“No one ever likes the things they overhear about themselves.” They had been talking about her since her foolish husband had gotten himself killed. “I refuse to let anyone control me or my emotions. But I cannot battle what I don’t have all the information on.”
“It wasn’t about you,” Roslyn said. “At least not directly.” She slumped down into a chair and stared at the floor. “It all comes back to him.”
Ah… William. The gift his death left them was one that kept giving, and none of it had been or probably would be good. “I wish he had thought about what his actions would do,” Roslyn said, then sighed. “Unfortunately, he never considered anyone other than himself.” Her husband had been a selfish fool.
“My marriage prospects are not good.” She played with her skirts as she spoke. “And that is all they seem to be able to discuss. As if my difficulties give them a particular bit of joy.”
Eden clenched her fingers into her palm. Her nails bit into her flesh and she used that pain to hold her anger in check. She didn’t want to take out her rage on Roslyn. It wasn’t her fault, and the person who had led them down this path couldn’t rectify any of it. “I’m sorry,” she said in a quiet tone. “If I could change any of it, I would.”
Roslyn’s smile wobbled. She clearly fought tears, and it broke Eden’s heart. “You’re a wonderful sister.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “It’s too bad I couldn’t have had a brother that deserved to have you for his wife.”
“Some things can’t be foreseen,” she told her. “Life isn’t always fair. But what we do with the difficulties life has in store for us shows the world who we really are. What do you want everyone to see in you?”
“That they can’t destroy me with their viciousness.” She held her chin up. “I will not break down and be what they want me to be. I won’t give up and I refuse to believe that I’ll never find love.”
Eden smiled. “Good.” She leaned down and kissed Roslyn’s cheek. “Hold on to that strength. If you want love, then you shall have it. There is a gentleman out there that will recognize it and be smart enough to be the man you need him to be.”
“I hope so,” Roslyn said.
The door opened and Alice stepped in. “Are you ready to dress for dinner?”
“We are,” Eden said. “Start with Roslyn.”
Eden hadn’t decided what she would wear, but her gown wasn’t nearly as important as Roslyn’s. She did want to look her best, though. The duke would be there, and she wanted him to like what he saw when his gaze landed on her. It was time for her to keep her head held high and borrow some of the strength that Roslyn had inside of her. She wouldn’t have been nearly as brave at Roslyn’s age. If she had, then she wouldn’t have ever married the Earl of Moreland, and perhaps she might have found a modicum of happiness.
Maxwell sat in the Earl of Wyndam’s study and stared at his friends. Wyndam's wedding was soon, and the man had never looked as happy as he did at the prospect of having a wife. Nothing was ever as simple as it seemed. How had the man known he was in love? Maxwell didn’t think he was capable of such an emotion. With Eden… He might be able to love her. If there was ever a woman he could love, it would be her.
“My mother is sending Portia here,” the Marquess of Crawford said in an irritated tone. “She said I can be her chaperone and didn’t want to hear any arguments about the matter.”
Lyonsdale lifted a brow. “How does your sister feel about that?”
Lady Portia North was Crawford’s younger sister. She had launched three seasons ago, but had been a veritable wallflower. It was driving Crawford’s mother mad. The duchess feared her only daughter would become a spinster. The duke didn’t seem to care either way. Portia would never want for anything. The duke had ensured she would always have enough funds to see to all of her needs. The money alone should attract a suitor, but the duke refused to give his daughter to a fortune hunter just to avoid her becoming a spinster. Crawford, being the heir to a dukedom, was sought after as much as Carrington. Which is how they became to be such good friends so many years ago. They had bonded over their titles and the hassle that came with them.
“I don’t know what Portia is thinking,” Crawford sighed. “She hates being in society, but she promised mother she would try one more season.” He scrubbed his hands over his face and sighed. “But if she doesn’t find a gentleman to marry by the end, she refuses to go through it all again. I think she wants to be a spinster.”
That was odd… “Don’t all women want to marry?” Maxwell lifted a brow. After he spoke the words, he realized it made him sound like an arse. Eden wouldn’t want to marry again. But she’d already had a husband and knew it wasn’t always what a bride envisioned it would be.
“Portia certainly doesn’t.” Crawford frowned. “I think if she does marry, her future husband will have to be some sort of paragon.”
Lyonsdale frowned. “What is she even looking for?”
“I wouldn’t presume to know,” Crawford admitted. “And it is a conversation I don’t wish to have with my sister.”
Lyonsdale stared at the marquess as if he had grown two heads. “Portia is a lovely lady. She should have found someone to love by now.”
What an odd statement for the earl to have made… Lyonsdale was closer to Crawford than Maxwell was. He’d spent a lot of time during school breaks with Crawford and his family. Did he know Portia better than her brother did? If he didn’t have his own issues, he’d ask Lyonsdale more questions. Perhaps he had feelings for Lady Portia North. If that were so, how would Crawford feel about his sister and his friend being together?
“Love isn’t something you can plan,” Wyndam said. “I certainly hadn’t been looking for it when Claudine came into my life. If Lady Portia wishes to fall in love first, that cannot be forced. It’ll happen when it is meant to.”
Crawford laughed. “Perhaps she has already found love, but the gentleman of her dreams is too stupid to love her in return.”
Lyonsdale glanced away at the marquess’s statement. Perhaps Crawford saw more than Maxwell had originally thought. If the earl did love Lady Portia North, why was he not courting her? Did he think she wouldn’t have him? He supposed anything was possible. However, none of that was his concern. He had his own countess to contend with, and he had plans to win her heart.
“Are you excited for the wedding?” Maxwell asked Wyndam. They were supposed to go to the drawing room soon, and then escort the ladies to dinner. This was a time for solitude and camaraderie.
“I’m more excited for the marriage than the wedding.” Wyndam grinned. “I’m ready to have Claudine as my wife. The wedding is more of a necessary evil.”
Maxwell nodded. He could see how the earl would feel that way. He would look upon his wedding in much the same way. “Your grandmother is enjoying all of this.” The dowager countess was why they were having such a long house party before the wedding.
