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“Not nearly as much as I have missed you.” She kissed her sister’s cheek and hugged her again.

Lucy stepped back, gesturing to her husband, who stepped forward. “Dru, this is my husband, Lord Huntsberry.”

She saw the love her sister had for this man shining in her eyes, and immediately knew she would like him simply because he made Lucy happy.

Dru curtseyed. “My lord.”

“Oh, none of that,” Huntsberry proclaimed. “We are quite informal with family. I am Judson.” He wrapped his arms about her and hugged her. “Lucy and I are delighted you agreed to come and stay with us.”

“I am grateful for the invitation, Judson.” It sounded odd to call a lord she had just met by his Christian name, but he was her host and family now, as well.

“Come here,” Ariadne said, holding out her arms.

She greeted her cousin, who was even more beautiful than she had been as a child. “It is good to see you, Cousin Ariadne.”

“This is Lord Aldridge, my husband,” Ariadne said, pride in her voice and love in her eyes. “Call him Julian.”

Dru saw it was true—both her sister and cousin had made love matches. She was happy for them.

Julian embraced her, as well. “Welcome to Surrey, Dru. And don’t think you have to spend all your time at Huntsworth. Aldridge Manor is only but a couple of miles away. Ariadne and I hope you will come and stay with us a while, as well.”

“Where is Penelope?” she asked, curious to see how he would respond after what Con had told her.

The marquess’ face lit up. “She is napping, else I would have brought her to meet you. In fact,” he said, turning to his wife, “we should have Dru over for tea tomorrow. That way, she can see our estate and meet her little cousin.”

“Speaking of tea,” Lucy said. “Why don’t you all come inside for some?”

“I asked Mrs. Worth to have us served on the terrace, love,” Judson said.

Dru caught the endearment, as well as the tone her brother-in-law used in addressing Lucy. She saw her sister smile at her husband. Any doubts she’d had about their sudden union were totally dispelled. They were obviously deeply in love.

“Do you wish to freshen up a bit?” Lucy asked. “I will have Annie unpack your things while we are at tea. Come, let me take you to your room first. Ariadne, if you will see everyone to the terrace?”

“Of course, Lucy,” their cousin replied.

She accompanied her sister upstairs. Lucy took her to a large bedchamber done in shades of the palest green, with accents of daffodil yellow.

“This is beautiful,” she said, seeing her trunk already sitting at the foot of the large bed. She also saw Toby’s basket and heard his low growls. Opening the basket, the cat sprang from it and curled up on the bed next to the pillows.

Taking Lucy’s hands, she added, “I am so happy for you. I have never seen you so relaxed and joyful.”

Her sister grinned. “Marriage to Judson suits me.” She paused. “In fact, I wanted to tell you while we are alone that I am expecting a babe.”

“Oh, Lucy!” she cried, hugging her sister tightly. “That is marvelous news.”

“I wanted you to know before anyone else. Now that you do, I will tell the others at tea.” She placed her hands on her belly.

“This is something I have always wanted, even more so now that I am wed to Judson. I always wanted to be a mother, but now I am blessed to have Judson as my husband and father to our children. He is such a good man, Dru. He understands me so well. Our love grows daily.”

Taking Lucy’s hands in hers, she said, “I am thankful you found one another. I wasn’t quite sure what to think after reading that first letter regarding how you came to be engaged, but now that I see the two of you together, it is obvious how much you love one another.”

“He treats me as an equal,” Lucy said. “I never thought I would have such a marriage. Mama constantly told me what to do. I was so ready to break free and decide the path I wished to travel. With Judson, I have the perfect companion.” She hugged Dru again.

“And it means the world to me to have you here with us. Ask Judson, he will tell you. You are welcome to stay until next spring. I see no reason for you to travel so far back to Somerset and be under Mama’s heavy thumb.

Besides, you will want to also go to Aldridge Manor and spend time with Ariadne, Julian, and Penelope, as Julian suggested. ”

“If it does not put anyone out, I would enjoy staying.” She hesitated. “Now, whether that means I leave here and go to town for my come-out, that is another matter.”

Lucy looked at her with concern. “Are you still unwilling to do so?”

“Frankly, I do not see the point in any of it. I think all the balls and parties would bore me. I am not interested in finding a husband. Of course, Mama and Papa are ready to cast me from the nest and make me someone else’s responsibility, as well as better their own social standing with my advantageous marriage. ”

“You do not have to decide anything now,” Lucy advised. “If you decide the Season is not for you, I will do everything in my power to make Mama understand that.”

Tears misted her eyes. “You would do that for me? Take on Mama’s wrath?”

Her sister grinned. “I am quite daring these days. Just ask Judson. If Mama wants to wash her hands of you, I assure you that you will always have a home with Judson and me.”

“I would never wish to impose—”

“You are my sister, Dru. Judson is eager to get to know you. He had no siblings, so he plans on making you his unofficial sister, whether you agree to it or not.”

They both laughed.

“Oh, Lucy, you seem so lighthearted now. Marriage does suit you, as will motherhood.”

“Take a few moments for yourself,” her sister said. “I will wait for you at the bottom of the stairs.”

“I won’t be long,” she promised as Lucy left the bedchamber.

She appreciated the fact that Lucy remembered how Dru liked to be alone when she relieved herself. She retrieved the chamber pot and quickly did her business, washing her hands with the fresh water in the basin. She checked herself in the mirror and saw all her pins were in place.

A knock sounded on the door, and she crossed the room to answer it, finding Annie there.

“It is good to see you again, Annie,” she told the maid.

“Likewise, my lady. Your sister is so excited that you accepted her invitation to come to Huntsworth. I will be taking care of you during your stay. Doing your hair. Attending to your clothes. Your personal needs. Be sure to ask me for whatever you might wish.”

“I will do so, Annie. Thank you.”

She exited the room, returning the way she and Lucy had come, and went to the staircase, quickly descending the stairs. Her sister waited at the bottom, and Lucy slipped her arm through Dru’s.

“Let us go enjoy our outdoor tea,” Lucy said, taking Dru through a set of open French doors and onto the terrace, where a lovely tea had been laid out.

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly.

She found Judson and Julian both charming and friendly.

Con entertained them with stories of the Season and the various mamas who had hoped he would end his bachelorhood and take on the shackles of marriage.

Dru already knew that Con—and Val—had vowed not to wed until they came into their titles.

Since Val was now the Duke of Millbrooke, she wondered if her cousin would be perusing the Marriage Mart next spring.

Ariadne and Julian left, and Dru spent the next hours with her sister and brother-in-law.

The pair was quite open with their affection, which she knew would flabbergast her mother.

Still, by the end of day when they said their goodnights, Dru was satisfied that Lucy had wed the man she was meant to be with.

As she crawled into her bed and snuggled beneath the bedclothes, Toby curled beside her, Dru couldn’t wait to enjoy the freedom that would be hers for the next several months.

She banished all thoughts of Mama and being pressed to make her come-out next spring, deciding she would enjoy each day, one at a time, and treasure this special time in her life.