Page 108 of The Tartan Trap

Then, to Margaret’s surprise, Claire hesitated as if searching for the correct words. Margaret looked to Beatrice, who’d already raised a questioning brow. Claire was never at a loss for words. When Claire spoke it was in confident, nearly strident terms. She certainly never dithered, as she was doing now.

“Everyone’s Season is different,” Lily said in a comforting tone, as if to help Claire. “Certainly, just because we’re sisters, we cannot expect that things will go the same for one as they do for another.”

“Yes.” Claire snapped her fingers. “Precisely.”

Margaret saw an opportunity and wedged her words in before it was lost. “I completely agree. After all, success for one will only bring more opportunities for the others in the future.”

“But failure shouldn’t be viewed as a bad thing,” Lily started.

“There’s no such thing as failure when it comes to courting,” Claire quickly corrected. “There’s only timing.”

“Timing!” Margaret exclaimed with wide eyes. “What a wonderful point to bring up. Timing is exceedingly important, and one can never tell what the right timing is until the right time is, well…nigh.”

Claire nodded. “Indeed. Just because the time is right for one young lady doesn’t mean the right time won’t come around again for the others, eventually.”

“Certainly.” Lily gave a nervous smile. “After all, though other young ladies might compete for the same gentleman, we certainly haven’t.”

“Courting is a solo journey,” Margaret thought it helpful to point out.

“Indeed, indeed,” Claire said quickly. “And the word journey might just be the perfect term to describe the endeavour. One never knows⁠—”

“Have you all been into the snuff?” Beatrice interrupted in a droll tone. “For if you have, I pray you’ll share it with me if it will help me understand this disjointed conversation.”

But all of her sisters seemed to have suddenly found somewhere else to look. Margaret fiddled with one of her new hairpins and nibbled her bottom lip. Lily twisted a pearl ring around and around on a finger. Claire examined her fingernails.

Beatrice studied each of her sisters in turn. Then her eyes narrowed. “Wait a moment. Have you all been crying in front of William again, without me? I only just worked myself up into a proper cry this morning for a tiara, and now you all have new rings!”

Margaret gasped and reflexively covered her aquamarine and diamond. Lily promptly sat on her hand to hide the pearl.

Claire tilted her head. “I cannot speak for my sisters, but my ring wasn’t from William.”

“Who gave it to you, then?” Beatrice scowled.

“My betrothed,” she said with a smile that made her look much younger.

“You’re engaged?” Margaret cried, smiling widely. She shoved her hand forward, flashing her huge aquamarine. “Me too!”

Lily pressed her lips together, then whispered, “As am I.”

All three sisters turned to Beatrice, who shook her head with a sly grin. “Not me. Though I confess I’m relieved I won’t have to rub onion juice into my eyes for another bauble again.”

A flurry of joyful explanations followed, and Margaret learned that Claire was to marry her childhood friend, Lord Rutheridge, and Lily was to marry one Lord Hayes.

“I cannot believe you’re to marry the Duke of Ettrick.” Claire shook her head.

“You must be joking,” Lily said. “Margaret’s is the only engagement that was actually plausible. The gentleman visited her every day.”

Beatrice cackled. “Daisy will be sick with jealousy.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” Margaret said, then launched into the tale of how Callum had proposed.

“Where was I when all these wonderful things were happening?” Beatrice said, shaking her head and scowling. “Lily’s fiancé stormed into a ball in his riding clothes. Claire got ravished in the gardens⁠—”

“It was a kiss, nothing more,” Claire interjected.

Beatrice ignored her and continued,“—and Margaret saved the duke’s honor. Meanwhile, I was probably stuffing my mouth full of canapés and wondering why the only man who’ll ask me to dance is that dreadful Lord Rigsby.”

“He’s going to be doubly dreadful now that Lily’s off the market,” Margaret said.