DINNER WAS A subdued affair.
Bacon tart was usually one of Lily’s favorites, its flaky crust and sweet almonds contrasting with the salty meat, but today she only picked at it while she and Rand recounted the details of their predicament to her parents.
Mum looked very sorry that she’d let her daughters go to Hawkridge, although as Lily pointed out, their absence wouldn’t have changed anything.
“It would have spared you some discomfort, dear,” Mum said.
But that didn’t matter to Lily. The reward for that discomfort had been more time with Rand—precious time that could turn out to be their last.
Afterward, Lily saw him out to his carriage. “If you think of anything,” she told him, “anything at all—I want to know. And if I think of anything, I’ll send word to you in Oxford.”
“I may not be there long enough for word to reach me. Fewer than six days remain until the wedding. I mean to get back to Hawkridge well before that to begin investigating.”
“Then stop here on the way. Please. It won’t cost you but half an hour, and I may have an idea—”
She broke off when his lips descended on hers.
The kiss was fierce, desperate. It made her mouth burn and her senses reel wildly. She knew, without a doubt, that she would never find this with anyone else—and the truth cracked her heart.
When he finally broke the kiss, he shut his eyes and clasped her to him, so hard it almost hurt. “Lily, this cannot be the end for us. It just cannot.”
“It won’t be.” Gingerly extracting herself, she brushed her lips over his one last time. “You’ll stop by on your way to Hawkridge?”
He opened his eyes and nodded.
“Then I’ll see you in a few days,” she said, suspecting those days would be the longest of her life.
Rose, however, wasn’t going to let her mope around.
“I think tonight we should have our sleeping party,” she said when Lily reentered the house.
Lily rubbed her face. “So you’re speaking to me again?”
Her sister only shrugged and looked away, her expression contrite.
But Lily smiled, knowing this was Rose-speak for I’m sorry. She reached to squeeze her sister’s shoulder. “I’m so glad. That we’re speaking again, I mean. And Rose, I know I said some hurtful things last night, and I’m s—”
“They were true.”
“Pardon?” Lily’s brows snapped together. “But I accused you of—”
“Sabotage, yes. Just listen, and please don’t interrupt, or I might lose my nerve.” Rose took a deep breath, leaning against the balustrade as if for support. “I convinced you to go to Hawkridge because I wanted to break your betrothal. I was…very angry with both you and Rand. So when he seemed to fear introducing you to his ghastly father would put you off the marriage—a more than justified fear, I might add—I decided my best chance was to get you to Hawkridge Hall, one way or anoth—”
She broke off as two footman appeared, carrying between them an enormous silver tureen. And moving at a snail’s pace. Glancing about, Rose dragged her sister into the drawing room. Too mired in confusion and disbelief to protest, Lily sank onto the nearest couch. She saw Beatrix slip through the door just before it closed, and felt absurdly glad for the presence of a friend.
Rose remained standing, nervously toying with the bows on her sleeves. “Once we arrived at Hawkridge,” she went on, “nothing went as planned. The marquess was even worse than I’d hoped, but somehow you weren’t afraid of him. I saw you stand up to him over the dogs—”
“You were spying?”
“Observing,” Rose said haughtily. “Anyway, you were stronger than I’d expected. I certainly wouldn’t have stuck by Rand. Can you imagine having that beast for a father-in-law?”
Lily just looked at her.
“Oh, right. I suppose you can.” Turning away guiltily, Rose drew another deep breath. “After that, I realized having you at Hawkridge wasn’t working in my favor. What you accused me of…you were right. I was trying to convince you to give up and go home, hoping that without your influence, Rand would succumb to Margery’s charms and his father’s coercion. But Lily,” she rushed to add, “I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true, did I? You really didn’t have a prayer of changing the marquess’s mind, and Rand is too good to abandon Margery, and—”
“That makes it so much better,” Lily said flatly. “My own sister was trying to destroy me and the love of my life, but at least she didn’t tell a fib.”
“Yes, was. I was trying to hurt you. But now I’m not. I’ve changed my mind.”
Lily just shook her head. After an incredibly draining few days, she seemed to have no emotions left, not even anger. “Why should I believe you?” she asked wearily.
“Because I know I was wrong, and I’m so very, very sorry. Last night, when that beastly man came up with his horrid offer, and I saw what it did to you—to all three of you. You were so devastated, I can’t even describe it. Devastation like that is something I’ve never felt. Not even when Grandpapa died, and I loved him more than anyone in the world.” Her dark eyes filled with tears.
Lily bit her lip. “The way I love Rand is different from loving Grandpapa,” she said gently.
“I know. Now I know. Lily, I never wanted to hurt you like that. I never want to see that look on your face again.”
Lily gave a wan smile. “I’m afraid you may have to, unless Rand somehow manages to dig up proof of Lord Armstrong’s innocence.”
If he truly was innocent…but she had to believe he was. It was the only chance she and Rand had.
“If there’s anything I can do to help…”
“Thank you.”
For several minutes, the only sound in the room was Beatrix roaming atop and around various items of furniture, occasionally pausing to lick herself.
Eventually Rose cleared her throat. “So…am I forgiven?”
Lily thought about it. “If I’m forgiven.”
Relief dawning on her face, Rose hurled herself on the couch to wrap Lily in a hard hug. “I don’t deserve you,” she said in a sniffly voice.
Lily hugged her back. “You’ve got that right,” she replied, startling her sister into a laugh.