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“I am certainly glad to see you,” she repeated. “How is the Season going so far?”
Rowena did her best to smile. She couldn’t tell her sister the truth. It would lead to her having to disclose her family’s financial situation.
“It is taking some adjustment,” she said carefully.
Nancy nodded sympathetically.
“I know it is strange attending events after so long,” she said. “I sometimes found it difficult to go to dinners and parties long after Colin died.”
Nancy continued talking, but Rowena was still distracted. She couldn’t help thinking about what the baron had offered her. His reasons for asking her had made sense. But she couldn’t get past the issue of heirs.
He had said he didn’t want to be a father. But what if that changed in the future? Every nobleman sought to produce heirs at some point in their lives. It was reasonable to expect Lord Elsbrook would, as well.
And then, there was the fact that he was trying to rescue her from a marriage to Lord Axenshire. She was grateful that he had offered her an alternative. But she couldn’t understand why he would bother to save a woman he barely knew from a fate that was inconsequential to him. It was a mystery, to be sure. And yet, the more she thought about it, the more intrigued she was.
“Rowena, darling,” Nancy said, promptly bringing Rowena back to the present moment.
“Yes?” she asked, blushing at having been so intensely distracted.
Nancy set aside her teacup, which made Rowena aware that tea had been served, as she’d had no idea. Nancy reached out and took her sister’s hand, her brows furrowed with concern.
“Are you all right?” she asked. “You look very troubled.”
Rowena gave herself a mental chastising. Of course, her sister would notice that she was not herself. And she couldn’t even tell Nancy about the proposal from Lord Elsbrook. She would have to tell her everything if she did.
And Nancy wouldn’t approve of any match she made that was for anything except for love. She was a romantic at heart, especially after having the good fortune of marrying a man she’d truly loved and who had who loved her.
“It’s just the Season,” she said. “As I said, it is a big adjustment. It feels overwhelming sometimes.”
Nancy relaxed and gave her another kind smile.
“I know, darling,” she said. “I remember it all feeling a bit much as well, before I met Colin.” She paused, sighing dreamily. “And I remember how beautiful the world was after I found him. You must remember not to rush into anything. It is of the utmost importance that you marry for the right reasons. Even though I lost my dear Colin, I wouldn’t trade having met and fallen in love with him for the world.”
Rowena looked at her sister sympathetically. It was clear that it pained her to talk about her husband in the past tense. Rowena suspected this was the most she had spoken about him all at once since his death.
She understood Nancy’s concerns about her marrying for love. But, she also understood that the last thing Nancy needed was to hear about their father’s financial state and how it was the reason she had to marry soon. She knew she needed to change the conversation topic, as much for herself as for her sister.
To her relief, the maid appeared just then, bringing more hot water for the tea. Nancy looked up and smiled warmly at the maid, giving Rowena the opportunity to change the subject.
“How are the children?” she asked. “It has been ages since I last saw them. They must be growing so quickly.”
Nancy’s face lit up.
“Oh, they are wonderful,” she said. “Anna will soon be walking. Elizabeth dotes on Anna. And little Colin has just started his first lessons.”
Rowena listened to her sister gush about her children, her heart tugging again. It was clear Nancy loved them, but Rowena knew it must be very difficult to raise three young children without their father.
“They sound so lovely,” she said. “I cannot wait to see Anna. How is she?”
Nancy nodded, grinning.
“She looks a great deal like you,” she said, reaching out and caressing her sister’s cheek. “Which means she is going to be absolutely stunning as a young woman.”
Rowena blushed.
“You are too kind, Sister,” she said.
***
