“I think I’m in love.”
Kate nearly spit out her tea. “With whom?”
“Mr. Bagwell.”
Try as she might, Kate could not for the life of her recall who Mr. Bagwell was.
“He’s a scholar,” Edwina said with a dreamy sigh. “I met him at Lady Bridgerton’s country house party.”
“I don’t recall meeting him,” Kate said, her brow knitting into thoughtful lines.
“You were rather busy throughout the visit,” Edwina replied in an ironic voice. “Getting yourself betrothed and all that.”
Kate pulled the sort of face one could only display with a sibling. “Just tell me about Mr. Bagwell.”
Edwina’s eyes grew warm and bright. “He’s a second son, I’m afraid, so he cannot expect much in the way of income. But now that you’ve married so well, I needn’t worry about that.”
Kate felt an unexpected welling of tears in her eyes. She hadn’t realized just how pressured Edwina must have felt earlier that season. She and Mary had been careful to assure Edwina that she might marry anyone she liked, but they had all known exactly where their finances stood, and they had certainly all been guilty of making jokes about how it was just as easy to fall in love with a wealthy man as it was with a poor one.
It only took one look at Edwina’s face to realize that a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
“I’m glad you’ve found someone who suits you,” Kate murmured.
“Oh, he does. I know that we shall not have much in the way of money, but truly, I don’t need silks and jewels.” Her eyes fell on the glittering diamond on Kate’s hand. “Not that I think you do, of course!” she quickly interjected, her face growing red. “Just that—”
“Just that it’s nice not to have to worry about supporting your sister and mother,” Kate finished for her in a gentle voice.
Edwina let out a huge sigh. “Exactly.”
Kate reached across the table and took her sister’s hands in hers. “You certainly needn’t worry about me, and I’m sure that Anthony and I will always be able to provide for Mary, should she ever need assistance.”
Edwina’s lips curved into a wobbly smile.
“As for you,” Kate added, “I think it’s high time you were able to think only of yourself for a change. To make a decision based on what you desire, not what you think others need.”
Edwina pulled one of her hands free to brush back a tear. “I really like him,” she whispered.
“Then I am certain I will like him as well,” Kate said firmly. “When may I meet him?”
“He is in Oxford for the next fortnight, I’m afraid. He has prior commitments which I should not want him to break on my account.”
“Of course not,” Kate murmured. “You wouldn’t want to marry the sort of gentleman who does not honor his commitments.”
Edwina nodded in agreement. “I received a letter from him this morning, though, and he says he will come down to London at the end of the month and hopes that he might call on me.”
Kate smiled wickedly. “He’s already sending you letters?”
Edwina nodded and blushed. “Several per week,” she admitted.
“And what is his area of study?”
“Archaeology. He’s quite brilliant. He has been to Greece. Twice!”
Kate hadn’t thought that her sister—already renowned throughout the land for her beauty—could possibly grow any lovelier, but when Edwina spoke of her Mr. Bagwell, her face shone with a radiance that was nothing short of heart-stopping.
“I cannot wait to meet him,” Kate announced. “We must have an informal dinner party with him as our guest of honor.”
“That would be wonderful.”
“And perhaps the three of us might go for a ride in the park ahead of time so that we might become better acquainted. Now that I am an old married lady, I qualify as a suitable chaperone.” Kate let out a little laugh. “Isn’t that funny?”
A very amused, very male voice sounded from the doorway: “Isn’t what funny?”
“Anthony!” Kate exclaimed, surprised to see her husband in the middle of the day. He always seemed to have appointments and meetings that kept him from their home. “How delightful to see you.”
He smiled slightly as he nodded toward Edwina in greeting. “I found myself with an unexpected block of free time.”
“Would you care to join us for tea?”