Rose in Bloom (Sex and the Season #2)(65)

“Of course you’ll go,” Daniel said. “I want my entire family there to see me take the archery championship away from Cameron Price.” He laughed boisterously. “I’ll not be bested again.”

Lily winced ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly, at her husband’s reference to Cameron. She had obviously kept her word to Rose, otherwise Daniel wouldn’t have mentioned him. Not that she had doubted her sister’s promise for a moment.

“You’ll always be my champion.” Lily smiled at her husband. “You don’t need to shoot an arrow into a little dot to prove that.”

“That’s the only championship that matters to me, love,” Daniel said, winking at her. “But I’ll outdo him anyway.”

Rose’s heart lurched in happiness for her sister and in sadness for herself. If only she could be bantering with the man she loved, the father of her child.

“That reminds me,” Daniel went on. “There’s a new theatre opening the evening of the solstice. I made a sizeable contribution, and the proprietor has asked that we be his guests for the evening. A box has been reserved for us. I hope you’ll all join Lily and me.”

“That’s sounds heavenly, Daniel,” Lily said.

“Oh, yes,” Ally agreed. “It’s been so long since we’ve been to the theatre.”

“Ally, we’ve never been to the theatre,” Sophie said.

“That’s certainly a long time, don’t you think?” Alexandra giggled.

Soon the whole table was laughing. Ally had that effect on people.

“I think that sounds wonderful,” Maggie said. “You must be speaking of Zach Newland’s new enterprise.”

“The actor?” Alexandra asked.

“The one and only,” Daniel said. “And yes, Mother, the Regal is his venture.”

“Oh, he is absolutely to die for!” Alexandra exclaimed.

“Have you seen his work?” Maggie asked.

“Heavens, no,” Alexandra said. “Sophie is correct. We’ve never been to the theatre. But I’ve seen portraits of him. He is exquisite.”

“Goodness, Ally,” her mother admonished.

“I’m right, Mother.”

“Of course you’re right, but goodness,” Iris said again.

“There will be plenty of room in the box if you would like to ask Lord Brighton to join us,” Daniel said to Iris.

“That is very generous of you,” Iris replied. “I’ll speak to him when he arrives tomorrow.”

“And Xavier too,” he said to Rose.

Rose’s cheeks burned. “That is kind of you, Daniel, but Lord Evan and I aren’t…that is…we have discontinued our courtship.”

“I didn’t know,” Daniel said. “I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry, Daniel,” Lily said. “I haven’t had a chance to fill you in on everything yet.”

“It’s fine, Lily,” Rose said. Then, to Daniel, “It was a mutual decision.” Good Lord, would someone please change the subject? She didn’t want to go into any more detail about Evan, especially since she planned to marry him anyway after his father’s wedding. She gave Lily a pleading glance.

Lily cleared her throat. “The theatre sounds wonderful. What are they opening with, Daniel?”

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

“One of my favorites!” Alexandra gushed. “Mr. Newland will make a wonderful Oberon.”

“I don’t know which part he chose for himself,” Daniel said, “but I’ve no doubt the production will be a hit.”

“I can’t wait,” Alexandra said. “You are too kind to all of us, Your Grace.”

“No more Your Grace,” Daniel said. “We’re all family now.”

“Heavens, yes,” Lily agreed. “Unless you’d like to start calling me Your Grace, Ally. I think I could get used to that.”

Everyone at the table erupted in cheerful laughter. Everyone except for Rose. Unseen by the others, she ran her palm smoothly across her abdomen, thinking about Cameron’s babe slumbering inside. How happy she should be, to be carrying the child of the man she loved. How happy indeed.





Chapter Fourteen


Two days later, everyone rose at dawn to attend the Midsummer Celebration outside of Bath. The Earl and Countess of Ashford, who had arrived the previous day, chose to forgo the celebration, not to anyone’s surprise. However, the earl did concede to let Rose attend, so she and Thomas rode with Lily and Daniel in their carriage. The rest were divided among other carriages, including Evan who rode in Lord Brighton’s carriage with Aunt Iris and the girls. Rose sighed heavily. She had asked Thomas to be her escort at the festival. She had to talk to Evan eventually, to tell him she had changed her mind about marrying him, but she didn’t plan to do it today. She would not cloud Aunt Iris’s day in the sun.

She resisted the urge to clutch at her stomach, despite the nausea she felt. It would alert Thomas and Daniel to her condition. Lily sat next to her husband, her hand clasped in his, looking radiantly healthy. She was apparently adjusting to pregnancy a lot better than Rose was. Of course, her situation was quite different.