“His little sister had been hurt. He loves you so. And he was hurting. I couldn’t make that worse. And... and Eleanor was fine. Mr. Pine is agoodman. The man she would have married anyway.”
“Then why go so far as to let Captain Daniels ruin another reputation?”
Mother sighs and twists her hands together. “I thought he might get to her before I could convince her. The same way he seduced you. I didn’t want to see him hurt someone that I loved again.”
“So you hurt her instead,” Rosalie surmises, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. “You chose for her so she couldn’t make the wrong choice.”
Mother meets her eyes, her own full of anguish. “Eleanor was safe. Genevieve was safe. My two favorite people were settled, even if it meant they were far away. I had to protect them, I just had to.”
Rosalie scoots down the settee, reaching out to take her mother’s hand, squeezing hard. The gossip, and the social clout, and the endless shopping and fashion—it’s all been a way to fill the gaping hole left behind by Aunt Genevieve and Mrs.Pine disappearing. A way to keep herself safe, so she wouldn’t be left behind again.
“I’m so sorry.” Aunt Genevieve settles on the other settee, reaching out to take Mother’s other hand. “I didn’t know what it cost to protect my honor. Had I known, I—”
“No,” Mother says swiftly. “No. It was worth it. You met Walter. You have a wonderful life. We keep our secrets.”
Mother and Aunt Genevieve share a look and Rosalie watches, something catching in her chest. Would Mother protect her like that if she knew how Rosalie truly felt? Are hersecrets worth protecting, worth ruining friendships, worth the sacrifice?
“Do you think, if I came with you, we could convince Mrs.Pine to give up on her... revenge?” Aunt Genevieve asks gently.
Rosalie’s whole body strains to keep still, to keep her hope from bursting from her mouth. She should have told Aunt Genevieve right at the start of the season. Saved herself, and Catherine, and everyone, a whole lot of hurt.
But Mother shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter why I did it; she was ruined. You don’t forget that.”
“Maybe—” Rosalie hears herself say.
“No,” Mother says firmly. “She won. MissPine can have Mr.Dean, and that will be the end of it.”
They sit for a moment in a strangely calm silence. Rosalie should feel relieved, elated. But it all seems so hollow.
“Well, that’s one thing sorted, at least,” Aunt Genevieve says, her voice loud after the quiet. “And I have my own apology to make, to you,” she adds, meeting Rosalie’s eyes.
“Pardon?”
“I know your mother thought Mr.Dean a good prospect, but it’s been clear for ages that I made a mistake in introducing you. The man is a dud.”
“Genevieve!” Mother scolds.
“He is,” Aunt Genevieve insists. “He never paid Rosalie the proper attention. He barely pays anyone attention. He would have been an inattentive, vapid husband, and our Rosalie deserves far better. I should have said something a long time ago.”
“He...” Rosalie starts.
“I suppose I thought finding you someone sensible was saferthan letting you bungle through the world on your own,” Aunt Genevieve says.
“You and Mother did all right,” Rosalie says. Aunt Genevieve and Mother chuckle wetly.
“Only because we had each other,” Aunt Genevieve says.
“And we got lucky,” Mother says.
Rosalie turns to look at her, surprised. “I always assumed marrying Father was rather calculated,” she admits.
Mother smiles, releasing her hand to smooth Rosalie’s hair. It’s so gentle. Rosalie’s eyes burn and she blinks rapidly. She and her mother haven’t sat still like this, close like this, in years.
“If he hadn’t been the son of an earl, I would still have been swept off my feet and carried away,” Mother says. “I wasn’t looking for a love match. I frankly didn’t think one was possible.” Rosalie’s chest clenches; she knows that exact feeling. “But he was so damn charming, and lovely, and kind—I was utterly taken immediately. That he came from such a good family and with such a great sister was pure luck. It was a charmed thing. And you deserve a charmed thing, just like I got,” she says softly.
Rosalie’s eyes are dangerously close to dripping now. “Really?”
“We’ll find you the perfect man,” Mother adds. “Someone with whom you can fall head over heels.”
