Something Old, Rebecca Connolly [ebook reader for laptop TXT] 📗

“I haven’t the faintest idea who any of those people were,” Rosalind said through the teeth of her false smile. She let her face relax and rolled her eyes. “The joys of being a Riverton now. Good thing I’m fond of Will, or this would be a dreadful scheme.”

Lily wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so she only made a soft, noncommittal sound of acknowledgement.

Her sister caught it, though, and heard something in it. “Granger was rather sweet to me yesterday, what’s brought that on?”

“He’s always liked you,” Lily protested, stiffening at the implication.

“Better than Eloise or Emma, which is a standard in Society, but you could hardly call him affectionate toward me.” She glanced over at him, her eyes narrowing. “If I didn’t know better, Lills, I’d say that man has thawed a bit.”

Lily gave her a speculative look, a secret smile of amusement finding its way to her lips. “Why shouldn’t you know better?”

Rosalind gaped dramatically, though the shock in her eyes was genuine. “No…”

The secret smile bloomed into a helpless grin that might have cracked her cheeks had she let it. “He loves me, Roz.”

“I suspected that,” Rosalind told her as her expression relaxed into a more natural one. “He simply needed to learn how to show it. Has he finally done that?”

“Yes.” Lily smiled across the room at Thomas who was now watching her walk the room with her sister, his own smile in place and heating her entire frame. “He certainly has. And I’ve learned how to show my love for him. And wonderful things have been happening.”

“They usually do when showing love goes on between a couple.”

Something about her sister’s tone brought Lily’s attention back to her. “Why does that sound like you are teasing me?”

Rosalind looked almost completely innocent. Almost.

“I haven’t the faintest idea,” Rosalind replied easily, the slightest hint of a smile ticking at the corner of her lips. “Will and I haven’t been married nearly as long as you and Granger, so I would never dream of presuming to advise or tease you on the subject.”

Lily scowled a little. “Of course you would. You married for love, and your wild romance carried you across the sea. By all accounts, you know more of the thing than I. Perhaps I should take your advice, if you have any.”

Now Rosalind looked truly startled. “Is that what you think? That I have somehow succeeded where you have failed?”

There was nothing to do but shrug at the question. Admitting that her thoughts had ventured there despite her present happiness was too mortifying and somehow ignoring the beauty she and Thomas had found, as though it were only a fleeting whim.

He deserved better than her doubts, and she deserved security in her emotions.

“Lills,” Rosalind murmured, pulling her closer into her side, “I’ve won nothing. You and Granger love each other, you always have, and your marriage is your own. There’s no comparison because no one else is you, and no one else is him. I’d have killed Granger by now if I were in your place, and he’d have regretted his choice of wife daily. On the other hand, you would have made Will terribly happy.”

“But perhaps a little bored,” Lily ventured with a fond smile for her sister. “I lack your spark in life, and I think Will adores that part of you.”

Rosalind’s smile was surprisingly tender, her eyes casting across the room. “I think he might. Poor man.” She returned her attention to Lily, turning bright once more. “It is good to see you smile when discussing your husband. You were not destined to be a tragic wife.”

“For the first time in a very great while, I do not feel like one.” Lily looked over at her husband, realizing Rosalind was leading her in that direction. “Was this your plan from the beginning?”

“Not at all,” came the quick reply. “I only settled on it when I saw your smile for him. And I’ve been paying attention, and the man is perishing for want of you, so I thought I’d aid my dear brother-in-law.”

Lily coughed a soft laugh, her cheeks slowly beginning to burn as they neared her now attentively watchful husband. “I am sure he will appreciate it.”

Rosalind nudged her with a pointed elbow in her side. “If I’ve done anything right, so will you.” She winked before lifting her chin and beaming. “I’ve brought you your wife, Granger. Won’t you thank me?”

Thomas grinned, which was a rare enough sight in public, and certainly something Rosalind had not seen since childhood. “You are my second favorite person in the entire world, and my favorite sister.”

“Your sister will not like being displaced by a sister-in-law in your affections,” Rosalind pointed out, though her smile had not shifted.

“My sister has never aided me as you just have. I stand by my statement.” To the surprise of them both, he leaned in and kissed Rosalind’s cheek fondly. “You are a beautiful bride, Roz. Riverton is a fortunate man. I trust he knows this.”

Rosalind’s cheeks colored, and she shyly glanced up at her brother-in-law. “You’ve never called me Roz before, Granger. I like the change. In fact, I’m quite fond of it. Perhaps we might be better friends from now on.”

Lily’s heart could have burst with joy as she witnessed the bond forming between the people who were dearest to her in her life. It was all she could have wished for, and she could see it happening before her eyes. Would wonders never cease?

“I should like that very much,” Thomas told Rosalind, still smiling. “You might consider me your elder brother, if you like. It would be my pleasure to step into such a role for you.”

Rosalind’s eyes widened, and suddenly she was wrapping her arms around Thomas in a fierce hug that had Lily’s eyes filling with tears even as she laughed.

Thomas laughed as well, which was no little thing, and kissed the top of her head. “Had I known you