“Oh, do stop,” Matthew said. “You can’t convince us to stop talking about you and worrying about you. You know perfectly well that it’s all done out of love—and you know, too, that you and I have spent plenty of days talking about Lavinia, particularly during her debut season when we feared she was too much of a wallflower to ever be plucked.”
It was true, of course. They had worried over Lavinia many times together. Edwina was momentarily chastened.
“We both see that your demeanor has changed,” Matthew said. “We both see changes in you, and we both wish to see those changes manifest themselves in something good for your life. I believe there is a part of you thatdoeswish to marry, Edwina. I believe your mind has changed.”
“Even if that were so…”
“Then it is true. I knew it.”
“Matthew, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if I can see something worthwhile in the idea of marriage. That still doesn’t mean I’m going to marry the very first gentleman who will have me!”
“Lord Kentrow is hardly that! Do you think I would grant my blessing to a gentleman who was unworthy of you? And besides, you like him. You said so yourself. What more do you want in a husband? If you’re willing to entertain thoughts of marriage, what is it you’re looking for that Lord Kentrow lacks?”
Edwina shook her head.
She knew the answer to the question. In fact, it was one of the easiest questions she had ever been posed.
But she couldn’t say it. Not to her brother, and probably not to anyone ever. She couldn’t speak the words aloud. It was both too frightening and too humiliating. She could hardly admit it in the privacy of her own mind, much less anywhere else.
Her brother squinted at her.
“Oh,” he said, his eyebrows lifting. “Oh, dear. I see.”
“You don’t see.”
“This is about the Duke.”
Feeling sick, she turned away from him.
“Edwina,” he said gently.
She shook her head.
“We shouldn’t have let him spend all that time with you. It’s our fault.”
“Nothing is anyone’s fault. There isn’t anything. This is nothing.”
“You have feelings for the Duke of Harbeck. It’s all right. You can tell me.”
“Do keep your voice down,” she implored him.
He glanced toward the door, as if to make the point that it was closed, and no one could hear them.
“Someone could be walking by outside,” she told him.
“No one is out there.”
“Matthew, I beg you.”
“Edwina…” He moved toward her and took both of her hands in his. “You understand what that man is, I trust?”
“I understand.”
“He’s selfish. A rake and a cad. I wouldn’t entrust him with any lady I cared about, and certainly not my youngest sister.”
“He’s your best friend.”
“He’s a good friend. That doesn’t mean he’s good to ladies. He doesn’t consider their feelings. It’s shameful. I’m so sorry that you find yourself in this position…Has he acted improperly at all?”
