“ ‘Difficult’?” Camille drew her brows together. “What do you mean?”

“Well, being five years younger than twin sisters, who were lovely and sought after and did very nearly everything together. I would think one might feel left out, not important enough to include, that sort of thing. It might be difficult, that’s all.” He shrugged. “It’s just an observation.”

“Yes, I suppose.” She had never thought of Delilah’s position in that manner before.

“Although . . . this is a perfect example. This is your scheme, but Beryl is right by your side. You never considered Delilah might wish to be part of it.”

Camille bristled. “She would never wish that. She is entirely too proper for something like this.” Admittedly, she had never been asked. “Besides, she was out of the country with Mother, who, I might add, asked Delilah to accompany her, not Beryl or me.”

“As I said, it was just an observation.”

Still, she had never considered why Delilah might behave toward her sisters as she did. Why, it had never even crossed her mind that her younger sister might feel left out. And in Delilah’s shoes, wouldn’t Camille feel the same? She winced. “I haven’t been very nice to her, have I?”

He shook his head. “I couldn’t say.”

“Well, I haven’t. Or, rather, we haven’t. We never considered that she might feel overlooked. We thought she didn’t like us.”

“I can’t imagine she’s overly fond of you.”

“No, she’s not. And it now appears, we deserve it.” She sighed. “This is the second time today I’ve felt ashamed of my behavior.” She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t especially like it.”

“It’s most becoming,” he said in a teasing manner.

“Only you would say such a thing.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “Obviously, I—well, Beryl and I— should make amends in some manner. I would much prefer to spend the rest of my life with a younger sister who does not detest me—although I doubt it will be easy.” She shook her head. “This rift has been years in the making.”

“Making amends is never easy.” He met her gaze directly. “Apologies for one’s mistakes—those errors in judgment that we all make because of youth or selfishness or pride—are often difficult. Particularly when one realizes one’s own behavior was unreasonable and even stupid.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “Are we still talking about Delilah?”

“I don’t know.” He stepped closer; his gaze still locked with hers. “Are we?”