Page 84 of To Treasure an Heiress
“That’s hardly the only thing that matters.” The words were out of Beth’s mouth before she could think to stop them. And the interjection somehow—perhaps miraculously—managed to silence the sisters. Beth lifted her chin a few degrees. “With all due respect, Lady Abbie, Libby and Sheridan can scarcely tolerate each other. Is that really what you’d wish for your brother? A match that looks perfect in the society pages but results in a marriage in which he and his wife are always at cross-purposes? They both deserve better than that.”
The buildings of Hugh Town were crowding around them now, but the Howe ladies weren’t looking at the charming shops or the other tourists. No, they were both staring at her as if she were a particularly daring gown illustrated in their fashion magazine—interesting, but perhaps a bit scandalous.
Millicent gave her parasol a little twirl. “I suppose you’ll say Lady Elizabeth has found that ‘better’ with your brother.”
“She has.” No room for debate on that, as she’d be happy to proclaim to absolutely anyone. “She’s found a place for herself in the islands—she’s flourishing here, and everyone adores her. She and Oliver complement and complete each other. I think you’ll agree within minutes of seeing them. And Sheridan deserves the same, doesn’t he? Someone who appreciates him for all of who he is, including the things about which he’s so passionate.”
“He certainly does.” Abbie let out a breath that crossed a huff with a sigh. “I’m sure you’re right, dear. Lady Elizabethlookedlike a perfect match on the surface, but how many times have we mourned her lack of fashion sense, Millicent?”
The younger sister laughed. “And the girl hasn’t the gumption to ever squeak a protest when you start lecturing her on it either.”
Beth shook her head. “She’s learned a bit of that since she’sbeen here too. Though she is certainly a seeker of peace—a quality I appreciate.”
Abbie granted it with a tilt of her head. Or dismissed it, Beth couldn’t be certain which. “She is a peculiar girl. You ought to see the ... theapparatusin her bedroom at the cottage!”
Beth blinked at her for a moment before realization dawned and came with a laugh. “You mean her microscope?”
Abbie waved a hand. “Whatever it’s called. It looks positively dreadful with all those knobs and mirrors and tubes and trays.”
“Well, it helped us locate a bit of pirate treasure last month, so don’t be surprised if your brother decides he must have one for himself.”
Millicent chuckled now too. “I see you’ve come to know Theo well. Tell me, Miss Tremayne—you’ve seen clearly that Lady Elizabeth doesn’t fully appreciate him, but what doyouthink of our brother?”
She could only hope her face didn’t go all dreamy, as Senara and Em both joked happened every time she thought of him lately. “I think there’s no other person in the world quite like him.” She looked from one sister to the other, noting not only the characteristics that were obvious to the eye, but what she was sure Ollie would have seen, were he here. “And I think he was very blessed to have sisters like you. It was an amazingly selfless thing you chose to do, putting your own lives on hold to raise him.”
She had assumed before meeting them that these spinster sisters had probably always been destined to remain single, but that assumption—a rather ridiculous one for her to have made in general—flew to pieces upon meeting them. They were all the things society best loved: blue-blooded, wealthy, beautiful, fashionable. They could have had their pick of matches, if their parents’ deaths hadn’t interrupted what would have been their first Seasons.
Millicent smiled. Abbie sniffed. “There are those who say we ruined him.”
“Then they’re fools.”
“Oh, I like this one, Millicent.” Abbie winked at her sister around Beth. “You’re obviously a young lady of taste. Which we knew the moment we saw you. All elegance and ease, isn’t she?”
“I do love that color.” Millicent brushed an appreciative hand over the pale blue of Beth’s sleeve. “In general, but most especially on you, my dear. You’ve the complexion for it.”
“And the lacework of this shawl!” Abbie touched a finger to the heather blue wrap that was folded over Beth’s arm. Out on the water, the early morning air had made it a welcome addition, but once she’d been walking about on land, she hadn’t needed it.
Though even glancing down at it made her smile. “Thank you. My grandmother made it. She has a true talent for knitting lace.”
“It’s stunning. Where did she find the pattern? I do a bit of knitting myself, though I’ve never attempted anything so intricate.”
“Oh, she creates her own patterns. Each of her pieces is unique.”
Abbie’s eyes went wide. “That makes it even more stunning. I’m an absolute dunce about that sort of thing. I can follow a pattern, but if it requires creativity, I am guaranteed to make a mess of it.”
They were walking through the heart of the village now, so Beth decided she may as well start playing tour guide, pointing out the Polmers’ bakery, the hat shop above which Lady Emily was currently staying, and a few other shops she thought might interest them. They nodded along, interjected a mild exclamation now and then, but Beth found it interesting—and endearing—that their loudest exclamation was over theNaiadwhen they saw Mr. Pepper loading the trunk onto it.
“Oh, that is the most beautiful sloop I’ve ever seen! It’s yours, dear?”
Beth nodded to Millicent’s question, unable to keep from smiling. “Isn’t she lovely? My uncle crafted her, and a matching one for his daughter, named theMermaid.”
“I see talent runs in your family. You uncle is a true artist.” Millicent stepped over to view the sloop from a different angle, then turned bright eyes on her sister. “You know what Theo should do?”
“Commission one for our lake at home. I completely agree. We’ll have to recommend it to him.”
What a family these three were. Beth chuckled as she stooped down to pick up a shell with a lovely pattern of pink and white that Mamm-wynn would appreciate. “You’re too late. He already has.” She gave the pug a pet while she was on its level and then stood again, saying, when Abbie gave the shell in her hand an odd look, “Oh, for my grandmother. I always bring her a little something back whenever I’m away from her. Just a silly tradition.”
Abbie’s face moved into an expression that Beth didn’t quite know the name for. “How absolutely lovely.”
