“Because I love my husband,” she snapped. “And I should hate to think that I would allow him to break my heart and then forgive him as if nothing had happened.”

He shook his head. “It’s not quite that easy.”

“No?” She nodded toward the closed doors. “Do you hear that?”

The low murmur of voices coming from the library rose in volume.

He winced. “It doesn’t sound good.”

She cast him a disgusted look. “You are an idiot.” She shook her head and started off; then turned back to him. “If you wish to win my sister, if you want her forgiveness, then do something about it.” She nodded at the closed doors. “Do you know what my father is doing right this very moment?”

“Arguing with your mother?”

She nodded. “And with a great deal of passion. The passion of anger is not so very different from the passion of . . . Well . . . need I say that by the time my parents are finished . . .” She sighed. “I suspect my sister has a passionate nature as well, one that has never truly been unleashed.”

He stared.

“Stop being her friend and stop being so bloody nice. Tell her why you’re really here. And what you really want.”

“Are you giving me advice?”

“Apparently.” She rolled her gaze heavenward. “I can’t believe it myself. But know this, Grayson Elliott.” She pinned him with a hard look. “If you have insinuated yourself into my sister’s life, only to leave again, I shall track you down myself and rip your heart out with my bare hands. Now.” She nodded. “Let us return to the others before something else happens.”

“One does wonder what else that could possibly be.” He stifled a grin and followed her.

Beryl was right. He had been Camille’s friend long enough. It was time to make a stand. Of course Camille still intended to marry Pruzinsky, and that needed to be dealt with. But, thus far, he and Beryl were doing an excellent job of keeping an eye on her; and in the process, keeping her and Pruzinsky apart as well.

Past time they had that talk Camille kept postponing. Past time to tell her straight out how he felt and what he wanted.

And past time to make her admit she wanted exactly the same thing.

Nineteen

Nineteen

“I daresay, if my purpose was to get the entire family here at the same time, it would have been next to impossible.” Camille sipped her tea and glanced around the small ladies’ parlor that had long been her mother’s private sanctuary.