“So is running away from the person who loves you most.” He lifted a shoulder. “This will be the shortest planning session this parlor has ever seen. You’ve already given yourself a plethora of potential answers. Don’t be a lady. Travel the improper path. Don’t marry well. Live on the margins of society as a spinster who does exactly what she wants.”

“I would if it were just my life in the balance.” Philippa’s voice scratched. “My choices reflect on my family, my friends, and my charity work. I am not Philippa without those things. They need me and I—I need them.”

“Must you give them up?”

“I tried to find a way,” Philippa said, defeated. “To please my parents and to please society and to live with myself. I thought perhaps everyone might be happy if I married Baron Vanderbean.”

“Not Tommy?”

“Tommy is Baron Vanderbean.”

“No. She’s Tommy. She’s been courting you as Baron Vanderbean because it’s what you want. She’s been trying to please you. Even if she’s miserable knowing you’ll only accept her if she’s someone else.”

“Not my preference,” Philippa stammered. “It’s…”

But it was her, ultimately. It had been Philippa standing in front of Tommy, Philippa saying Tommy wasn’t acceptable as herself, Philippa saying only Baron Vanderbean would be good enough for her.

Philippa hurting the person she loved more than any other.

She hadn’t even said the most important words. She had been so busy explaining what sort of partner would or would not do, that she’d missed the opportunity to mention the tiny little fact that Philippa was hopelessly in love with Tommy. Just Tommy.

Baron Vanderbean had seemed such an easy solution. It had not occurred to Philippa that asking might be hurtful. That it might have been hurtful all along.

She rubbed her face. Not only had she asked Tommy to permanently play the role of someone she was not…Philippa would have become Baroness Vanderbean, taking social precedence over the actual Wynchesters. It wasn’t much of a compromise if Philippa was the only one to come out on top.

One of the things Philippa had always cherished about Tommy was her empathy. Yet Philippa had not shown the same character. She had been selfish as a partner, as a lover, as a friend…Her shoulders crumpled.

Tommy had mentioned that every time she took on the role of the false Baron Vanderbean, she was reminded of her real Bean. It made her uncomfortable and sad. How could she be expected to submit to a lifetime of such conflict and memories?

“Brothers may not be horrid beasts after all,” she mumbled. “I might be the horrid beast.”

Graham inclined his head. “Admitting it sounds like the first step of a promising new plan.”

Philippa’s throat thickened and she averted her gaze.