asked.
That jolted Selina out of her reverie of kisses in the library. She bounced off her elbows like she had been stung.
“Isn’t he just awful?” Lizzy said, a glint of mischief in her eyes.
Pretending to flick away some dust from her skirts, Selina watched the tiny wavelets lapping at the gravel shore. Had it suddenly got hotter? She rubbed the back of her neck and fanned her face with her other hand.
Her friends were looking at her expectantly. There would be no escape from this interrogation.
“He is… still in need of research,” she said.
Melody nodded in appreciation. “A wise sentiment.” She paused. “By human standards, he is a fine example of the male species. Taller than most, and broad-shouldered, very muscular—that is beneficial to his success as a mate, for females look for qualities like protection and capability.”
Her tone was matter-of-fact. Her face, on the other hand, had turned quite red.
“Goodness, this is much easier when discussing lesser animals or plants,” she said, flustered.
The three women laughed together, Selina secretly grateful to have the attention diverted away from her own blushes.
“Physically, you are not wrong,” she conceded. “But, as I say, there is still research to be done when it comes to his character. As we arenotlesser animals, I am afraid that height and broad shoulders simply aren’t enough.”
Melody smiled. “Eminently sensible. We shall make a naturalist out of you yet.”
The trouble was, no amount of research would prevent what was coming: marriage, whether Selina wanted it or not.
