Page 48 of The Pleasure in Persuasion

A person could only withstand so much.

Even so, Lily expected better of herself, and was determined not to say another word until she was certain she could do so like a civilized person.

Fortunately, the remainder of the evening passed without further argument, though there was no shortage of awkward pauses and stilted conversation.

By the time the torment finally ended, and everyone parted for their bedchambers, Lily was overcome with exhaustion, both physical and emotional.

As she entered her bedroom and began her nighttime ablutions, the day’s events swirled through her mind, and it struck her again just how bizarre the day had been. Her brain was overwhelmed with the effects of the evening meal, of seeing her sister again, and the man who was her former betrothed now brother-in-law.

Then, of course, there was Frederick’s proposal. She couldn’t possibly forget about that, although her sister’s arrival had permitted no time to ponder it, or even fully process that it had happened.

But it had happened.

Frederick wanted to marry her. He’d said he loved her and wished to spend his life with her here at the inn.

Was it all too good to be true?

Or was it possible Frederick was exactly what she’d been waiting for?

Lily climbed into bed and stared up at the ceiling, wondering how on earth she would ever get to sleep after the day she’d had.

The moment she closed her eyes, however, her thoughts fell away, and she drifted off into an exhausted sleep.

Lily awoke bright and early the following morning, feeling well-rested but no less uncertain. Which was why, after quickly dressing and securing her hair in a tidy bun, she scurried down the stairs and went straight into the kitchen. She needed to be doing something, and nothing calmed her so well as baking.

Baking was safe, precise, ordered. Baking made her feel sane, and after yesterday, she needed a bit of sanity in her life.

Contentedly, she flitted around the kitchen, removing the necessary ingredients from their cupboards and drawers and setting them on the table, lined up before her in two tidy rows.

She mixed flour and eggs in a bowl and threw in the remainder of the ingredients, and it was only when she began placing the dough balls on the baking sheet that she realized she was making scones.

Scones with strawberry preserves had always been Rose’s favorite food, ever since she was old enough to have teeth to chew with.

She hadn’t come into the kitchen intending to make a treat for her sister, but now that she was doing it, it felt right. She’d behaved badly last night, and she wanted to do something nice for Rose—not as an olive branch, but perhaps as the first step toward reconciliation.

Her sister had hurt her deeply, yes, but if she were being honest with herself, she had grown weary of her anger and bitterness. It served no purpose, and could not change the past, so what was she holding onto it for?

Besides, it was clear now that Rose had done her a favor by stealing Stephen away. If Lily had married him, she never would have come to live at The Weeping Whiskers, and she loved the inn and Little Bilberry far more than she’d ever loved Stephen.

“Good morning, Lily.”

She looked up to find Rose standing in the doorway, hands clasped behind her back, a tentative smile on her lips.

“Good morning,” she replied politely, kneading the dough in her hands. “How did you sleep?”

It was a safe question, one she might have asked any guest of the inn, but at least it was cordial.

“I slept well, thank you. The bed is very comfortable.” Rose cleared her throat, her gaze skating over the mess on the table. “It smells wonderful in here. What are you baking?”

“Scones.”

Rose’s eyes met hers. “I love scones.”

“I know.”

Lily drew in a deep breath and set the dough on the table before nervously wiping her hands on her apron. “Rose, I owe you an apology. My behavior last night was loathsome. I was petulant and rude, and you did not deserve it.”

Rose stepped further into the room, shaking her head vigorously. “You’re angry with me, and you have every right to be. I hurt you. I did not intend to; I did not set out to steal Stephen away from you, but we fell in love and...” She trailed off with a shrug of her shoulders, as if to say, what else were we to do?