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Her dismissal of the others couldn’t have been clearer. Hugs, handshakes, and well wishes were shared as the three couples and Reading took their leave. When only Ivy, Philippa, and Edward were left, an awkward silence descended.

‘Right. Well, then. I shall just…’ Ivy twisted her fingers together and began to walk toward the door, but Philippa stopped her with a gentle hand on Ivy’s arm.

‘I don’t mean to push you, Ivy. I know you wish to stay in the shadows. But when I look at you, I see a powerful woman with the skills and abilities to change this world for the better. I don’t want fear to stop you from achieving your goals.’

‘Is this my goal, Philippa? Or is it yours?’

Brava, Ivy! Standing up to Philippa. Not many have the courage to do something so frightening.

Philippa pressed her crimson lips together. ‘You are right. Perhaps this is my goal. But will you think on it, see if it might also become yours?’

Ivy blinked, swallowed, and finally tipped her chin in the smallest nod.

‘I appreciate your faith in me, Philippa. And I will consider it. Goodnight.’ When she turned to Edward, her crystal eyes carried secrets he was desperate to uncover.

‘Worthington.’ He didn’t miss that she wasn’t wishing him goodnight.

Because they would be seeing one another very soon.

If Philippa would hurry up and spit out whatever it was she needed to tell him.

As soon as Ivy shut the parlour door behind her, Philippa pulled her fan from some hidden fold in her skirts and thwacked it against her hand. ‘I have been thinking about your request.’

Edward quirked his brow. ‘What request is that?’

‘You asked if we could become friends. I told you to protect Ivy and we would see. Well. I’ve reached a decision.’

It felt like months since his conversation with Philippa in his office, but it all came rushing back. He dreaded her response. ‘And?’

‘I would not be opposed to a friendship with you. And as a friend, I have some advice.’

Edward forced his lips to refrain from twitching in a smile.

Of course, Philippa will not agree to friendship unless it serves her purposes. Well, what harm can a little advice do?

More than he thought.

‘Tell Ivy.’

His heart froze along with every muscle in his body. ‘What are you talking about?’

Philippa thwacked her fan once more, an irritated lioness flicking her tail.

‘I’m not a fool, Edward. Nor am I blind.

It’s obvious the two of you share some kind of…

understanding. I don’t know why I am cursed to be surrounded by idiots constantly succumbing to Cupid’s arrow, but in this instance, I cannot be upset.

Ivy deserves love. More than most, I’d wager. ’

‘But I do not, Philippa. Not after what I did.’ His voice broke.

‘You are a man, Edward. You make mistakes like any other man. One stupid decision does not warrant a lifetime of punishment.’

Anger rallied against his grief. ‘I rather think it does when that decision ends in someone’s death.’

She walked over to him, lifted her hand, and slapped him hard. The shock of it stunned him. He placed his hand over his cheek, not sure how to react. It was only a fraction of what he deserved, and yet he never expected the duchess to lower herself to such a display of emotion.

‘Snap out of your self-pity, Edward. You acted selfishly, yes. But I know you did not intend for it to end as it did. Until recently, I only thought of my own suffering, but I am capable of growth too, Edward. I have realised your loss was just as great as mine. You deserve love just as we all do. And I see that love in you every time you look at Ivy. As much as it pains me to pay you a compliment, you would be a good partner for her in this life. Tell her. She will understand, and perhaps that understanding will help you.’

‘Help me to what?’

‘Forgive yourself. Finally. Move forward with your life. Be happy.’

‘What about you, Philippa?’

Philippa’s smile shone as fragile as glass. ‘Oh, don’t worry about me. I have Stokes waiting at home for me. Finding new and interesting ways to annoy him brings me endless joy.’

‘What about happiness? Love?’

Philippa’s bottom lip quivered, and her cobalt eyes sparkled with unshed tears. ‘Not all of us were meant for love that lasts a lifetime. Some of us only have it for a moment. But the pain of losing it doesn’t diminish the glory.’

Taking a huge risk of losing his hand entirely, Edward reached over and squeezed Philippa’s forearm in a gesture of comfort he hoped she would receive. ‘You deserve so much more than a moment, Philippa.’

‘What we deserve and what we receive rarely balance, Edward. As someone who has lost love, it is an affront to my very being to watch another person – even if that person is you – refuse such a gift.’ Lifting her free hand, Edward flinched.

Philippa smiled as she placed it gently against the cheek still red from her slap.

‘We are friends now. As your friend, I insist you stop behaving like a complete imbecile.’ Patting him just hard enough to reignite the sharp sting in his cheek, she blinked away her earlier emotion.

‘Goodnight, Edward. I shall see myself out.’ She turned and swept out of the parlour, leaving in her wake the scent of jasmine and frankincense.

Edward was asking Ivy to face her fears, but was he brave enough to face his own?

I suppose it is time to find out.