My Fair Lily(67)
“Evie, please stop crying,” Meggie said—she of the torrent of tears flowing down her own cheeks. “Lady Dayne is the loveliest person. You know that, of course. So are the Farthingales. They won’t hold the earlier unpleasantness against you or your brother. Not after Ewan explains the misunderstanding to them. You’ll adore Lily. We both do.”
Evie blew into the handkerchief Ewan had offered her earlier. “Why would she be nice to me? She has every reason to hate me.”
“She isn’t like that,” Ewan found himself saying. “She believes in close family ties and will be pleased we’ve taken steps toward reconciliation.” That’s what made Lily so different from Callie. Though beautiful on the outside, Callie wouldn’t hesitate to destroy anyone who got in her way. She was much like his grandfather. Why hadn’t he noticed the similarity before? More troubling, he’d actually considered offering for her. Had his father not taken ill and died, he might very well be married to her now.
Ewan shuddered.
The thought made his skin crawl. No. Callie was a momentary lapse in his good judgment, a lapse he’d quickly correct, perhaps this evening if the opportunity presented itself. Having met Lily, he now understood the qualities to look for in a wife. He wanted a Highlands girl with all of Lily’s good qualities.
In truth, he wanted Lily.
But marriage to the little bluestocking wouldn’t work, though for entirely different reasons. They’d suit in bed. Lily was passionate about everything. She’d respond exquisitely to his guiding touch. However, as much as her passion would work for them in bed—Lord, he ached to get her naked under him—it would work against them in every other aspect of their marriage. She couldn’t be happy in Scotland, so far away from her beloved family. So far away from her beloved halls of science.
Seeing Lily sad—knowing he was the cause of it—would destroy him.
Yet, not to see her. Not to hold her in his arms. That felt wrong, too.
Ewan helped his sister and Evangeline down from the carriage and escorted them into Eloise’s home, relieved as they were quickly announced and now free to mingle. Eloise’s townhouse was filled with well-dressed lords and ladies. Music wafted through the crowded salons, and butlers eased through the sea of bodies, silver trays laden with glasses of champagne held out in front of them. Ewan grabbed a glass for each girl. He didn’t bother taking one for himself. He had other things on his mind.
His first thought was to find Lily. Where was she? He’d escorted Meggie and Evie from room to room—Farthingales everywhere—but no Lily. He finally spied Lily’s twin standing beside the French doors leading out onto Eloise’s terrace. He frowned. She was wearing spectacles, which meant she was trying to cover up Lily’s absence.
Since his sister and Evie were engaged in conversation with other guests who seemed quite friendly, Ewan left their side and made his way toward Dillie. “Where is she?” he asked, more annoyed with himself for the disappointment he felt at Lily’s absence.
“Home. She didn’t wish to see you.”
He arched an eyebrow in surprise. It was one thing for him to decide not to see Lily, which was not at all what he’d decided. He’d merely decided not to marry her. Quite another thing for her to decide not to see him. “Why not?”
Dillie frowned at him. “I’m not at liberty to tell you. However, if you gave it a moment’s thought, you might figure it out on your own.”
Bollix. He would never understand women. “Have I done something to offend her?” He glanced at Evangeline, wondering whether bringing his cousin to Eloise’s gathering had displeased her. Not that he would blame Lily for resenting Evangeline. She and her brother hadn’t been nice to her.
“It isn’t about Evangeline,” Dillie said, following his gaze and understanding the path of his thoughts. “She’ll be pleased when I tell her that you escorted her to the party. She was hoping you’d reconcile. How is it going?”
“It’s a first step.” If that wasn’t the cause of Lily’s disappointment, then what was? “Will you give me a clue?”
“No. I’m sworn to twin secrecy.”
“Then I’ll have to get it out of her, won’t I?”
She shot him a grin. “I was hoping you would. Do you plan to confront her now?”
He nodded. “It’s as good a time as any.”
“I suggest you make your way through the garden to avoid the crowd. Hop over the brick wall. That’s what we often do. Lily’s likely to be in the parlor playing marbles with Charles and Harry. Our butler, Pruitt, will let you in. He likes you.”