Page 98 of A Viscount's Bet of Seduction

“I’m glad,” Dinah said. “But what do you plan to do?”

Lucy sighed. “I’m going to be like Aunt Joan,” she said. “I’ll have my good friends that I’ll visit and write to. I’ll have my painting and my books. It’s going to be more than enough for me.”

Lucy didn’t know what to make of Silas’ claims that he was going to prove his love to her. She was expecting it to come to nothing. She presumed that, perhaps, he hadn’t come up with anything at all. It had been such a long time since she’d seen him. No doubt, he had forgotten it.

“Well, I count myself blessed to be considered one of that number,” Dinah said. “It’s good to see you smiling almost as you used to.”

“Yes,” Lucy agreed with a sigh. “I’m not so sad about what Silas did anymore. I’m accustomed to being unmarried. I don’t see how it would make me any happier than I am right now.” She was even more used to expecting nothing from gentlemen. It was just how they were—unreliable.

“You’ll have your painting and books,” Dinah pointed out. “Though, won’t you miss the idea of falling in love?”

“I doubt it,” Lucy said. “All that love’s brought me is heartache.”

Dinah’s brows knit together.

“Don’t worry, dear Dinah,” Lucy assured her. “I’m not embittered. I’ve just learned a very hard lesson, twice over.”

Dinah smiled, taking a sip of her tea. She seemed to journey off, in her mind.

Lucy thought of all that she did have: a comfortable home, enough money to live on, and she had good female friends—Dinah, Susan, and she had Aunt Joan. They were all dearer to her than ever. They had been there, throughout her heartbreak, and she knew that they would never allow her to be alone or want for anything.

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