“Older. Ten and eight.”
“Strike her from the list. I don’t want Lydia harassed by older stepsiblings. Who’s next?”
Katherine nods. “I agree. That could be a problem. The top of my list is the Marquess of Tramel. Seems he’s had a number of wives.”
“But his son, Lord Gantry, just found his wife again. I believe that means they love happy endings.”
Her creamy shoulder becomes visible. The brown freckles on her olive skin are like Lydia’s. Sweet. But in this situation I hunger to connect these dots. I remember how they led newlyweds on a night of exploration.
She tucks a curl behind her ear. The movement shifts her robe and exposes the crests of her bosom. Katherine is more beautiful—or as Darcy would say,one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.
“Jahleel, your expression has changed?”
I reach for her face. Then let go, my fingertips trailing her chin.
“Are you in pain?” she asks. “Is that what’s wrong?”
I draw my hand away. “Will I always be frail to you, Katia?”
“What? Jahleel, I merely inquired—”
“About my health? About begrudgingly letting me be of aid.” I blow out all the air in my chest. “Sorry. Let’s examine this list and catch ourselves new mates.”
“Yes. New spouses. Perhaps the four of us will play cards on a regular basis. Our new children, step-siblings to Lydia, will think it all normal.”
She can play crazy. I can be insane. “I’ll have Steele plan a ball for the end of the month. We can start everyone meeting then.”
“That’s too soon. And you promised to throw a party for Lydia for her belated birthday.”
“Then it shall serve as both. Steele can have Anya House transformed in no time. No more waiting for anything.” I offer her a grin. “We shall be transformed.”
“With the Palmerses and protestors causing problems, is this the right time?” She glares at me. “But my opinion doesn’t matter. My words either. I’m just the bigamist liar.”
“Misery loves company. I’m a neutered schemer. But I like your company. And I want our future feckless four to be friends. And I will only remember the good things about the two of us. No more bad.”
Her smile returns, with her cheeks blooming like a choice rose. “Then kiss me now. Seal this new promise with a kiss.”
“Is it wise, Katia, to get another taste of you before the next disaster strikes?”
“Take the risk. Gamble, Jahleel.” She rises from the chair and kneels next to mine. “I want you to gamble on us.”
Inches from a kiss, I hear a knock. “Papen’ka, can I see you?”
Katherine scrambles and returns to her chair.
Sighing, maybe groaning a little, I respond. “Yes, my Lidochka, come in.”
Lydia bursts inside. She runs to me, then stops. “Why is Katherine here? She has her own room.”
“Reading. She’s going to read to me, Lydia.”
My daughter frowns bigger. “The book is on the bed table. You two are over there.”
“We should tell her.” Katherine takes the folded paper and shows it to Lydia. “Your father and I are looking at names for potential suitors. He’s going to pick us each out new people to love.”
“You’re talking about marrying new people and not each other?” Her little face keeps shifting, glancing my way and her mother’s. “Why can’t you two be normal?”
“We are friends, Lidochka. That is normal. Don’t you want your mother and me to be friends?”
