Simon lifted his glass. “A husband’s duty.”
“And here I thought my sister never needed anyone to protect her.”
“Perhaps not, but she has me nonetheless,” Simon exhaled, slowly.
“Well,” she murmured, “isn’t that…sweet.”
It was no surprise that Letitia was seething on the inside. It was almost amusing to see.After all these years, how the tables had turned.
Simon looked rather irritated by the whole thing, and Rachel almost felt bad for having subjected him to this madness.
Marina cleared her throat delicately, drawing attention away from the exchange. She had noticed the tension and had decided to come to her sister’s rescue.
Much needed,Rachel thought to herself. It would be a waste if she spent the entirety of the evening exchanging subtle jabs with Letitia.
“I have been receiving a few callers, Rachel,” she said quietly, as if hoping to steer the conversation somewhere safer.
“Oh? Have any caught your interest?” Rachel turned to her sister, softening.
Marina hesitated, then cast a glance downward. “There are two who have been somewhat… consistent in their attentions.”
Letitia scoffed, folding her arms.
“Something wrong, sister?” Rachel confronted her directly. Could Letitia let it go for one moment without trying to insert herself into everything?
“A baron and the second son of a viscount,” she remarked dryly. “Hardlyprimechoices.”
Rachel shot Letitia a glare before turning back to Marina. “Areyouinterested in either of them?”
Marina bit her lip. “I think so. I do not know.”
“She is far too kind,” Letitia continued, waving a hand dismissively. “She ought to refuse them both outright before they begin thinking themselves worthy.”
“And what, exactly, makes a manworthy, Letitia? His title? His fortune? Or perhaps simply the fact that he is as cruel as he is rich?” Rachel challenged, tired of it all.
“My, my, Rachel. That almost sounded like a criticism of your own situation,” Letitia’s eyes gleamed with delight.
Before Rachel could respond, Simon finally spoke, his tone deceptively mild.
“Forgive me, Miss Letitia, but if the discussion is to turn to the merits of one’s title, I must ask—who, precisely, haveyoumanaged to ensnare in the matrimonial race?”
Letitia stiffened. Rachel bit back a smile while Marina let out a soft giggle.
Christopher cleared his throat. “A title is one thing.Wealthis another. The two do not always align, do they, Your Grace?”
“Indeed,” Simon’s expression remained unbothered.
Silence stretched between them for a moment before Marina spoke again, more softly this time. “I truly am happy for you, Rachel,” she said, squeezing her sister’s hand. “But I worry.”
Rachel exhaled, her gaze flicking—just briefly—toward Simon.
“Yes,” she murmured. “So do I.”
Simon met her gaze across the room; something in the way he held her stare—something dark, something heated—made her breath catch.
She looked away first. Letitia smirked.
And the visit continued as disastrously as ever.
