Claire blushed at the thought of marrying the dashing Marquess but her heart doubted if he would be so kind as to take her younger sister in with them, should they marry.
“It would make much more sense if you married His Grace instead,” Trixie told her.
Claire jolted at the words. “Why, whatever gave youthatidea, Beatrice Rowley?”
“Well, he has known us both since we were both young and he has always been so nice to us. He even took us to London so you could have your Season. Ever since Father died, he has been nothing but kind to us both, most especially you,” Trixie recounted, ticking off the reasons on her fingers. “He even brought you your favorite sweets when you refused to eat and took you out on carriage rides when you were inconsolable.”
“Yes, but all those things do not mean I should marry him,” Claire protested.
“Well, they seemed like perfectly sound reasons why you should,” her younger sister persisted. “Why would you not want to marry someone who knows you so well and still treats you with the same kindness and respect?”
She looked at Trixie in shock but she could not help but feel that her sister did make sense in a strange sort of way. It was just that she had never looked at Oliver as a potential suitor—more as a brother.
She wanted to contradict her younger sister but she presented a pretty sound argument.
Claire glanced at the book Oliver had just given her and could not help but think on what Trixie just said.
What a strange thought, she wondered.
But it definitely was not implausible. It was just that she had never thought of His Grace inthatway.
Still, she could not help but wonder.
What if, indeed?
Chapter 13
Lady Suzanna stared helplessly at her brother as the footman carried another box of Claire’s favorite chilled custards into the house. This time, however, he had taken note to purchase a box of Trixie’s favorite sweetmeats, as well as her own favorite bonbons.
“Take them to the kitchen and make sure to keep them chilled,” Oliver instructed him.
“Yes, Your Grace,” the footman answered, bowing a little before leaving for the kitchen with the boxes in hand.
“We are all going to get a toothache from this deluge of sweetness,” she remarked, shaking her head and pressing her fingers to her temples.
Oliver merely smiled indulgently at her. “Life is always in need of a little sweetness.”
“Not this much, I am afraid,” she retorted with a helpless smile. “Are you, by any chance, planning on purchasing a confectionery shop for dear Claire?”
“Nonsense. This is merely to lift your spirits up, since the lot of you cannot go out to balls and such.” He smiled somberly at her. “Our lives are in dire need of sweetness at the moment, I am afraid.”
“Well, it is good that we have you, then,” Lady Suzanna smiled fondly as she gently patted his cheek. “I have also instructed the kitchen to prepare only dear Claire’s favorite foods.”
“You are an absolute angel, Sue,” her brother smiled at her. “How are things between you and Claire?”
He watched as his sister’s face smoothed into a serene smile. “As well as can be expected. Although, without the constant presence of Lord Draydon, Claire seems to have slowly put the past behind us and is pursuing other things.”
“Namely?” he prodded.
“Oh, I do not know,” his sister replied, smoothing her skirts with a sly glint in her eyes. “She seems to have taken up old hobbies and Trixie tells me she has been spending more time in her rooms than by the window sill.” She looked up at him. “It seems that she is intent on finishing that grand masterpiece of hers.”
Oliver smiled. “It is good to hear that she seems to be doing fine.”
“Nothing that a few more carriage rides could not cure.” His sister cast him a sly glance and her lips turned up into a mischievous smile. “You did not think I would find out what you were up to, hmm?”
Oliver flushed. “Nothing escapes you, dear sister.”
She winked saucily at him. “Do not ever forget that. Well,” she said, “I must make sure that the kitchen handles your gifts rather well. Dear Claire will be glad for the sweets, I am certain.”
