“I realized that, however, before you said it. It is why I came, Lettie. After I returned home, I thought about…how happy you looked when I came upon you and Anthony. You were smiling like I haven’t seen you smile in so very long, and I knew.”

“Knew what?” she asked tiredly.

“I knew that you are in love with him,” her brother said earnestly. “That you feel about Anthony the way I feel about Alice, and I want that for you…even if it is with Anthony.”

Yes, she’d wanted that for herself, too. She’d despaired of having it, had resigned herself to the next best thing—companionship with Lord Exmoor. Only to dream of more for herself when she’d met Anthony on the Duke and Duchess of Albans’ terrace.

How very much she’d wanted to hear the very words her brother now spoke, to have his blessing and for him to find his way back to his friendship with Anthony.

Alas, it was too late.

“Well, I am grateful to have your blessing now,” she said, letting all the bitterness and hurt she felt flow into her words. “Now that you properly shamed Anthony, and he—” Lettie sank her teeth hard into her lower lip.

“And he?” Rhys gently prodded.

She gave her head a shake and drew in a shaky breath. “You are forgiven, Rhys,” she said wearily. “You cannot make him want me or l-love me.” Her voice broke, and tears welled once more, and this time, she remained helpless to keep all those drops at bay. Several wound paths down her cheek, and she discreetly rubbed at them.

A kerchief appeared, dangled before her face, and wordlessly, she grabbed it and dashed away those remnants of her misery. She was grateful that her brother did not draw attention to her crying beyond that silent measure, that he allowed her that dignity even in sadness.

Another knock sounded, and they looked over.

Caroline entered the room. “Hullo, Rhys.”

“Little sister,” he returned.

Caroline cleared her throat and turned her attention on Lettie. “Lord Exmoor is here,” she murmured. “He’s brought flowers.”

He always brought flowers. It was warm and touching and should make Lettie sigh.

“I offered to take them and place them in water,” Caroline said haltingly. “He declined…this time. He insisted that he’d hand them to you today.”

Lettie’s stomach lurched.

Rhys’ expression darkened.

“Mother said he is going to offer for you today,” Caroline persisted in quiet tones, ratcheting up Lettie’s panic.

“You don’t have to marry him, Lettie,” her brother said quietly, resting a hand on hers. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. You deserve that special kind of love.”

The kind her brother shared with Alice and the kind of emotion she’d found with Anthony.

Fresh tears clogged her throat and burned her eyes.

Oh, God. It was too much.