Page 99 of A Murder at Kew Gardens

"And you are in love with him."

"That is hardly the point."

"I think it is very much the point." I tried to take my hands back. She held on. "Don't you think it is time you married?"

I stared at her.

"Not necessarily tomorrow."

"How reassuring."

"But soon."

"Claire—"

"You can trust their future to me."

That stopped me. She squeezed my hands.

"You can. I love Cosmos. I love all of you. I cannot take your place, and I would never try. But you do not have to carry everyone forever." She went on before I could answer. "Not all of them, of course. Petunia will remain yours."

I laughed despite myself. "Petunia belongs to herself."

"Yes. But you are the only mother she has ever known.”

That silenced me.

"Holly and Ivy, though—certainly. Fox goes back to school, and Cosmos can steer him there. Laurel is perfectly happy so long as somebody keeps her in books."

"Which is becoming expensive."

"I shall speak to Cosmos about the book allowance."

"Laurel will adore you."

"And Chrissie requires a beautiful gown, a ball, and a swarm of admirers."

"Preferably all three at once."

"Precisely. By next season I expect she'll be married." Then her expression softened. "You need to look to your own future, Rosalynd."

I looked down at our joined hands. For years there had always been a reason not to. A household to run. A child to comfort. Twins to manage. Fox to worry over. Laurel to coax out of a book. Chrissie to prevent from doing something appalling. And Cosmos—who now had a wife who loved him dearly and would keep him the rest of his days.

And now Claire sat in my mother's room and told me I was allowed to go. The thought should have felt like freedom. It frightened me instead.

"Even if I entertained the idea," I said, "there is one rather substantial difficulty."

"Which is?"

"The gentleman generally has to propose."

Claire's mouth twitched. "Yes. That is the usual arrangement."

"Steele has shown no inclination to do so."

"I would not be so certain."

"I would."