“But—” Lilah began.
“That is an excellent idea,” her mother interrupted. And she would think so because it had initially been her idea. She turned to Lilah. “And you will make sure Lord Sayres no longer trips onto her lips ever again.”
“Mama! He didn’t—”
“Now I am late for Almack’s. It shall be a dead bore without you there, Gwen, but I can see you’re in no mood to join me.”
It would be a dead bore with her there, and so she would have said if Lilah hadn’t gestured her to silence. Gwen collapsed backward onto her pillows and said with absolute honesty, “I’m too tired tonight, Mama. Pray do enjoy it without me.”
Her mother straightened up and headed to the door. “We shall go over the invitations tomorrow first thing,” she said over her shoulder. “You will need a strategy if you intend to find Lilah a husband.”
She didn’t wait for a response but was soon heard calling for the carriage as she descended the stairs. That left Lilah in the room since she would never be allowed within the excruciatingly correct halls of Almack’s.
“Webster shouldn’t have said anything,” Gwen groused.
“Hush. You know she had to. A kiss is a very big thing.” Then Lilah leaned forward. “Was it at least a good one?”
Well, how was she to answer that? It happened so fast, and she hadn’t had time to think about it properly. But if she were to analyze it now, she remembered that he had apologized immediately afterwards. If it were a good kiss, would he have done that? Would he have looked so very startled and possibly horrified?
“No,” she said slowly. “At least he didn’t seem to think so.”
“I didn’t mean him, silly. I meant you. How do you feel about it?”
“I don’t know.” That was the honest truth. She simply had not had the time to make any clear deductions. Fortunately, her sister was well used to her. She settled down at the far side of the bed and smiled warmly.
“Then let’s talk about it, shall we? Tell me exactly what happened.”
Gwen wasn’t sure she wanted to. It was all so new and strange. But Lilah knew just what to say to get her to talk, especially since she spoke quietly without jostling the bed. That allowed Gwen to settle back onto her pillows, close her eyes, and speak as if discussing things with the darkness rather than a person. It made it so much easier to talk about confusing things. She began with the details of their business scheme, telling Lilah exactly what had happened in a linear progression. She started with their talk at the masquerade and progressed all the way through the kiss as a recitation of facts.
Lilah listened without interrupting and then she asked the one question she always asked. “And how does all that make you feel?”
Gwen’s eyes shot open. “I have not decided!”
“One generally doesn’t decide about feelings.”
“Well, I do,” she declared flatly. “Which you well know.”
Lilah nodded because Lilah always nodded. She didn’t quarrel with anyone. “Start with the business idea. Are you happy to work on it?”
Gwen pushed up from the bed. “I am terribly excited about that. I have begun notes on a study of the best soil and light for the daffodils. It will be terribly important for Lord Sayres to know that, don’t you think?”
“I have no idea how to answer to that.”
“Well, I do. And yes, he should be very interested indeed.” Gwen said it more as the manoughtto be interested rather than a prediction that he would.
“So you have found a new scientific inquiry. I can tell you enjoy that.”
“Most definitely.”
“And what of Lord Sayres? You said he’s not a libertine—”
“Definitely not.”
“But do you like him? I can tell that the idea of being in trade doesn’t bother either of you, though Mama will cut up stiff about that.”
“Mama hasn’t a say in that.” Which was true, but that never stopped her mother from voicing her opinions.
“Will you like working with him?”