A Scot to the Heart (Desperately Seeking Duke #2) - Caroline Linden Page 0,61
offered to smuggle him home for us in his baggage.”
“Has he?”
“He’s a great one,” replied Winnie. “I’m so glad Drew invited him.” She made a face at Ilsa’s surprised look. “We’ve known Alex Kincaid for years. The Kincaids used to live near us, and he and Drew were at school together. They still play golf.”
“And won’t let us play with them!” Bella sounded outraged.
Ilsa laughed. A moth had flown in the window and the kitten spotted it; he began leaping about, trying to catch it. Bella wiggled the bit of yarn again, and he instantly abandoned the moth to pounce.
“We wanted to ask your advice on a”—Winnie glanced at her sister—“a delicate subject.”
Bella plunked the kitten into her lap, where he rolled into a ball and let her stroke under his chin. “Very delicate. It concerns . . . a family member of ours.”
Ilsa tensed very slightly. “Does it? I’m not sure—”
“But it’s about marriage, and you’ve been married, and we’ve not,” said Winnie in a rush. “And we can’t ask Mama, obviously, because she would tell us not to interfere—”
“That’s good advice,” murmured Ilsa.
Bella made a face. “Listen before you advise! Please, Ilsa?” She offered the kitten, smiling brightly.
Ilsa took the ball of black fur in both hands. Cyrus was purring loudly, and when she settled him in her lap he began flexing his tiny paws against her stomach. His eyes closed and a little pink tongue poked out of his mouth. She couldn’t help smiling. “All right. What is the problem?”
“Our—our family member has formed an attachment. The trouble is, it’s not going well,” said Bella, shooting little glances at her sister every few words. “We are not sure why, as our family member has not seen fit to confide in either of us, even though we both devoutly want nothing but their happiness.”
I wonder why not, thought Ilsa. These two were interfering busybodies.
“Everyone can see that the attraction is strong on both sides,” Winnie put in. “They can hardly keep their eyes off each other, especially this week.”
Ilsa’s hand paused mid-stroke, self-conscious. “This week?”
Winnie nodded, watching her too closely for comfort. “Everyone can clearly see how much these two ought to be together—”
“Only they are both being so dense about it!” burst in Bella.
Oh Lord, what should she say? “That’s often how it goes. Attachments”—she almost choked on the word, praying desperately they were speaking of Agnes and Mr. Duncan and not her and the captain—“attachments are delicate matters. One party may not be sure their affection is returned, making them reserved, which renders the other party shy, as well.”
Winnie inched forward on her cushion. “What could we do to nudge one of them—”
“Or both of them,” said Bella.
“—to admit the depth of their feelings and proceed to the proposal and wedding?”
Ilsa blinked, and Bella choked on a giggle.
“Are you certain they care that deeply for each other?”
“Yes.” Winnie nodded confidently.
“How did you know Mr. Ramsay was the one, when you married before?” Bella asked.
Ilsa’s hand slowed and stopped, resting lightly on Cyrus’s back. When Papa told me he was. “I suspect it’s different every time,” she said, keeping her tone even. “And while it may be obvious to you, dear matchmakers, it may not be to either of them. The course of true love never does run smooth.”
She told herself they must be speaking of Agnes and Mr. Duncan. The looks those two exchanged fairly singed the air—sometimes with dislike, sometimes with longing. It was only her guilty conscience that made her even suspect Winnie and Bella might have their brother in mind. How could they have gone from witnessing one reckless kiss to maneuvering to arrange a marriage between her and Drew? Of course they had not. They wanted him to marry a sophisticated woman who would take them to London for a glorious Season. They had a book listing the most eligible women in Britain to choose from.
She ought to feel very relieved, and yet did not.
And now she’d let herself be maneuvered into offering advice on Agnes’s love life, which she had sworn to avoid. “Your best choice is to be a kind and loyal sister to this family member, and trust that they will know what’s best for their own life.”
Both of them looked let down. “But what if hardheadedness or—or hurt feelings cause the other party to walk away?” Bella exclaimed. “Most people don’t wish to pine away of love forever, you know.”