Chapter 20

That afternoon, Lilian found herself in the sitting room, waiting for her family to arrive. She wasn't surprised when the door opened and Frederic stepped inside.

"Do you mind if I join you?" he asked.

Her eyes lit up. "I'd hoped you would."

"You could have asked me, you know," he said, taking a seat beside her on the small sofa.

"I know, but we were out so late, I wanted to make sure you would be able to get enough sleep. I have no idea how long you were up after I went to bed."

"Not too long. Just enough to talk to Anne and do a few things in my study."

"That isn't anywhere near enough time." He chuckled.

"You have been to bed, haven't you?" She frowned.

"Why would you ask that?"

"Why won't you answer?"

Before he could find a way to dodge the question, the door swung open, and the Cooke family swept inside.

The second they were in, Matthew's eyes found Lilian and Frederic sitting beside each other. Something strange crossed his face as he studied them.

Finally, he frowned, shooting her a confused look, but she just shook her head. Lilian could only hope the smile on her face was enough to communicate how she felt and how well things had developed.

"You look well, my girl," her father said, taking his seat with a large, easy smile on his face. "Which I am very happy to see. The two of you absolutely radiate happiness, and I'm so glad married life suits you so well, but I hear you still haven't been out on the town since your wedding."

Lilian looked away. "Yes, well, we have been rather busy."

"I can understand that, and I truly do sympathize. I remember how your mother and I were shortly after our wedding, after all. However, I do think the pair of you should really try to make at least a few public appearances, before people start to worry."

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She knew well enough that no one was worried about her. It was just that they wanted to see what she was up to. The simple fact of the matter was the pair of them and their conspicuous absence were surely the subject of much gossip and speculation. She couldn't help but wonder what strange stories the ton managed to concoct in her absence. Lilian wished she could ask her parents, but she knew they would never approve of the line of questioning, far too concerned about offending her with anything she could even remotely interpret as malicious.

Frederic smiled. "I know we should, but you know how easy it is to get caught up in the life of newlyweds."

"Believe me, we can relate, but you must make more of an effort. Oh! I know!" Rachel's eyes lit up. "You were invited to the Kensingtons' next weekend as well, I'm sure." Before either of them could reply, she continued, "Of course, you were. You both know them, and with your rank, it would be an obvious insult not to invite you. Make sure you respond and let them know you can come. I think it would be just lovely to attend your first ball as a married woman together with your family."

"That's a great idea, my dear. I'm sure she would love that, and Frederic won't mind, will you, my boy?"

Lilian and Frederic shared a look before he spoke. "I suppose that does sound rather lovely. Thank you for the suggestion."

Rachel smiled. "As Lilian's mother and your mother-in-law, it is my duty to look out for the pair of you. I assume this means you'll go?"

"I will have to look at our schedules, but as long as we don't have a preexisting engagement on that day, we would be glad to." Frederic smiled.

"I should hope you can find time in your schedules even if it does take a little rearranging. After all, everyone misses you both terribly!" she gushed. "If you don't make an appearance soon, then I'm sure you will have people pounding on your door for a wellness check."

"Then it would seem we have little choice. We simply will have to find a way to make sure we can attend."

"Wonderful!" she gushed. "We will look forward to seeing you then! Have you gotten any new dresses since your wedding, darling? If you haven't, you should. You were always so fashionable. I'm sure everyone can't wait to see what you are going to wear on your first ball back after such a glorious wedding."

Lilian smiled. "I have a few new ones, but I haven't commissioned a ton. We don't go out nearly as much as I did when I was unmarried, so I didn't feel the need to buy as much as I would have before, but I do have a few pieces I am looking forward to showing off."

"Then I look forward to seeing them. Did you get them from the same shop we always used to go to together, or did you find somewhere closer to your new home?"

"I went to the usual place. She's always done good work, and I've always had a good experience there before."

They all continued to chat for a while until Frederic found a way to give Lilian and Matthew a minute alone.

"You know, I got a new painting recently," he said, to Solomon's absolute delight.

"Oh, did you?"

"Yes, my mother has always been a collector. She's a painter as well, but she prefers to keep her collection private, but I'd be happy to show you some of mine."

"Oh yes, that would be lovely." Solomon got to his feet, offering a hand to Rachel. When Lilian and Matthew didn't move, he frowned. "Aren't the two of you coming with us?"

"I've seen all of them before," Lilian said. "And it's been a while since I had some time to talk with my little brother."

Matthew rolled his eyes. "So, it would seem I can't get out of this even if I wanted to come look at the art."

"Which you don't," Lilian pointed out.

"How do you know that?"

"Because we both know you don't have an interest in art."

"How do you know I haven't developed a deep passion for it since you moved out? You have no idea what I've been up to since you left. I could have converted your room into a painting studio and completed several masterpieces of my own by now."

She turned to their parents. "Has he?"

"Not that we've noticed."

"That's what I thought."

"They don't keep tabs on everything I get up to. When was the last time you even went into her room?"

The pair hesitated. "It may have been a little while."

"That's what I thought. You have no idea what I could have done to it."

"Then when we get home, you will have to show us your workshop. Perhaps you can even invite your sister over to see it herself."

"Fine, I will. Then you will all have no choice but to believe me," Matthew called after them as the trio slipped out of the room.

Lilian grinned. "You've never even held a paintbrush, have you?"

"Not that I can recall, no."

"That's what I thought. Why did you want to go see the painting then?"

"I didn't. I just wanted to give you a bit of a hard time."

"Well, I'm glad you had your fun."

"I did," he said then he glanced around. Once he was sure they were alone, his face turned serious. "You seem different today, Lilian. Did something happen?"

She smiled. "That might be a bit of an understatement. The short version is that things are looking up. It seems like Frederic and I are finally on the same page."

"That's good to hear, but can I ask what changed?"

"A lot of things, but most of all, we finally really talked things through. I think we're going to be really happy together."

"I'm really glad to hear that. You deserve nothing less, but it still doesn't tell me anything."

Lilian couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "I suppose that's true. A lot of it doesn't feel like my story to tell, but I will say we have gone on a few late-night outings, and it has given us a chance to really get to know one another."

"That's good. Though I must admit, I'm surprised that spending time with you has led to him coming to enjoy your company more. It always had the opposite effect for me."

"Yes, well, it would seem he has far better taste than you do."

"Lucky for you." He rolled his eyes, then his expression turned serious again. "I am happy to hear that things between the two of you are going well. You deserve to be happy, and he seems like a great guy, from what I've seen."

"Thank you, and he is. I really think the two of us are going to start building a life together. What about you? How are things at home? How have things been at the balls without me there? Is Mother still up to her old tricks?"

He groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. "I don't want to even think about the balls. They truly are a circle of hell."

"That sounds ominous. Do I want to ask what happened?"

"It wasn't any one single event. In short, I am truly shocked by her ability to try and play matchmaker when I am at least five years away from being in a place where I am even ready to consider marriage."

Lilian shook her head, a teasing smile on her face. "Oh, come on now. You might think that at the moment, but I don't doubt she will do her best to find a way to make you reconsider. Just give her time."

He grimaced. "I can't imagine there is anything she could possibly say to even make me consider it for a second."

Lilian just laughed at the look of pure indignation on his face. "Relax, I'm only teasing you a little."

He scoffed, turning away from her. "Oh, sure. I'm sure it's so easy when you're not the one at the balls with her."

"It truly is! I must say, I am curious to see how she is with you, now that I can enjoy the show as a spectator."

"You are looking forward to seeing my pain, you spiteful woman."

"Perhaps a little, but don't worry. I promise to step in if I see her going too far."

"But which of us decides what constitutes as going too far?"

"I do, so I suppose you'll just have to trust me."

"That doesn't sound like a very appealing option."

"Perhaps not, but I believe it is the only option you have if you want an ally."

"I'm going to talk to Frederic. I'm sure he would be on my side."

"If it's his help you want, then maybe you should have gone to see the painting, after all."

"I tried! You stopped me!"

"Don't play that game! You didn't want to see it."

"I could have!"

"I don't believe it for a second. You might be able to convince the others of your ridiculous story, but I am not going to fall for it."

"You wound me so! I have developed a deep passion, and you have no desire to try and support and nurture it. I never expected you to be so cruel, Sister dear."

"Then perhaps you should be more observant. If you were, it might not come as such a shock that I can see through your silly, little games."

"I don't have the slightest idea what you mean. I found a new passion. How is that a game? Who knows, I could go on to be a great painter in time."

"Somehow, I doubt that."

The pair bantered for a while until their parents returned. They spent a little more time together before her family left.

Then she and Frederic found themselves alone in the sitting room together.

"Looks like we have a ball to go to," he said with a groan.

"I know," she sighed. "But maybe it won't be that bad?"

He shot her a skeptical look. "We'll see, won't we?"