"It turns out that I did not."My affections were elsewhere and I didn't know it. In as childish a misstep as your own."You are not the only one who needs to correct the errors of her ways."
"Thank you for this. I hope now you and I can truly be friends."
"Friends and cousins. A good combination," Fifi said.
"Will you take tea?" Esme asked, smiling broadly in relief.
"I will."
Esme let her coffee brown eyes dance with delight. "With good pastries and cakes?"
"You know me well!"
Esme rose to ring the bell.
Fifi was delighted to be open and honest with her cousin. "Will you tell me how you met Northington?"
"It's a short tale," Esme said as she sat down and took on the demeanor of a close friend sharing tidbits with another.
"How so?"
"I loved him the instant I put eyes on him. Can you imagine?"
"I can, Esme. Indeed, I can."
“Is it that way for you with Charlton?"
Fifi nodded. "I will not deny I find him...enthralling."
"I understand. I do love Northington quite dearly," she confessed, whimsy in her eyes giving way to worry on her brow.
Fifi held her breath. What was amiss here? ”A good way to begin a marriage."
"It is." Esme nodded, her gaze slipping around the room. "Provided both feel the same way."
Fifi's heart stopped. She wanted to reassure her cousin of her intended's devotion to her, but what did Fifi know of Northington, truly?
Esme rallied. "After tomorrow we will not need to speculate, will we?"
"Esme, if you are not certain of this, you can stop it."
"No. I can't. The settlements are signed. Papa has agreed. I am bound."
"Postpone it, then, until you are certain."
"Time will not cure the problem, Fee."
"Then don't do it."
"I must. The world will ridicule me if I run."
Run?
"Do you want to?" Fifi was torn between believing Esme should flee and knowing that otherwise, her cousin would live in torment with a husband whom she suspected did not value her. Fifi had seen the cost of that day in and out with her parents.
Esme smiled, her lips tremulous. "No, of course not. Wedding nerves, that's all. Silly me. We'll have our tea and speak of other things. Your appreciation of the earl of Charlton, for example. I see that goes along quite well."
* * *
