Lady Wolcroft stepped forward and intervened. “A man should know better than to try and steal food from a pregnant woman. It isn’t wise.”
But Rose smiled and tossed him a caramel. Turning the subject, she said, “I think it’s time that Lily returned to London. She and Matthew need to make their wedding plans.” With a nod to Mildred, she asked, “Can you accompany her, Grandmother?”
The older woman sat down in a chair beside the fireplace. “Of course. Amelia has been pestering me about it for the past fortnight. She won her wager and cannot stop gloating about it.”
A tension knotted in James’s forehead. “Lily, you won’t be rushing into marriage. There are some rumors I’ve heard recently that need to be considered.”
She had no idea what he was talking about. “James, I am not rushing into anything. I’ve known Matthew for years, and I love him.”
“You may think you know him, but—”
“He told me about India.” She did not want to hear anything more about Matthew’s past. “I know what happened, and we will put it behind us.”
“Walk with me,” he said, lifting a hand in farewell to Rose. She knew it was because he did not wish to upset their sister. Lady Wolcroft started to follow, but he shook his head and closed the door behind them.
“What is it, James?”
“People are saying that Matthew was not the earl’s son. There are stories about him being a bastard, adopted while the countess was traveling with her niece.”
She recalled the note she had received from Adrian Monroe. Matthew had dismissed it, saying that his cousin was only trying to gain money, and she believed him. “That’s ridiculous. Matthew was the earl’s pride and joy. Lord Arnsbury acknowledged him as his heir.” She saw no reason to give rein to idle gossip. “No one can take his title from him.”
“True, but they can cause a scandal. It was the cause of his mother’s heart trouble. She was deeply upset by the stories.”
And it must have upset Matthew as well, she knew. Lily wished she could be there with him now, to reassure him and offer her love. She needed to go to him and do everything she could to help.
She met her brother’s gaze. “I don’t care what others may say. I am going to marry Matthew.”
“Not yet. It would not be wise,” James said. “Let the talk die down, else it will overshadow the wedding.”
But she had no desire to wait, not anymore. “I want Mother to attend the wedding.” Her voice thickened with emotion, but sheheld back tears. “She’s not well, James. I don’t know how much longer she will have.”
Her brother’s expression turned grim. “A few weeks longer, Lily. Don’t rush into this.”
“We will be married at Penford. That way, Mother can be here, and there will be no gossip.” She pushed back her feelings, not giving him the chance to argue any further.
Emotions roiled inside her, and she passed by the drawing room where her mother was sitting with a basket of dying flowers in her lap. Iris was tracing the outline of a chrysanthemum, her face pensive.
More than anything, Lily wished her mother could share in her happiness and join in the wedding plans. But Iris’s temperament was fragile, and more often than not, she spoke without any clarity.
Her brother came up behind her. “Leave her be. She is content right now.”
“But I am not.” Her words came out as a whisper. “I wish she could share in my happiness and help me with the wedding plans.”
James rested a hand upon her shoulder. “It may never happen, Lily.”
“I don’t want to believe that.” And when she pulled away from him, she added, “But I am going to London in the morning. I will have my gown made for the wedding and we will return here to be married, as soon as Matthew can get the license.”
But her brother did not appear willing. “You don’t know what sort of scandal you will face in London. I’m trying to protect you, Lily.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She couldn’t believe he was even asking her to delay the wedding because of idle talk. “I intend to wed Matthew by Christmas, no matter what anyone says.”
Her brother’s hand tightened upon her. “Then I am coming with you, Lily.” His tone held a warning, and she didn’t doubt that he would remain an overprotective brother.
“And what of Mother?”
“She must remain here. I think Grandmother should stay with her, along with Rose.”
Their mother was busy making a chain of chrysanthemums, threading the stems through one another. She was singing to herself lightly, and her eyes were vacant.
