“Wonderful,” Lilli said while directing a glare at her brother. “Mama and I shall also be putting together a list of ladies who’d be delighted to become your viscountess.”
“This isn’t about me,” Henry growled.
“Oh, but it could be,” Lilli informed him with exaggerated sweetness. “I’ll dub it ‘project marrying off Henry.’”
“Don’t you–”
“That’s quite enough.” Grandmama said, the firmness in her tone effectively reining in everyone. Not even Papa looked like he would dare say anything more. The dowager countess took a deep breath and expelled it. “Your intention to marry Lilli off to one of these men is noteworthy. By all means, proceed.”
“But I thought,” Lilli began, her stomach dropping at the prospect of losing her grandmother’s support. Without it, a future with Tristan would be hard, perhaps even impossible, without the resources needed to find out where he had gone.
Grandmama’s green eyes caught Lilli’s. A smile curved the edge of her lips. “Don’t fret. Everything will turn out as it should.”
“Exactly,” said Papa. “I’ll invite both gentlemen back for a visit first thing in the morning.”
Lilli shook her head. She felt let down, deserted in her hour of need by the one person she had believed she could count on.
Mama stood. “It’s been a long day. Come, Lilliana. I’ll escort you to your room.”
Lilli moved as though every limb in her body were filled with lead. Drained and defeated in a way she’d never experienced before, she found it impossible to shirk the heaviness in her heart. In a lackluster voice she failed to recognize as her own, she bid her grandmother, Papa, and Henry goodnight and made her way back upstairs.
It wasn’t until she entered her bedchamber that she recalled her mother’s presence when she ordered Lilli’s maid away. The door closed and Lilli dropped onto the bed.
“I know things look bleak at the moment,” Mama said as she sat beside her. She took Lilli’s hand in her own. “But you must have faith. If you and Mr. Henley are truly meant to be together, nothing will prevent Fate from making that happen.”
Stupefied by her mother’s words, Lilli turned to meet her gaze. “What are you saying?”
“There’s no sense in trying to make Papa understand. He’ll never believe in the rose quartz’s power. But ifyoudo, then ought you not have faith in its ability to make certain you marry the man you are fated to be with?”
Lilli stared at Mama. “You know of the crystal?”
“Of course I do.” A soft smile curved Mama’s lips. “It brought my parents together and, it would seem, made certain your cousins found love as well.”
“But what about you? I mean, it was my understanding none of Grandmama’s children made use of its power.”
“Well…”
“What?” Lilli prompted.
“I may have snuck it to a ball without telling anyone. The same ball where I just happened to meet your father.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” Mama’s hand squeezed Lilli’s. “If Mr. Henley truly is the man you’re intended to be with, then you will marry him one way or the other. But you must relinquish control. Otherwise there is no telling whether your union was brought on by your determination to make it happen or because it was destined to be so. Do you understand?”
Lilli nodded. “You want me to step aside and let Papa try and marry me off to someone else. Because the only man I’ll actually manage to wed if the stone truly works is the one I’m fated to be with.”
“Precisely.”
Grandmama’s unwillingness to fight Papa on the issue began making sense. Lilli leaned against Mama and gave her a sideways hug. “Thank you.”
“I do wonder at the stone’s choice however,” Mama murmured. “Not to sound like a snob, but as nice as Mr. Henley may be, he doesn’t quite seem the right sort for a lady of your breeding.”
“Grandmama believes there may be more to him than meets the eye, like being the distant relation to an earl and on the cusp of inheriting both a title and fortune.”
“Hmm… That would certainly make for an interesting turn of events.”
Mama stood and rang the bell–pull to summon Lilli’s maid before saying good night. As soon as she departed, Lilli flopped back onto her bed. It had been a long day and she was verily exhausted. But things no longer appeared as bleak as they had half an hour earlier.
