“What do you mean?” Poppy glanced at her in confusion. “Oh, you mean because of your potential ruination—”
“No. I mean for me. Because I want a child.”
“You want achild?”
“Yes, ever since I can remember,” Willow admitted. “I thought that if I took Holly’s place I could save our reputations and meet my own wish.”
Poppy shut her mouth. “I . . . I didn’t know. You never told us.”
“It wasn’t significant,” Willow murmured. “Not at the time.”
“Not significant? You commandeered Holly’s wedding. I’d say it’s colossal.”
“When you put it like that . . .” Willow sighed. “I had difficulty in sharing in it. We always talked of adventures and fun, not of marriage and children. So when I saw an opportunity, I took it. I don’t feel guilty for that.”
Poppy lifted her hands in defense. “I am not judging you, Willow. But do you truly believe a child is the answer? Would you not wish to wait for therightman to bear a child with?”
“And who is the right man?” Willow asked in a dry manner. “A man that promises to move mountains for me?”
“Of course not,” Poppy said with a small laugh. “Mountains cannot be moved, but imagine a man who understood you, the real you. That is something to hold out for.”
“It is a lovely sentiment, Poppy,” Willow murmured, placing her hand on her sister’s. “But I have made my choice.”
“All right then, if you are certain, I shall have your back,” Poppy said thoughtfully, and after a moment added, “You know, I should have suspected something amiss when our sister did not endlessly wax poetic drivel about the duke anymore.”
“We did warn her,” Willow said, sliding a stray curl behind her ear. “She has always been prone to fall in love at the drop of a hat. But none of that matters anymore. Our family will be spared from scandal and your chances of making a good match will remain intact.”
“Do not worry about my prospects.” Poppy made a wry face. “The man I choose will be stronger than whatever battering my reputability has undergone.”
“You say that now but what if all of society snubbed our entire family?”
Poppy shrugged. “It will blow over in time when some other scandal explodes and distracts everyone. You know how the people of London thrive on scandal. If anything, we will be invited to all the parties because of the blemish attached to our name.”
“That’s true,” Willow said with a grin before she sobered. “The important thing is to shield Holly from the duke and his wrath. He is demanding she marry his brother, Lord Jonathan.”
“Horrors, no!” Poppy exclaimed, a look of shock on her face.
“Indeed, I shall try and change his mind, but I’ll need time. Speaking of which, you’ve stalled my questions long enough. You spoke to Holly? Tell me! Is she all right?”
“Well, Holly, you will never believe, is with the Marquis of Warton.”
“Warton?” Willow asked, shocked. “That surly man? However did that come about?”
“Apparently he has agreed to whisk her off to the country. Though I overheard one of the servants say that the duke has dispatched men in search of Holly, even the roads to Derbyshire.”
“Have you been eavesdropping the entire morning?” Willow asked, some of the tightness in her chest eased. Warton might be surly, but he was an honorable man and a friend of her cousin Belle’s.
“What can I say? It is a skill.”
“Just the same, of all the outcomes I considered, this one never crossed my mind—Holly running straight from her wedding into Warton’s protection. Now that’s a craft. I thought she’d seek refuge with our cousins.”
A smile twisted Poppy’s lips. “Our sister has found another champion—she must give me tips when this is all over.”
“At least she will be safe, as safe as she can be with the duke after her. Let us hope she does not fall in love with Warton, as well. Just think about the drama.”
“Do not even jest!” Poppy tossed a pillow at her. “She wishes to see you before you leave, Willow. She’s worried about you. Warton shall send a carriage in case you can slip away.”
“I shall try my best,” Willow said, meeting Poppy’s gaze. She wanted desperately to meet with Holly and feared her sister might feel some resentment toward her—that she would not understand what had driven Willow to do the very thing she’d run from.
