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Nancy gave her another warm, patient smile, closing her hands over the box, just to put it in Rowena’s hands once more.
“When Colin gave it to me, he told me something about it,” she said. “It is rumored to bring the wearer their true heart’s desire. And if anyone needs that right now, it is you, dear Sister.”
Rowena took the box, but she held it in her palm, which was still extended toward Nancy.
“What do you mean?” she asked, confused.
Nancy took Rowena’s other hand in both of hers and raised it to her lips.
“I am well aware that you are marrying Lord Elsbrook to save our family from financial ruin, darling,” she said.
Rowena felt the color drain from her face. She stood numbly, unsure of what to say or do.
“But how?” she asked, trying to think of any time where she might have given her sister that impression. Her mother would be devastated if something she had said had tipped off Nancy.
Her elder sister rubbed her shoulder gently, giving her a kind look.
“Mother confessed everything to me a few days ago,” she said.
Rowena let out an audible breath, relieved that it had not been her fault Nancy had found out about their family’s situation. But why would Mother have gone back on her own word about putting that burden on Nancy?
“Mother has been worried sick about you, Sister,” Nancy said as though reading Rowena’s mind. “She feels terrible at the position in which you have been placed, and she hates the idea of you marrying because you are forced to.”
Rowena sighed and nodded.
“I know,” she said. “She said as much to me. But it is what must be done, Nancy. You must see that.”
Nancy shook her head, squeezing Rowena’s arm gently.
“Mother only wants what is best for you,” she said. “As do I. You deserve a marriage filled with happiness and love, just as I had. Just as Sybil deserves.”
Rowena nodded slowly, looking at her sister with urgency.
“But Sybil is the very reason I am doing this,” she said. “If I do not, then Sybil will never get the chance to find love.”
Nancy took both her hands and looked at her intently.
“You are just as worthy as she is of finding happiness,” she said. “And I do believe that you have found it.”
Once more, Rowena was stunned. She looked at her sister, her brows knitting.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
Nancy gave her an indulgent look.
“Sister, dear,” she said, brushing back a stray strand of Rowena’s hair. “It is quite obvious that, despite everything, you are in love with Lord Elsbrook.”
Rowena gasped, her cheeks burning hot.
“I’m sure I have no idea what you are talking about,” she said, surprising even herself with the lack of conviction in her voice.
Nancy giggled.
“Is that so?” she asked. “Is that why you are smiling?”
Rowena started to protest, then she realized it was true. Thinking about Andrew made her smile, no matter how tumultuous her thoughts were. It made her heart race and her stomach flutter. And recalling how it felt to have her hand in his filled her with warm tingles. Nancy was right. Somehow, she had fallen madly in love with Andrew.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
