Page 100 of A Murder at Kew Gardens

"Why?"

I hesitated. It was his story, not mine. But Claire was my friend, and now my sister. "His first wife died in childbirth. You know that much."

Her amusement went out.

"He loved her dearly. And he believes he killed her by giving her his child."

"Oh, Rosalynd."

"So you see. He will not marry again.”

Claire was quiet a moment. "I think he would.”

"You don't know him as I do."

"No. But I know how a man looks at a woman he loves."

I shook my head. “He doesn’t want children, Claire. And I do.”

"He wants a push in the right direction."

That made me laugh. "You make him sound like a recalcitrant horse."

"Men are remarkably similar."

"Claire!"

"Cosmos wanted pushing, you know. He was being sensible and honorable."

I laughed harder. "Of course he was."

"Painfully so."

"I suppose you deployed your womanly wiles."

Claire's smile turned wicked. "Oh. I did rather more than that."

I stared at her. She let go of my hands and reached for her tea with infuriating composure.

"What did you do?"

"When matters are settled between you and Steele, come to me and I shall explain."

"There will be nothing to settle."

"Rosalynd."

"I mean it. I wouldn't."

"You could."

"I couldn't."

"You could change his mind." Claire held my gaze. "All you need do is be brave."

Out in the corridor a floorboard gave—the loose one by the linen press, which had announced every one of my siblings since they could walk. I turned toward the door. Then the small, quick sound of somebody scurrying away.

"What was that?"