Rose in Bloom (Sex and the Season #2)(70)

“Yes, you’re absolutely right. I’m sorry you won’t see the bonfires, Lily.”

“Oh, don’t worry a smidge about that. This has been a wonderful day.” Lily waved her hands. “And I can’t wait for tonight. Imagine, being present for a new theatre’s debut!”

Daniel took her hand and kissed it, and they headed toward the awaiting carriages.

Rose’s heart hurt. As much as she relished the fact that her sister was in love with the man of her dreams, she couldn’t help feeling sorry for herself. She imagined Cam kissing her hand, carrying her parcels, pulling her body close to his from behind and whispering in her ear. She clutched the rose from Melina tightly and touched her abdomen, hoping her unborn daughter could feel her love.

I promise you, Rose told her child silently, that I will love you as much as any mother and father combined have ever loved a child. You’ll want for naught. As God, or the Goddess, is my witness, I promise you.





Chapter Fifteen


“I do wish we could have gone to the festival,” Kat said as her sister helped her into her new dress.

“Yes, me too,” Tricia agreed, “but you know Cam didn’t have time to take us. He’s been at the theatre all day preparing for opening night.”

“I don’t like his new job,” Kat pouted.

“Why in the world not? It’s because of his new job that you have this lovely little gown to wear this evening.”

“I’d rather have Cam,” Kat whined. “We hardly ever see him anymore. He’s never here for dinner, and I’m asleep by the time he gets home. Then he’s gone in the morning before I wake up.”

“I know.” Tricia sighed, fastening the last button on her sister’s pink gown. “It will get better, Kitty-Kat. He only had two weeks to write the music for the play. He’ll have more time for his next composition so he won’t have to work such long hours.”

“I think he misses Lady Rose.”

Tricia arched her eyebrows. Her little sister was observant. “I think it’s you who miss Lady Rose, Kat.”

“Yes, I do. I wish she could be our governess instead of Miss Penney.”

“Goodness, Kat, Lady Rose is a lady of the peerage. She would never be someone’s governess. Besides, Miss Penney is a jewel. Aren’t you fond of her?”

“She’s pretty, but not as pretty as Lady Rose.”

“No one’s as pretty as Lady Rose,” Tricia said.

“You are.”

Tricia laughed softly. “That’s a fine compliment, Kat. Thank you.”

“And Lady Lily is too.”

“And someday you will be, I’ve no doubt. Turn around now.” Tricia brushed Kat’s soft dark hair. While Tricia and Cameron possessed hair black as night, Kat’s was a rich brown that fell in soft curls around her shoulders. Her cocoa-colored eyes and pretty round face would one day mature into true beauty. “How would you like to wear your hair up tonight, Kitty-Kat?” she asked.

“Could I, Trish?”

“Just this once, I think you could.”

“What will Mum say?”

“She won’t say anything. We’ll stay up here until it’s time to go.” Tricia piled Kat’s soft curls on top of her head. “You have lovely hair. One day the boys are going to flock to you.”

“Like they flock to you?”

“Well, they’re hardly flocking now.”

“They did at our old house.”

Tricia smiled. Yes, she had garnered her share of attention from the tenants and village men. But here, in the city, without a recognized name or dowry, she would have a more difficult time. Her sixteenth birthday was less than a month away, and Cameron still felt she was too young to be courted anyway. “We’re no longer at our old house.” She placed the last pin in her little sister’s hair. “Now, come to the looking glass.”

“I love it!” Kat squealed.

“I’m glad.” Tricia kissed Kat and gave her cheeks a pinch. “There, now you have some color. That’s what ladies do so they’ll have a rosy complexion.”

Kat giggled and pinched them again.

“Not so much, Kat, or you’ll bruise yourself. Just a little.” Tricia pinched her own cheeks. “See? Like that. Now you sit down on the bed, and you can watch me get ready.”

Tricia had already donned her periwinkle-blue evening gown, so she sat down to begin work on her hair.

“Your dress is the color of your eyes,” Kat said.

“More the color of Cam’s eyes,” Tricia replied. “Mine are considerably darker.”

“No, Cam’s are more like silver,” said Kat. “Mum says he has our papa’s eyes.”

“Yes, he does.”

“I wish I could remember Papa.”

“I know, Kat. He was a good papa. I’m sorry you didn’t get to know him.”

“Oh well.” Kat sighed softly, fanning out her skirt on Tricia’s bed. “My skirt makes noise.” She giggled.

“It’s made of taffeta. It rustles.”

“I like the sound of it.”

“So do I.”

“I never imagined I’d have such a fine dress.”