Chapter Nine

A s Lyric climbed the stairs, a sudden rush of emotions ran through her.

Something was wrong with Allegra . . .

Growing in the womb together had formed an unbreakable bond between the twins, and they often finished one another's sentences. They could communicate with a look between them, no spoken words necessary. Instinct now told Lyric that something terrible had happened to her twin. She rushed the remaining way to their shared bedchamber and flung open the door.

Allegra sat on the bed, staring into space. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying.

She moved to the bed and sat upon it, her arm going about her sister. Allegra rested her head against Lyric's shoulder, and they sat in silence for many minutes.

Allegra finally lifted her head and looked into Lyric's eyes. "Sterling does not love me," she said dully.

If she thought she had hurt before, Lyric ached even more now, seeing her twin suffering so.

Taking Allegra's hands in her own, she said, "Can you tell me about it?"

"I can—simply because it is you. I can never tell anyone else what passed between us."

Allegra burst into tears, which caused her to do the same. They wrapped their arms about one another and cried for several minutes. Finally, Allegra pulled away, wiping her tears with the backs of her hands.

"We did things we should not have done," her sister began. "Intimate things."

Guilt rushed through her, and Lyric knew her cheeks heated at that comment. She hoped that Allegra would not notice. She wasn't certain just how much she was willing to share with her twin.

"You warned me about him. I should have listened to you," Allegra said bitterly.

"Tell me what you can," she encouraged.

"Everyone went their separate ways. We remained in the drawing room. When I think now that anyone might have come in and seen us in such a compromising position..." Her voice trailed off. Then Allegra sighed. "Thank goodness no one did. Because I would not want to be chained to such an unfeeling rake for a lifetime of misery."

They sat again in silence for some minutes before Allegra spoke up again.

"He kissed me the way he has before. The way that makes me throw all caution to the wind. I lose myself in him, Lyric. Sterling's kisses take me to a different place, where time does not exist."

Her twin paused, swallowing visibly. "I do not wish to talk of the rest. Only that he... touched me... intimately. Where only a husband touches his wife. Thank goodness, we did not do more than we did. If we had coupled—if I had become with child—frankly, I do not know if he would have done the right thing and wed me. And I don't know if I had become with child if I would agree to wed him after what he said to me."

Sympathy filled Lyric. "What did he say?"

"It wasn't what he said. It is what he could not say." Tears swam in Allegra's eyes. "He does not love me. He told me it was my choice to do the things we did together tonight. I did them willingly, only because I love him." She corrected herself. "Loved him. I cannot love a man who only loves himself."

"Did he offer for you?" she asked, think how Allegra's experience echoed that of her own.

Her twin nodded. "I do think in his own way, Sterling believes he has changed. Enough so that he was willing to marry me. But when talk turned to love? It was as if I were speaking a foreign tongue to him, one which he could never learn, much less understand."

Lyric could believe how similar tonight had gone for the both of them. The same thing had occurred at the exact time. The men they had loved with all their hearts had dashed the Strong sisters' hearts. She doubted either of them would ever be the same.

"I broke all ties with him," Allegra continued. "Before Pippa and Georgie wed for love, I would have been happy with the arrangement Sterling offered. It would have been physically satisfying to the both of us. But after seeing our cousins—even James and now Aunt Dinah—be so completely happy, I knew that I could not settle for anything less."

Allegra touched her fingers to Lyric's cheek, concern suddenly filling her face. "I have prattled on and on, but your eyes are too swollen for them to be simply from tears you have shed with me now, Lyric. What happened to you and Lord Blankenship?"

"I will repeat what you have shared with me," she said sadly. "We walked in the gardens, and I suspected he would offer for me." She blushed. "We also exchanged... intimate touches. Ones I am sure you are familiar with now because of Lord Carroll."

Lyric swallowed painfully. "Silas did ask me to marry him, and in my enthusiasm, I blurted out how much I loved him. He looked as if I had slapped him. It was the same song—only a different verse. He told me we had passion, and that would be enough for a solid marriage. We could build something special that other couples of the ton do not have. But he let me know he could never love me."

Her voice broke on that last word, and she began sobbing. Her twin wrapped her arms about Lyric, and the two of the wept for the loves they had lost tonight.

When their tears were finally spent, Allegra looked at Lyric determinedly.

"We cannot let these two rogues ruin our lives."

"Silas already has ruined mine," she said quietly. "I love him more than I ever thought possible, Allegra. I do not see myself ever feeling the same about another man."

"I feel the same way about Sterling," her sister confessed. "That does not mean we cannot find love in the future, though. We are raw and bruised at this point. What we must do now is hold our heads high. Continue with the house party."

"How?" she cried. "How can we see the two of them? I would hope the pair would be off to town in the morning and not even show their faces."

"Sterling will try and win me back," Allegra said matter-of-factly. "I can tell he is a man who does not ever like to lose. Leaving Shadowcrest will be the last thing on his mind. However, I plan to stand strong. I will refuse to be alone with him again. you and I must put on a brave face for the sake of our guests, Lyric."

"Why?" she asked, doubting Silas would remain. She had made it perfectly clear she wished to have nothing to do with him ever again. If he had any sense or decency, he would leave first thing tomorrow.

"Although this house party is in our honor, it has brought other couples together," Allegra explained. "Look at how Lord Tillings lights up whenever Miss Bancroft enters the room. And despite her plain features, Miss Bancroft transforms when she smiles at the viscount. I doubt they ever would have discovered one another during the Season, but Aunt Dinah's house party has brought them together."

She nodded. "I agree. I do see Lady Lida and Miss Markle possibly forming attachments with Lord Motley and Lord Lamkin. You are right. We cannot mope about. Nor can we ask our guests to leave. We must give a chance for these other romances to play out. I assume Lord Tillings will announce his betrothal to Miss Bancroft by the party's conclusion. It is a strong possibility another engagement might also be forthcoming."

Lyric drew in a long breath and expelled it slowly. "It is going to take every ounce of courage the two of us possess in order to keep going, however. I will make certain to keep Lord Carroll away from you."

"And if Lord Blankenship decides to stay, I will do the same for you," Allegra promised.

"We must make Aunt Dinah aware of what has happened," she insisted. "Hopefully, she might structure the remaining activities so that we will not have to partner with either of them."

"I will speak to her after breakfast tomorrow morning."

"We should try and get some sleep," Lyric said. "It is late. I would prefer not to ring for a maid."

They assisted one another in getting ready for bed. They climbed into the bed they had shared for so many years, both lying on their backs, linking their fingers together. Lyric lay awake for a long time, finally drifting off to sleep.

*

The next morning, they dressed in silence. Lyric noted both of their eyes were no longer swollen. If they had been, she would have insisted they breakfast in their bedchamber.

They waited until ten o'clock to go down to the dining room, both hoping they would avoid the earl and viscount. Fortunately, neither was present at the table. Only a handful remained, the others having breakfasted earlier.

She engaged Miss Bancroft's aunt in conversation. The querulous woman had a bevy of complaints regarding her health, and Lyric listened with only half an ear, nodding sympathetically and murmuring every now and then. She saw her twin sitting with Lord Motley and Lord and Lady Crowell.

Aunt Dinah entered the room and informed them, "The gentlemen will be hunting in the forest this afternoon. Caleb will be taking them out at noon. In the meantime, easels will be set up with blank canvases, giving the ladies an opportunity to paint this afternoon."

"Where will this take place, Aunt Dinah?" Lyric asked.

"Down by the lake," her aunt replied. "That way, if you wish to paint the water, you may. Or you can turn your easel and paint the surrounding landscape and flowers. I know Miss Markle and Miss Bancroft have gone to my sitting room to write letters this morning. You might wish to join them there."

"I will do so know," she said, knowing Allegra would be sharing with their aunt what had transpired last night. Her twin would not give any details regarding the intimacies they had both exchanged with these selfish lords, only that an irreparable break had occurred between both couples, and they would wish to avoid the two gentlemen as much as possible.

"Shall we go to Aunt Dinah's sitting room?" she asked Miss Bancroft.

"No, I feel a headache coming on," the older woman proclaimed. "Both talk and the smell of paints will only exacerbate it. I plan to remain in my room today."

"I am sorry to hear that. I hope your headache will pass quickly."

Lyric thought that best. The younger Miss Bancroft became reticent anytime her aunt was nearby. Having the chaperone gone would allow her new friend to shine around others. She excused herself and went to Aunt Dinah's sitting room, where she found Miss Bancroft and Miss Markle working on their letters.

"Ah, Miss Lyric, I am so glad you could join us," Miss Bancroft said. "Did you hear that we are to paint today?"

Lyric couldn't help but chuckle. "Attempt to paint is more like it in my case," she revealed. "My cousin Mirella is quite good at painting and pursues it weekly. She can paint both still lifes and landscapes, and she has just begun trying to paint portraits, as well."

"She sounds most talented," Miss Markle said. "I am sorry your cousin did not stay for the house party."

"Mirella was to have made her come-out this past Season."

Lyric explained how Mirella had slipped in Hyde Park and broken her arm in two places.

"Why, that must have been so painful!" Miss Markle exclaimed.

"It was. Mirella had to wear a plaster on her arm from the spring into the summer in order to allow her bones to heal properly. More than anything, my cousin enjoys dancing. The doctor forbade her from doing any during the Season because of the heaviness of the plaster. She preferred to make her debut next spring. Because she was not out yet, she did not feel it right to be present at the house party."

"I believe someone mentioned that she went with your aunt to tour the Lake District?"

"Yes, along with my youngest cousin Effie and her governess. They are visiting friends of Aunt Matty's and also touring several houses in the area."

"I think that would be a lovely trip," Miss Bancroft said. "I have never had the opportunity to do much traveling."

"Where are you from, Miss Bancroft?" Miss Markle asked. "It has never come up."

"My father's country estate is in Somerset. While it is quite beautiful there, the only place I have been is there and to town for the Season. I was happy to receive the duke and duchess' invitation to this house party in order to be able to visit Kent, as well as hopefully make new friends."

Miss Bancroft smiled shyly at both of them, and Miss Markle said, "Well, I for one, am delighted to have made your acquaintance, Miss Bancroft. I hope that our friendship will continue beyond this house party. I was raised with Lida because my parents died when I was quite young. Lida is my closest friend. While I had hoped to form other friendships during my come-out this past Season, I found it to be more of a.... competition."

Miss Markle frowned. "No one seemed to wish to be friends. All they wanted was to land a husband. And I didn't find any of the men there appealing."

"But you are enjoying the company of the gentlemen invited to this house party, aren't you?" Lyric asked.

Miss Markle's cheeks pinkened. "It is no secret that I have been drawn to Lord Lamkin. While it is still early, I am appreciative that we have more time left to get to know one another."

She looked to Miss Bancroft. "And what of you, Miss Bancroft? Are you finding the company at Shadowcrest pleasant?"

Miss Bancroft's face flamed. "I do believe you are teasing me, Miss Lyric. I am certain it is obvious that I have enjoyed time spent with Viscount Tillings. Why, he is so intelligent and extremely kind. For some reason, he enjoys my company, as well."

"Do not underestimate yourself, Miss Bancroft. I believe you have quite a bit to offer a gentleman. Why, I suspect you will leave Shadowcrest betrothed to Lord Tillings."

Lyric did not think the young woman's face could get any redder, but it did.

The door opened, and Aunt Dinah and Allegra entered, along with Lady Lida and her mother.

Aunt Dinah's gaze fixed upon Lyric as the three other women took a seat. "May I speak with you, Lyric?" she asked.

Rising, she excused herself and retreated from the room with her aunt. Allegra stayed behind in order to entertain their guests.

Her aunt led them to the library, which was empty. Closing the door, Aunt Dinah enveloped Lyric in an embrace. She could feel the love and concern pouring from her aunt into her, bolstering her.

Aunt Dinah withdrew. "Allegra has shared with me the outcome of last evening. I am very sorry, Lyric. I had thought you and Lord Blankenship would be an excellent match. I also had high hopes for Allegra and Lord Carroll. Allegra told me that both men offered for each of you."

"Yes, Aunt Dinah, they did. Perhaps we are being foolish, throwing away the opportunity to wed titled gentlemen. I know Lord Blankenship and Lord Carroll believe we are. In our hearts, though, a physical attraction—great as it is—is not a good enough reason to wed."

"But you do have other things in common with the viscount, don't you?" her aunt pressed.

"We are perfectly suited in every way, other than the fact I love him will all my heart—and he does not possess one."

Aunt Dinah slipped a hand around Lyric's and squeezed it. "You love him, Lyric. Do you think he could grow to love you?"

She shook her head vigorously. "No, he made his feelings on that topic perfectly clear. He explained it would be a good marriage, but he would never give way to love."

Aunt Dinah squeezed her hand again and released it. "I understand. I respect the decision you and Allegra have made. I will do my best to keep you apart from these gentlemen for the remainder of the house party. Hopefully, one or both will find it necessary to leave Shadowcrest. Will you try to come and paint with the other ladies this afternoon?"

"I will come, Aunt, and put on a happy face. I do like all the ladies you have invited to Shadowcrest and am forming friendships with them all."

"Very well," her aunt said. "I will see you by the lake at noon then."

Lyric remained in the library, wondering how long she would be able to avoid Silas.