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“But—”
“If Cameron won’t do right by you, you can stay here. Make your home with Daniel and me. We have plenty of room.”
“And become the next spinster aunt? I suppose that would be tolerable, but my situation isn’t the same as Lucy’s. I’ll have a bastard child, Lily.”
“That child is my niece or nephew, and you’re my sister. I won’t see you put out.”
“I still think Evan is the best alternative.”
“But you don’t love him, and you’re carrying another man’s child.”
“He’ll never know it’s not his, and I can be happy with him. I’ll be a loving and devoted wife. He won’t suffer by marrying me.”
“Of course he won’t, but…you love another.”
Rose sighed. “Another whom I can’t have.”
“Are you sure Cameron doesn’t love you? I know he said as much, but his actions speak otherwise, as does his mother.”
“He left, didn’t he?”
“Yes, but he may have had reason, which is why you should let Daniel find him.”
“No. I don’t want him found. I shall deal with this on my own. Seeing him is like torture for me. I need your word.”
“All right. You have my word. I won’t look for him. But I think you’re making a mistake.”
“Then it’s mine to make. After Auntie Iris’s wedding, I’ll tell Evan that I’ve reconsidered his proposal.”
Lily took her hand. “If that is your wish.”
* * * *
Rose did her best to appear delighted at dinner that evening. It was a jovial affair, with Lily and Daniel telling stories about their wedding trip. Daniel gazing lovingly at Lily’s midriff several times during the evening, so Rose guessed Lily had told him her news and asked that he not speak of it to anyone yet. She felt as if she had been pricked with a sharp thorn. Her sister’s happiness was being quashed because of her own situation.
All around her, love was in the air. Lily and Daniel hardly took their eyes off of each other. Iris spoke of her impending marriage to Lord Brighton with a smile Rose wasn’t sure she had ever seen on her aunt’s pretty face. Ally gossiped of Mr. Landon’s business dealings in Scotland, where he had been for several weeks. Even sweet conservative Sophie’s eyes lit up when Lord Van Arden’s name came up in conversation. Although he wasn’t officially courting her, he still came by now and then to visit. Other than Aunt Lucy and Aunt Maggie, Rose was the only one not paired off. Nausea nagged at her, and she wasn’t sure whether it was her condition or her emotions. Most likely a combination of both.
“Rose, aren’t you listening to me?” Ally nudged her.
“What? I’m sorry, Ally.”
“I said, aren’t you excited about the Midsummer festival?”
“Oh. Of course. But Papa is coming tomorrow. He may not allow me to attend. You know how he feels about pagan rituals.”
“I’ll speak to Papa, Rose,” Lily said.
“It’s not important,” Rose said. “I…may not even want to go.”
“Of course you’ll go,” Daniel said. “I want my entire family there to see me take the archery championship away from Cameron Price.” He laughed boisterously. “I’ll not be bested again.”
Lily winced ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly, at her husband’s reference to Cameron. She had obviously kept her word to Rose, otherwise Daniel wouldn’t have mentioned him. Not that she had doubted her sister’s promise for a moment.
“You’ll always be my champion.” Lily smiled at her husband. “You don’t need to shoot an arrow into a little dot to prove that.”
“That’s the only championship that matters to me, love,” Daniel said, winking at her. “But I’ll outdo him anyway.”
Rose’s heart lurched in happiness for her sister and in sadness for herself. If only she could be bantering with the man she loved, the father of her child.
