Rose in Bloom (Sex and the Season #2)(36)

“You are far too young.”

“Perhaps I could find a wealthy young lord who would take care of all of us. Lady Rose’s brother, for instance. He is dashing.” Tricia closed her eyes.

“Good God, the man is my age!” Cameron shook his head. “And when the hell did you ever meet him, anyway?”

“A few days before the duke’s wedding. I was out riding and I met the duke and Lady Lily. The duke’s horse is the most beautiful black stallion. Anyway, Lady Rose and Lord Jameson, that’s his name, were with them, and Lady Lily remembered me and introduced us.”

“How do you know he’s not already married?”

“Lady Lily mentioned that he wasn’t.”

Cameron rolled his eyes. “You’re too young to marry, Tricia. I won’t have you tied down during the dawn of your youth. And you may as well accept the fact that you won’t marry an aristocrat. None of us will. It’s not our place.”

“What if I think we’re better than”—she motioned around the room—“this.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does. Cameron, you’re as talented as any contemporary composer. More so even, because you’ve had no formal training. If you’d had the advantages that are available to the peers, or even to the more wealthy—”

“But I haven’t. This is my life. It’s where I belong.”

“No, it’s not. And it’s not where I belong, either. I want to learn. I’m smart. Did you know that, Cam?”

“Of course.”

“And so is Kat. I taught her the multiplication tables. She memorized them in two days. And she can do complex equations in her head. She’s only seven!”

“I’m afraid that’s our curse, Tricia.”

“It’s a curse to be bright?”

“When you’re limited as to what you can accomplish due to your station in life, yes, it is a curse to be bright.”

Tricia shook her head. “I’ll never believe that.”

“Well, if you’re so inclined to use your intelligence, tell me, why are you so eager to marry yourself off at such a tender age?”

“I’m not really. I just thought it would make things easier for you.”

“That’s silly.”

“No, it’s not. You were going to go to London and write music, do you remember?”

“Yes.”

“But then Papa died, and you had to stay here and take care of us. You could have been famous by now.”

Would this harrowing conversation never end? “It wasn’t in the cards.”

“But it still could be. If you and Lady Rose got together.”

“That will never happen.”

“But if it did, she could help you. Introduce you to the right people.”

“I have no intention of being a kept man. Why am I talking to you about this anyway?” He scoffed. “You’re my sister, and you’re too young to be having such thoughts.”

Tricia closed her eyes. “And then you could introduce me to Lord Jameson again, and he would take one look at me and fall madly in love—”

“This conversation is over, Tricia.” Cameron finished his tea and loudly set his cup down on an end table. “I’m not your father, but this is the best advice I can give you. Accept your station in life. Don’t try to change it. It only leads to heartbreak.” He cleared his throat. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to have a bath, and then we’ll go see Kat.”



“Iris, what on earth?” Lucy said.

Iris had dragged her into the main parlor. Sophie and Alexandra sat together on the divan, while Rose sat opposite them in a wingback chair, Evan standing behind her. The dowager duchess was perched on a settee, drinking a cup of tea.

The Earl of Brighton rose and took Iris’s arm.

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting, David. I couldn’t find Lucy. She was hiding in the kitchen, helping Cook prepare our luncheon.”

“I often help in the kitchen. I enjoy it.”

“Lucy is a marvelous cook,” Maggie said.

“All those years of friendship, so long ago, and I had no idea,” Iris said. “Now I’ll know where to find you when you sneak off.”

“Goodness, then, what is going on?” Lucy asked.

“Yes, Mother, why have you called us all in here?” Alexandra smoothed her skirt.

“David—that is, Lord Brighton and I… We have some news.”

A smile curved onto Lucy’s pretty lips. “Iris, you don’t mean…”

David cleared his throat. “This lovely lady has agreed to become my wife, and I couldn’t be happier.”

“Father?” Evan walked forward. “Are you serious?”

“Never more serious, Evan. Iris and are going to be married.”

“But isn’t this a bit…sudden?”

“You’re mother has been gone for over two years.”

“But you and Lady Longarry just met.”

“Yes, my goodness, Mother,” Ally agreed. “What has gotten into you?”

“I know this must seem odd,” David said, “but Iris and I have known each other for some time. We are very happy to have renewed our acquaintance.”