Relief flooded Venetia, along with a poignant gratitude that her sister had not adopted their parents’ rigid coldness.
Ophelia drew back, her expression mournful. “Can you ever forgive me for shunning you?”
“Of course I can forgive you. You were only obeying Mama and Papa.”
“But I was horrid to you. I never even met with you as you asked me to. Mama and Papa were adamant that you were to be cast out of our family. I am so very sorry, Venetia. I should have had the courage to rebel as you did.” Ophelia hugged her hard again. “I have missed you so much,” she repeated fervently, her declaration almost a sob.
Venetia felt tears well in her own eyes. “And I, you.”
“You must have been so lonely.”
Indeed she had been. “Yes, but that is all over now.”
She returned her sister’s embrace fiercely and found herself openly weeping at the release of her great fear.
Realizing Ophelia was now crying inconsolably, though, she fought for control. “This will never do, Phee. Our reunion should be a happy occasion.”
“Yes, you are r-right.”
With a shuddering breath, Ophelia pulled back and went to her bureau to fetch two handkerchiefs, one of which she handed to Venetia. When they began sniffing and drying their eyes in unison, they both gave watery laughs.
Linking arms, they moved over to the chaise and settled there as they had so many times when they were girls. For a time they spoke of less consequential matters before returning to the heart of their estrangement.
“I feared you might think I had stolen your beau by marrying Traherne,” Venetia said tentatively.
“Oh, I was angry for an instant,” Ophelia replied, “but not terribly. From your letters, I knew you were worried for me.”
“I didn’t want you to make the same mistake I made, falling in love with a libertine.”
Ophelia smiled. “There was little danger of that. I was always nervous around Lord Traherne. He is too clever for me by half and a bit overwhelming. From the first, I could tell he was not interested in romance. He was never the least amorous. But until now, I never understood why he showed me such favoritism. His attentions would make sense if he was only helping me for your sake, Venetia.”
“Still, I am sorry to have blighted your hopes of marrying an earl.”
“It was Mama who harbored such fanciful dreams for me.” A mischievous glint shone in Ophelia’s eyes as she sighed theatrically. “It would have been pleasant to live on a great estate with servants and lovely clothes and jewels, but I doubt Lord Traherne would actually have wed me. I am very glad for you, though. But why did you marry him, Venetia? I would have thought he was too much like Ackland for your tastes.”
“It seemed the only way to avoid further scandal after I was suspected of shooting him.”
Her sister’s eyes widened. “But you did not shoot him, did you? The rumors were many.”
“No. His assailant is still at large.”
Ophelia frowned. “How disturbing.”
“Indeed, it is.”
“Does your presence here now mean that you have mended fences with Mama and Papa?”
Venetia responded with a wry smile. “Regrettably, no. I doubt they will ever forgive me.”
Ophelia made a face. “Mama especially was outraged by what she terms your public shaming. She believes you willfully sullied your reputation and left us the object of speculation and pity. I understood why you balked, however. Honorable gentlemen do not parade their doxies in front of respectable folk, and certainly they do not flaunt their indiscretions shortly before the wedding ceremony. You would have been miserable as Ackland’s wife. I trust you are not too unhappy with Traherne.”
“Strangely enough, I am not unhappy in the least.”
Venetia saw no point in elaborating just now about her agreement with Quinn to go their separate ways.
“Of course,” Ophelia went on, “Mama will disregard her objections now that you are a countess. She will see Traherne as the best way to recoup our social fortunes.”
“Luckily, he agrees. And we both believe my new rank should aid in finding you a good match. I promise I will do everything in my power to help you, Phee. And Traherne’s sister, Lady Skye, now Lady Hawkhurst, and his cousin Lady Katharine will lend their influence also.”