“Ally!” Sophie shook her head. “Mother and Lord Brighton are in the prime of life.”
“Prime of life? Holy hell, Sophie.” Alexandra erupted in giggles. “I can’t even picture the two of them—”
“Goodness, Ally,” Rose said, and then she too began giggling. “That’s not something we should picture about anyone.”
“It’s fairly easy to picture Lily and the duke.”
“Really, Alexandra,” Sophie said.
“I’m sorry, but the duke is purely scrumptious. And even I shall admit, so is our dear stepbrother-to-be, even if he is a haughty beast.” Alexandra smiled. “One only has to imagine—”
“Ally,” Sophie said again.
“Don’t you think Lord Brighton is attractive?” Rose asked Alexandra. “He reminds me a lot of Evan, actually. He’s a very dashing older gentleman.”
“I’m sure he was a gem in his day, Rose,” Alexandra said. “But he’s sixty!”
“We’ll all be there someday, dear,” Rose said. “He’s still attractive, and Aunt Iris is still a very pretty woman.”
“She certainly is,” Sophie agreed. “It took me a few days to get used to the idea, but now I can truthfully said I am thrilled for both of them.”
“Of course I am as well,” Alexandra said. “Especially since it means we will be living on our own estate. Even if Evan will be there. He may be impossible, but at least it won’t be painful to look at him. He is splendid.”
* * * *
Iris turned toward the footsteps coming toward her.
“My lady,” Evan said, approaching, “might I have a word?”
“Of course.” She led him to a corner. “What is it?”
“I wish to apologize to you for my behavior on the last weekend, after you and my father announced your betrothal.”
She smiled. “Goodness, you don’t need to apologize.”
“Please, my lady. I wasn’t aware of the…depth of my father’s feelings for you. I was very close to my mother, you see, and…well, I know she and my father were content, but I suppose it was obvious that they were never…” Evan looked at his feet. “I’m sorry, my lady.”
“Please, I wish you would call me Iris.”
“Of course…Iris.”
“Evan,” she began, “I have no intention of taking your mother’s place. I could never do that in your heart, or even in your father’s. But I love him very much and will spend the rest of my life trying to make him happy.”
“You already make him happy,” Evan said. “Even a fool such as I can see that. I just wish he and my mother could have had…what the two of you seem to share. She was a wonderful person. She deserved to be loved.”
“I’m sure she did, and your father did care for her deeply. He never would have hurt her.”
“I know that.”
“And she gave him you. He adores you and your brother and sister. Sometimes he talks of nothing but the three of you.”
“Then I hope he won’t be disappointed that…”
“That what, dear?”
“Lady Rose and I have decided to…discontinue our relationship.”
“Goodness. Why?”