“You heard George the other night.Don’t pretend you didn’t.He told me that his brother saw fit to speak for me on a matter where he had no right.And so I was merely scolding him for his impertinence.”
“He said hekissedyou, Tilly.”
“You shouldn’t have heard that!How was I to know that you were lying in wait behind some musty old door?”
“I certainly was not there by choice,” Scarlett replied tartly.
“Oh no?”Tilly said, raising her brows.
Scarlett frowned at her sister.She had the upper hand here, after all.While Tilly knew nothing of her relations with Malcolm, Scarlettknewwhat she had overheard Severn Westmore say to her sister.
“When.Did.It.Happen?”
“Ugh!”her sister cried in frustration, covering her face with her hands.“It was nothing.You needn’t worry.”
“You kissed the brother of the man you want to marry.It doesn’t seem like nothing.”
“Itis.And I didn’t know hewashis brother.Not then.As you’ll recall, Mr.Westmore was traveling for most of the season before last.”
It was true.Tilly had been out for four seasons and had only met George two seasons prior.At the time, Mr.Westmore had been traveling on the Continent.
“When he returned, I didn’t know who he was—or about his reputation.You know I was already set on George.But I ended up speaking to Mr.Westmore on the balcony, at one of the first balls of the season… and… it was addlepated,” Tilly fumed.“He told me that he had been traveling.And I said this dumb, girlish thing about wanting to do so for my honeymoon.And then he kissed me.I don’t know why!He didn’t know who I was either, I’m sure of it.”
“Tilly,” Scarlett whisper-shrieked.
She was struggling to believe that her sister had been capable of keeping such a secret from her.
“But I’d forgotten about it since,” Tilly exclaimed.“It was a trifle.Just a kiss.It meant nothing.”
“Do you plan to tell Mr.Salisbury that you kissed his brother?”
“No!Obviously not.”
“Mr.Westmore seemed to be acting awfully possessive.How can you be sure he won’t tell George?”
“He wouldn’t.He has no reason to.”Tilly was flushed pink, two bright spots burning on her cheeks.
Her face now reminded Scarlett vaguely of the temper tantrums she had thrown as a child.No one had known how to fly into a rage like her younger sister.It had been surprising then, too, given her usually sunny disposition, that she could become so angry—but become so angry she certainly could.
“Mr.Westmore doesn’t care for me,” Tilly exclaimed.“He is just a silly rake who doesn’t like that there might be one woman in the world that he can’t have.”
Scarlett paused, working out her sister’s implication.“Oh,” Scarlett said.“That woman is supposed to beyouin this situation?”
“Ugh!Scarlett, you can be so—priggish.”
Scarlett reeled back, stung.She had not beenbornpriggish.And she certainly hadn’t just been priggish in that closet with Malcolm.But that Tilly saw her as such still burned.
“I am supposed to be your chaperone,” she said, taking care to keep her voice low and even.“I am supposed to protect you.I am not upsetwithyou.I am only upset that I failed in protecting you.”
“I don’t need you to protect me, Scarlett.”Tilly moaned.“It doesn’t work like that anyway.You can’t stop the marriage mart.”
“Tilly,” Scarlett said, stepping forward.“Are you really certain that you want to marry George?Especially after all of this with Mr.Westmore?”
The color drained from Tilly’s face.“Of course!”She gasped.
Scarlett was sure she would be bellowing if they didn’t risk being overheard.
“I don’t want anyonebutGeorge.This changes nothing.It never did.That is why I never told you.I knew you would get the wrong idea.”
