But even as he said it, he knew he had made the right call. Her face lit up with excitement. “They are coming here?”
“I assume they will. They have not had the chance to accept the invitation yet, but I am sure they are quite eager to see you.”
“Thank you,” she said, grinning. She stepped forward, as if she was going to hug him like she did the night before, but then she stopped herself at the last moment. “Thank you, Evan,” she said shyly. “I have missed them so much.”
He smiled. “I know. The nanny can watch Lilly for a while so you can have some quality time with them.”
She bit her lip. “Are my parents coming as well?”
He shook his head. “I made it quite clear that the invitation was only for your sisters.”
The relief was plain on her face. “Good. I—I mean, I did not get to say goodbye to them properly. And a sisterly bond is different than a bond between a child and two parents ….” she sighed. “I must sound like a negligent daughter.”
“Not in the slightest. They were negligent parents.” He was never more certain of anything else. He could not imagine sending Lilly off to finishing school in America, no matter what possible scandal she might have caused.I certainly would not have left her without so much as a goodbye after she fainted on her wedding day!Anger rose up on Marina’s behalf, but he forced it back. Such strong emotions would not do either of them any good, especially right now.
“I must get ready,” she said. “Oh, this is wonderful! Will you be joining us?”
“I will be present, yes,” he said. “As will Lilly and the nanny. But you will have time with them alone later.” He ran his fingers through his hair and looked away. “It is high time that Lilly becomes acquainted with someone who is not directly related to her. I am not ready to let her leave the manor without me, yet. But perhaps this will give her practice socializing.”You were right. She needs to learn how to talk to people.He did not say it, but he was certainly thinking it.
He expected Marina to look a little smug at such an admission, but instead, she just looked delighted. “My sisters will love her,” she said. “And do not worry. I will not breathe a word of what we talked about last night.”
He nodded. “Thank you. I suppose I should prepare myself for the guests, now that I know they are coming.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Evan cleaned himself up so he no longer looked half-crazed with sleep deprivation. He was not surprised when a message came so quickly, accepting the invitation from the sisters.
Marina, Lilly, and the nanny waited with the duke in the drawing room near the front door. Lilly stuck her head out the window, craning her neck to get a view of the driveway. She grinned. “I see the carriage!” she shouted in excitement.
The little girl bounced up and down with excitement as she started to run out of the drawing room. Evan gently caught her arm before she could go too far. “We will wait here,” he said. “Carlson will show them in.”
“Why?” she asked. She was shouting, but with excitement. “I want to meet them!”
“You will. But first, you need to show patience and let Carlson escort them and announce them.”
She sighed. “Fine.” She went to the couch and sat down next to Marina. His wife caught his eye and smiled at him with approval. He tried to ignore the rush of warmth that gave him, but he couldn’t.
Careful, Evan, or you will start getting attached to her. If you indulge yourself in irrational feelings, then you will get distracted, and you will just be setting yourself up for heartbreak later.
He had to remind himself of that.
Carlson stepped into the room and announced Miss Amelia Shirley. Despite his formal tone, Evan could tell the man was happy there were guests in Pemberton Manor again. Just because Evan enjoyed his privacy did not mean that everyone else did not find it dull.
The eldest sister, Amelia, came in first. Her smile lit up when she saw Marina. “I’ve missed you! It’s been weeks since I’ve seen you!”
Marina leaped to her feet and hugged her sister, a huge grin on her face. “It is wonderful to see you again. You have already met His Grace, of course, but may I present to you Lady Lilly?”
Lilly shrank back slightly as the attention turned to her. Even though she was excited to be meeting Marina’s family, she suddenly grew shy in the company of the guests.
Amelia bent down and held out her hand for Lilly to shake. “It is so nice to meet you,” she said softly. “My sister has told me all about you.”
Lilly smiled shyly as she shook Amelia’s hand. Evan relaxed slightly at the sight of them.
Bethany came into the drawing room next, after Carlson’s announcement, grinning. “Nice to see you looking healthier than we last saw you. Although that is not a difficult standard.” She hugged Marina before introducing herself to Lilly. “Hello, Lady Lilly. Has my sister tried to turn you into a bluestocking yet?”
The little girl giggled. “A stocking? I cannot be a stocking!”
Amelia rolled her eyes and gave Evan and Marina an embarrassed look. “Forgive her. Bethany is currently amusing herself by not filtering her thoughts at all.”
