Page 56 of The Duchess in His Bed
“Is one?” Flo asked.
“Yes, of course.” She did not need her sister pushing back on this.
“I think it’s exciting,” Alice said, from her place beside Selena. “Think of all the books we’ll get to touch as we put them on the shelves. We’ll be building a bookshop.”
“We’re not supposed to experience any sort of excitement while in mourning,” Flo said. “It’s the reason I’m questioning it. We’re all smiling a bit too much.”
“I like to believe that Lushing would approve.” Selena gave her glove a tug, finding it easier to look at the leather than her sister’s inquisitive stare. “He enjoyed seeing us happy. He would not like for us to be unduly sad.”
“Mother, on the other hand, is probably rolling over in her grave.” Flo pursed her lips together in disapproval, before whispering harshly, “The Trewloves are all...bastards.”
“It’s not a disease, Flo,” Selena responded tartly. “It’s not going to rub off on you.”
“But to associate with them is scandalous. It could hurt our marriage prospects.”
The whole point was to improve their marriage prospects, although she couldn’t explain that to them. But before she could think of an appropriate response to put her sister’s mind at rest, Alice piped up. “It’s not their fault. Should we blame people for things that aren’t their fault?”
“I agree with Alice,” Connie said. “To a point. I’m thinking of it as research. I’ve never spoken to a lesser being before.”
“They’re not lesser,” Selena snapped, taking no pleasure in her sisters’ wide, round eyes landing on her with the full weight of their surprise.
“Have you spoken with one of them?” Flo asked cautiously.
“I attended one of their weddings, did I not?” Not that she’d spoken to any of them there as she’d not attended the breakfast following, but it was best to let her sisters draw their own conclusions. They had not attended, having not yet had their coming outs.
“What are they like?” Alice asked innocently.
“They’re people.” Selena turned her attention to the scenery beyond the window. “With dreams and ambitions. They”—make me laugh, bring me pleasure, make me forget my sorrows when I’m in Aiden’s presence—“want what we all want: to be loved, to be happy, to have shelter, food, and clothing. I think it is quite commendable that they are seeking to improve their lot in life through business. Mick Trewlove has his building empire. Finn Trewlove has his horse farm where he and his wife, Lady Lavinia, take in orphans. Their sister Gillie, who married the Duke of Thornley, has her tavern. And now this other sister will have a bookshop.”
“Then there is the Trewlove with the house of sin for ladies,” Connie said. “To be honest, I was quite intrigued by the place after hearing the ladies carrying on about it the day of the funeral. Have you been there, Selena?”
“I’m in mourning.” Not a lie, but not an answer either.
“When you are not, will you go there?”
“Perhaps we all will.” Everything depended on the state of her relationship with Aiden.
“You know an awfully lot about them,” Flo said.
“They are on everyone’s tongue. Please do be on your best behavior.” Selena needed Aiden to find them worthy. “You don’t want to embarrass Lady Aslyn when she was kind enough to offer us a reprieve from the maudlin for a while. Simply think of it as an afternoon of good works.”
She caught sight of the Trewlove Hotel first, grand and majestic, dominating the street, the neighborhood. Lushing had planned for them to spend a night in one of the well-appointed rooms upon their return to London for the Season. His appearance there would have done much to ensure other noble families visited. He’d always been humble regarding his influence but had used it where he could to the betterment of others. From afar, he’d admired Mick Trewlove for his efforts in improving areas of London. “Where others see decay, he sees the potential for brilliance,” Lushing had once told her. “We shall offer our support and hasten his acceptance among theton.” He was wont to accept those others did not.
Then she spotted the man leaning against the lamppost across the street from the hotel and all thoughts of Lushing fled her mind. The coach came to a halt, and before the footman could climb down and see to his duties, Aiden was opening the door and extending his hand to her. Even as she placed her palm against his, she feared her sisters could hear the wild pounding of her heart. He helped her disembark and then immediately reached back to assist each of the girls.
Once they were all standing on the bricked walkway outside the Fancy Book Emporium—the letters stenciled elaborately and with a flourish in gold on one of the windows—Selena said, “Mr. Trewlove, it was so thoughtful of Lady Aslyn to invite us. Allow me the honor of introducing my sisters.” Even as she knew she should be introducing him to them. He was turning her life inside out, and to be honest, she didn’t care.
“Lady Constance and Lady Florence.”
He bowed his head slightly. “Ladies, it’s my pleasure.”
“You wouldn’t know it to look at them, but they are twins.”
“Like my brother Finn and myself.” He winked. “Although we were born six weeks apart.”
“Your mother held one of you in her womb for six weeks?” Flo asked.
He grinned. “No. We have different mothers.”
