“Yet, somehow, he loved me. He had seen things in me that I did not see even in myself. I loved him, of course. He was so handsome. Do not tell my daughter this but she takes her good looks from him. She has always been convinced that she looks after me and I cannot bring myself to tell her that her father was always more handsome than I.
“But in any case. I did love him. He was gentle and kind, witty, and excellent at riding and dancing. I couldn’t fathom that a man such as that could love me in return. I resigned myself, therefore, to simply be content to be his wife and to have him near me, even if I did not have his love.
“And you know, the man seemed determined to prove me wrong. He would arrange for my favorite flowers to be sent to me. He would purchase me gifts when he went out, little ribbons and baubles and such. He consulted me about all matters and seemed to truly value my opinion. When he was away he would write me such long letters—the whole bundle of them seemed to weigh a pound!
“After about a year of this, my poor suffering husband came home, and presents me with this beautiful pearl necklace. I was quite astonished, for I knew that it must have cost him dear and should make me quite the envy of all the ladies at the next ball.
“I burst into tears.” Aunt Jane chuckled at herself, shaking her head. “You see my father was a good man in many respects but he was not faithful to my mother. Oh, we all knew it, though no one spoke of it. Every time he broke one of his marriage vows he would gift her with some truly astonishing jewelry. It was his way of absolving his guilt.
“So when my Harold brought me the necklace, I was sure that it meant he had strayed. I could not bear it, for though I knew he did not return my love I had also thought that he was a good man who would stay faithful.
“The idea of him betraying our marriage broke me, and I simply cried my eyes out. The poor man was so confused! He asked if I did not like pearls, if I was with child and therefore temperamental, if I was sick and needed care.
“Finally I got round to telling him why I was so upset. You should have seen his face!” Aunt Jane laughed heartily. “I had never seen the man more surprised!”
Aunt Jane sobered up. “More than that, though, my dear, he was appalled. I could see it in his eyes.
“He knelt before me and took my hand. I shall never forget that moment. He looked at me—and for the first time I saw it. I suppose that he had been looking at me like that the entire time but I hadn’t seen it until that moment.
“He looked up at me and said, ‘Darling’. He called me that you know but I had never heard it with such reverence. ‘Darling’, he said, ‘How is it that you can doubt my utter devotion to you?’
“I responded that his devotion to a wife he did not love must naturally be suspect. A man’s loyalty to a wife he loves is one thing. Loyalty to a woman he has married for the sanctity of marriage, a wife he respects well enough but does not love—what can be expected of him then?
“My husband was appalled, and rightly so. I don’t think it had occurred to him in that moment that I did not know that he loved me. I had certainly never voiced my thoughts aloud. It was not my place and it was, or so I supposed, so obvious that there was no point in speaking of it.
“He took me into his arms and—well. I won’t tell you what he said or did in that moment. I must have some secrets.” Aunt Jane winked at her. “But I remember realizing, oh. He is in love with me, as I am in love with him. What a fool I was not to see it.”
Aunt Jane reached over to a small red velvet box that she had been carrying with some of her luggage. She placed her hand over it and Regina knew without a moment’s doubt that the pearl necklace was inside.
“Will you be wearing it tonight?” She asked.
Aunt Jane nodded. “I always wear it on special occasions. I get out so rarely now. Whenever I do, I feel as though he is with me.”
Regina supposed that was why Aunt Jane had told her that story. She was feeling nostalgic and missing her husband. If only Regina should be so lucky as to find someone who loved her in that way.
Aunt Jane sighed, as though she had fired an arrow and it had missed its mark. Then she perked up, peering through the window. “Oh! Lovely sight, is it not? I always feel my heart swell when I see it. Of course that is largely because I know my daughter resides within.”
Regina peered through the window as well and saw indeed that they were approaching the Morrison estate. There was no turning back now. In a few short hours, she would be seated at the card table.
Time to shove all thoughts of romance and Lord Harrison and daydreams out of her head. She could not be Regina the girl right now.
She had to be Regina the card player.
Chapter 30
The moment Regina stepped out of the carriage she was assaulted.
“She is here!” Natalie cried out.
All at once Regina was being picked up and swung around, causing her to let out a shriek. “This is quite undignified!” She protested. They were not children, after all.
“I shall greet my darling sister however I please,” Bridget said, setting Regina down.
Regina could not contain her joy. It suddenly felt as though her heart would burst. “Bridget!”
Her eldest sister smiled down at her, eyes wet and smile wide and warm. “My darling.”
They hugged fiercely, and Regina had to admit that she clung to her sister a little more tightly than usual. Unlike Bridget, she knew how this evening was going to end: with her sister engaged to Lord Harrison.
When they pulled back Regina was tugged from behind and turned to be pulled right into the arms of Louisa. “And how are you, Regina?” Louisa asked, her voice as gentle as ever.
Regina hugged her back. She hadn’t realized how much she missed her other sister and her gentle presence until that moment. “I am quite well. I hope it is the same with you.”
“As well as can be expected,” Louisa said, pulling back with a smile.
Regina took in her sister’s wan appearance. She then looked at all of her other sisters.
Natalie looked as though she had not slept in some time. It was the same with Bridget. Louisa seemed pale. Elizabeth seemed healthy, but her mouth was drawn into a tight, unhappy line.
“Has there been more ill news?” Regina asked.
The sisters all looked at one another, and then shook their heads.
“None that we did not anticipate,” Bridget said. “Come. Walk with me.”
They turned to take a small turn about the drive, Bridget’s arm linked with Regina’s.
The other three turned to help Aunt Jane out of the carriage and then lead her up to the house, where Regina could see the Morrisons waiting with open arms.
“Mr. Denny has proposed to Elizabeth,” Bridget said quietly.
“Does she care for him? Or was it out of necessity?”
“She does care for him. I think that she has rather surprised herself with the force of her affection. Once she was forced to spend time with him I think she found that she liked him rather more than she had expected, and that she had formed ill judgment on him based on presumptions.”
“Yet she does not seem happy.”
“She is worried for the rest of us. She was with Louisa when Louisa was discussing things with Mr. Fairchild.”