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CHAPTER THREE

Vivienne watched her daughter pace back and forth in the family library; tears streamed down her ruddy face.

“What is wrong? I can’t imagine anything being so serious. You are both smitten with each other,” she said to Penelope.

Her daughter hiccupped but only shook her head and continued to wear out the carpet. Vivienne sat in one of the wingback chairs and sighed. At least, whatever drama Penelope was dealing with interrupted a conversation with Michael that had become far too serious.

Still, she needed to get to the bottom of this. “Penelope, stop and tell me what is wrong now.”

Her daughter did as she asked, wiping at her tears. “I just learned that William offered for Lady Imogene before me. I’m his second pick.”

She blinked rapidly, startled by her words. William had wooed her with poems and heartfelt declarations. Vivienne frowned. “Maybe you misunderstood?”

Penelope glared at her. “Lady Imogene told me in front of several other ladies.”

Anger flared in her that it seemed the lady intended to be cruel. She was a guest in their home. Her daughter sensed her changing emotions. “Please don’t say anything. It will be horribly embarrassing.”

A knock at the door stopped their conversation. Vivienne said, “Come in.”

William, Ester, and Michael joined them. Penelope’s betrothed's face was filled with pain and concern. “Pen, I’m so sorry.”

“Do you love her?” Penelope said, her voice trembling.

He scoffed. “Of course not. I only love you.”

“How am I supposed to believe that? I’m your second choice.”

Vivienne blushed, thinking about how similar the conversation on the terrace with Michael was to this one.

“You are the right choice and the only lady I want. I was foolish, and I’m so happy any such union with Lady Imogene didn’t come to fruition.”

Penelope bit her lip, uncertain. Vivienne glanced at Michael, who studied her instead of watching the couple.

“My son only loves you. His first proposal was caused by the whirl of becoming caught up in the London season,” Ester shared.

Her daughter shook her head and wiped at her tears again. “How will I ever know if you truly want me?”

Vivienne quietly said, “Penelope, it is very easy to become caught up in the heady experience of a season. You feel things that sometimes aren’t real.

Mistakes and poor choices can be made. Not once has William ever given a second glance to Lady Imogene since the house party started.

Sometimes first choices are the wrong ones. Be happy you found each other.”

Hope seemed to fill Penelope’s face. William stepped closer to her.

“Pen, you are the only woman I want. I want to have babies with you and grow old together. Any other lady matters not to me. It is you who has my heart. I’m sorry you weren’t my first choice, but I will spend the rest of our lives making you truly understand that only you could ever be my forever choice. ”

Her daughter threw her arms around William. “I love you so much.”

Vivienne and Ester smiled at each other, the tension dissipating from the room. Her gaze darted to Michael, who looked at her in shock. A new emotion seemed to fill the room. He watched her as if he’d discovered something new.

She flushed, suddenly realizing how he must have interpreted her words. He’d assumed what Vivienne said was about him. His gaze intensified the longer he stared at her. She swallowed nervously, knowing that his assumption was correct.

The next day, Michael sat in a chair as his gaze roamed over Vivienne, who was out on the lawn, playing the perfect hostess. Ester joined him at his table and smirked. “You seem smitten.”

“Do you think Vivienne became caught up in the season when she agreed to marry her husband?”

“Why do you care?” she questioned.

Annoyance flared in him because his sister was being bratty. Through gritted teeth, he said, “We both know I was upset.”

Ester gasped dramatically. “No!”

He scowled and looked back at the lawn. Vivienne tilted her head back and laughed. Her beautiful smile caused his heart to hammer.

“Michael, this is your moment to start anew with her. Why are you squandering it?”

He said nothing, and she added, “Who cares if you are her first, second, or third choice. What matters is that you’re her forever.”

Michael looked at her skeptically. “You’ve been trying to marry me off to women far younger, and now you want me to wed Vivienne because I cared for her years ago.”

“She is the only lady you’ve ever wanted as your bride. I’m tired of throwing other women at you.”

“Then don’t,” he snapped.

“Then stop being a fool and pursue the lady you want. From what she said, it is clear that she also has some regrets,” Ester said, standing.

He said nothing, and she leaned down, kissing his cheek. “I adore you and only want your happiness.”

Michael nodded but said nothing as she walked off. Was it wrong to pursue Vivienne? They were both unattached. Maybe he would realize that the feelings from long ago no longer remained. But he wouldn’t know unless he tried.

He rose and strode across the lawn, joining Vivienne, who was shockingly alone for once. She immediately stiffened. He smiled at her. “The weather is lovely today.”

A startled laugh escaped her. “I’m glad things have returned to normal between us.”

“For now.”

Her eyes connected with his. A breeze caused her brown hair to flutter around her face. He took a strand and tucked it behind her ear. She sucked in a breath. “What do you mean by that?”

“Is there somewhere we can go to be alone?”

Her mouth turned up at the corners. “Is it my turn to finally be tempted by your wickedness?”

His cock strained against his breeches because he wanted that very much but first and most importantly, he wanted to talk to her. “Is that what you want?”

She frowned as if searching for the right answer. “I don’t know what I want.”

“For now, all I’m suggesting is a moment to speak with each other without any restrictions,” he murmured.

“Why does that seem even more terrifying?”

“Only you can answer that, Vivienne.”

“There is an old hunting cottage in the woods behind us. Meet me there when everyone breaks for a respite,” she said before departing and joining another couple.

He watched her and found himself suddenly wondering what a life with Vivienne would be like. She was the girl who had chosen another all those years ago, yet that was starting to not matter to him.