Scandalously Yours (Hellions of High Street 1)

“I care passionately about some things,” she said in a small voice.

“Yes, abstractions and ideals.”

“And what is wrong with that?” countered Olivia, though she couldn’t quite muster any force to her challenge.

“Nothing,” replied Anna. “Except for one thing—are you happy?”

Olivia looked down at her hands, which had somehow of their own accord knotted into fists. “Not all stories have a happily ever after.”

“But they should.”

Anna’s voice was soft as a feather and yet her words settled heavily on Olivia’s heart.

“You can write whatever ending you wish to, Livvie,” insisted Anna, “if you would dare to pick up the proverbial pen and put it to paper.”

She didn’t answer, for all her clever bons mots seemed to have chosen that instant to desert her.

“Anna is right, you know,” added Caro, eschewing her usual exuberance for a more subdued tone. “If you and Wrexham are in love, what is standing in your way?”

“If.” Olivia sighed. “For a very small word, it looms very large.

“You don’t know if the earl is in love with you?”

“I—I don’t,” confessed Olivia.

“Well then…” A wicked twinkle lit in Caro’s eye. “Why don’t you ask him? I could write a sonnet containing the question.”

“Carooooo,” warned Anna.

“Oh, very well. Not a sonnet then.” A pause. “Maybe just a rhyming couplet.”

“Our sister has her own style,” pointed out Anna. “She will decide for herself how to use it.”

“If,” repeated Olivia. “If I decide to use it.”

“I hope you do,” replied Anna. “I have a feeling there are regrets hidden in the past that you’ve never shared with us. Whatever they are, don’t let them cloud the future.”

A breeze from the open window curled through the candlelight, stirring a sudden swirl of red-gold hues. “How did the two of you become so wise?” she asked, watching the colors melt away into the darkness.

Perhaps they are right—if there is a glimmer of a chance at love, why not reach out and try to grab it before it fades away to nothing?

Anna and Caro grinned at each other. “By listening to you, of course,” they chorused.

“I’m not sure that’s a very good idea. I seem to have made a hash of…of so many things.”

“Take heart,” said Anna, leaning across a stack of books to give her a hug. “You like the challenge of fixing things that aren’t right.”

“Exactly.” Caro squeezed her hand. “May I at least write a poem for the wedding ceremony?”

A laugh welled up in Olivia’s throat. “One thing is for sure, we are never at a loss for words in this family. Though at times I wonder whether it’s a curse rather than a blessing.” She blinked a tear from her lashes. “But one thing I never question is the fact that I am blessed with such wonderful sisters. What would I ever do without you two?”

“Get into even more trouble without our creative counseling,” quipped Anna.

“Or find your life frightfully flat,” suggested Caro. “You have to admit, between the three of us, life is never boring here in High Street.”

“Boring, no,” agreed Olivia. “Confusing, yes.”

“You are very good at reasoning out conundrums,” said Anna. “Indeed, you are very good at doing most anything you put your mind to.”