turned. “Eleanor, he just said something that angered me and I reacted poorly. Otherwise, he was quite the hero when he tackled poor Simon to the ground.”
“What? He tackled him! Why did Simon not mention this to me when he was here earlier?”
“Probably because Simon punched your brother in the face in his own defense.”
Eleanor sat up straighter. “Is this why I have not seen Duncan today?”
“I have not seen him either, but I did tell him to put ice on his cheek to help heal the bruise.”
“Did you now?” Eleanor grinned wickedly.
Ignoring the innuendo, Lily said, “Of course I did. My former fiancé was in a fight once and ice helped keep the swelling down from the area where he was hit.”
“Former fiancé? I thought you said at dinner last night that you are to be engaged upon your return to London?” Eleanor sounded wary.
Lily began to pace next to the settee where Eleanor remained seated. “Upon my return to London my uncle has arranged my union to a man I cannot recall ever meeting. My previous fiancé was a man named Joshua. He died in a carriage accident nearly one year ago.”
“Lily, I am so sorry.” Eleanor’s voice was laced with concern.
“Thank you. It was a very sad day.” Lily wrung her hands together. “I was engaged before that to a man named Vincent, but he died of consumption shortly after our engagement was announced.”
“Oh goodness. I am not sure what to say,” Eleanor whispered.
Lily shrugged her shoulders as she walked to the window and stared into the distance. “The first marriage was arranged and I was very unhappy about it. I felt awful because I was secretly relieved when Vincent died. My parents agreed not to arrange another marriage for me and I was glad when I found Joshua. I had once told my uncle that Joshua was the love of my life, but have found I do not miss him as much as I thought I would. I grieved hard for him, but the pain was not as unbearable as I would have imagined it would be. I wonder now what would have happened if we had married.”
Shaking her head, Lily’s gaze remained unfocused. She was not sure if Eleanor was even still listening, but she said, “My uncle thinks it is best for me to marry soon, but he has agreed that if I do not get on well with my intended that he will not force my hand. I do not know what will happen. I do not know how to explain to my uncle that I am afraid, but not of any imaginary threats or the person he seems to think is after me. I am afraid of getting engaged again. I think that maybe I am not meant to marry. I am frightened that the next man I am set to marry will die too.”
Lily felt a warm hand touch her shoulder gently as Eleanor said, “Oh, my dear, I am certain you do not carry a curse. You have had to bear much sorrow and you cannot hold yourself accountable for the misfortunes of others. Everyone deserves a chance at happiness and you more than most, I would say.”
Lily turned and embraced Eleanor. “Thank you.”
Eleanor stepped back and met Lily’s gaze. “I see a strong, confident woman standing before me. Even one who can stand up to the remarks of Lady Livingston.” She tilted her head. “I just hope your future husband knows how much fire you have in you. I must say I enjoyed watching you banter with Charlotte.”
Lily smiled and sat next to Eleanor on the settee.
They began to arrange food on their plates as Eleanor ventured, “I feel strange saying this to you, but I feel I must say I noticed the way you ate dessert last night. I am sure it was, in part, to give Charlotte a taste of her own medicine, but I can only imagine what my brother thought of the whole episode. He may appear very refinedand I am glad to know he has been a perfect gentleman with you, but he has a notorious reputation with women. He is my brother and I love him dearly, but you must know that if you play with fire you may get burned. I do not want to steer you away from Duncan, but I want to make sure
“What? He tackled him! Why did Simon not mention this to me when he was here earlier?”
“Probably because Simon punched your brother in the face in his own defense.”
Eleanor sat up straighter. “Is this why I have not seen Duncan today?”
“I have not seen him either, but I did tell him to put ice on his cheek to help heal the bruise.”
“Did you now?” Eleanor grinned wickedly.
Ignoring the innuendo, Lily said, “Of course I did. My former fiancé was in a fight once and ice helped keep the swelling down from the area where he was hit.”
“Former fiancé? I thought you said at dinner last night that you are to be engaged upon your return to London?” Eleanor sounded wary.
Lily began to pace next to the settee where Eleanor remained seated. “Upon my return to London my uncle has arranged my union to a man I cannot recall ever meeting. My previous fiancé was a man named Joshua. He died in a carriage accident nearly one year ago.”
“Lily, I am so sorry.” Eleanor’s voice was laced with concern.
“Thank you. It was a very sad day.” Lily wrung her hands together. “I was engaged before that to a man named Vincent, but he died of consumption shortly after our engagement was announced.”
“Oh goodness. I am not sure what to say,” Eleanor whispered.
Lily shrugged her shoulders as she walked to the window and stared into the distance. “The first marriage was arranged and I was very unhappy about it. I felt awful because I was secretly relieved when Vincent died. My parents agreed not to arrange another marriage for me and I was glad when I found Joshua. I had once told my uncle that Joshua was the love of my life, but have found I do not miss him as much as I thought I would. I grieved hard for him, but the pain was not as unbearable as I would have imagined it would be. I wonder now what would have happened if we had married.”
Shaking her head, Lily’s gaze remained unfocused. She was not sure if Eleanor was even still listening, but she said, “My uncle thinks it is best for me to marry soon, but he has agreed that if I do not get on well with my intended that he will not force my hand. I do not know what will happen. I do not know how to explain to my uncle that I am afraid, but not of any imaginary threats or the person he seems to think is after me. I am afraid of getting engaged again. I think that maybe I am not meant to marry. I am frightened that the next man I am set to marry will die too.”
Lily felt a warm hand touch her shoulder gently as Eleanor said, “Oh, my dear, I am certain you do not carry a curse. You have had to bear much sorrow and you cannot hold yourself accountable for the misfortunes of others. Everyone deserves a chance at happiness and you more than most, I would say.”
Lily turned and embraced Eleanor. “Thank you.”
Eleanor stepped back and met Lily’s gaze. “I see a strong, confident woman standing before me. Even one who can stand up to the remarks of Lady Livingston.” She tilted her head. “I just hope your future husband knows how much fire you have in you. I must say I enjoyed watching you banter with Charlotte.”
Lily smiled and sat next to Eleanor on the settee.
They began to arrange food on their plates as Eleanor ventured, “I feel strange saying this to you, but I feel I must say I noticed the way you ate dessert last night. I am sure it was, in part, to give Charlotte a taste of her own medicine, but I can only imagine what my brother thought of the whole episode. He may appear very refinedand I am glad to know he has been a perfect gentleman with you, but he has a notorious reputation with women. He is my brother and I love him dearly, but you must know that if you play with fire you may get burned. I do not want to steer you away from Duncan, but I want to make sure
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