“Really. Why?”
“Because you can’t run away from your feelings, Rose. Lord knows I tried. It doesn’t work. You need to sort this out and decide whether you want Evan, or Cameron, or neither.”
“But what if it’s Cameron? Papa and Mummy would never let me—”
“Nonsense. It’s your life. You have a generous dowry. You’ll want for naught, no matter whom you marry.”
“Papa could disown me. He could take away my dowry.”
“He wouldn’t do that.”
“He might.”
“I don’t think so, and even if he did, Daniel would give you a dowry.”
“Oh, I could never—”
“Hush. It’s unlikely it would come to that,” Lily said. “The fact remains that you need to work this out. And if you stay, you’ll be here when I return and we can spend the summer together!”
“Don’t you want to spend the summer with your new husband?”
“Of course. But he sees to estate matters during the mornings. That leaves me free to spend time with you.”
Rose sighed. “All right. I’ll stay. My, what have I done?”
“You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“I’ve been compromised, Lily.”
“Yes, but no one knows, and Cameron won’t tell anyone.”
“No, I don’t think he will. I think he…cares for me.”
“Of course he does. Anyone could see it from the moment he first laid eyes on you.”
Rose smiled. “I felt something the first time I saw him too. It was a…well, almost a stab, in my…you know.”
“Yes, in your womb.” Lily smiled. “I know the feeling well.”
“And then, last night, he did something to me, with his fingers. It made me feel… I’m not sure I can describe it, except that it was the most sensational feeling ever. Something I never imagined.”
Lily giggled. “It’s called a climax, dear. It’s heavenly, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Rose sighed. “Yes. Have you ever…with anyone other than Daniel?”
“No. He’s the only one who made me come.”
“Come?”
“That’s just another word for it.”
“Oh.” Rose warmed and her insides tingled. “How can you talk about these things so nonchalantly? I don’t feel at all like a lady right now.”
“Of course you’re a lady. Ladies can enjoy the bedchamber as much as gentlemen can, Rose.”
“Still, it makes me feel a bit…wicked.”
“Rose, need I remind you that you aren’t the same person you were before we came to Laurel Ridge. You’ve engaged in some scandalous behavior since we’ve been here. We got foxed together celebrating my betrothal, and you punched a woman in the nose.”