“You deserve to have a man who gazes at you the way Mr. Trewlove does. As much as I loved Lushing, he never looked at you as though he would die if he couldn’t have you in his arms. The only other man who ever came close to looking at you that way was Lord Kittridge.”

“Kittridge? I think you’re mistaken there.”

“No, I’m not. It was at Christmas. You and Lushing were playing a duet on the pianoforte. Kittridge was watching you with such yearning that I’m surprised you didn’t feel it.”

“Hmm.” She couldn’t imagine it, but other moments sprang to mind—she shoved them aside for later consideration. “Be that as it may, I don’t want you girls to worry about your futures. My dower property in Hertfordshire will, of course, become Aiden’s as the law dictates, but we are in agreement that you girls may live there. When you are in London, you may prefer to stay with Winslow as his residence is quite roomy. Although you are always welcome to stay with us. We will be setting up a trust for each of you, and the income from my trust will be split evenly between those trusts to go toward your dowry.”

“You seem to have given this a lot of thought,” Winslow said. “Without consulting me at all.”

“I was going to come speak with you about everything this afternoon. If you are wise, you will accept my choice in husband and welcome Aiden into the family. You might even seek his advice regarding improving your financial lot in life.”

He sighed deeply. “I don’t think you truly understand what you’ll be giving up.”

“Ah, Winslow, I don’t think you truly understand all I am gaining.”

“You’ve created quite the scandal,” Kit said.

It was a lovely afternoon, spring at its height. Selena had sent a missive to the viscount asking for an audience, and he’d suggested a stroll through Hyde Park during the fashionable hour. She knew he’d done it as a way to show London she had his support. A few people they passed scowled in disapproval. Some simply looked away. While she still wore widow’s weeds, her recent actions confirmed she’d not bothered to observe the proper mourning period.

“Yes, I know, but I like to think Lushing would applaud me for rebelling a bit against Society.”

He placed his hand over hers where it rested in the crook of his elbow. “I suspect he would.”

“But it leaves me with a bit of a dilemma, and I was hoping you might be good enough to help with it.”

“Whatever you need, Selena.”