Mother continued without pause. “Which is not to say you should not make your sisters earn your forgiveness and your friendship.” Mother’s gaze slid from Delilah to Beryl. “Being willing to forgive is not the same as being weak. Indeed, it takes a great deal of strength to accept someone else’s acknowledgment of their mistakes. Especially if said mistakes have hurt you deeply. To allow amends to be made is not at all easy.” Her gaze shifted to Camille. “One must decide whether one wishes to hold on to one’s pain and anger or release it. And is the cost significant or little more than pride? It can be an enormous relief to at last let go of anger that one has harbored for a long time. Forgiveness can, as well, be the rekindling or even the beginning of something worth having.”

For a long moment, the three younger women stared at their mother. Forgiveness was one thing their mother had never especially embraced. Still, she was right. Wouldn’t Camille gain so much more from forgiving Grayson than she did by holding on to her anger? If, of course, she hadn’t forgiven him already.

“One must also consider one’s own culpability in another’s mistakes,” Mother added. “Would something that has grown so large have been relatively minor if one had only acted at the time?”

Indeed, if Camille had gone after Grayson, instead of expecting him to return for her . . . If she had told him of her own feelings . . . If she had taken the next step. Certainly, her mistake was far less significant than his, but nonetheless it was a mistake.

“I haven’t been very nice to you either,” Delilah said abruptly. “Why, I’ve never invited either of you to my house. I’ve never included you in a dinner party or a soirée or anything of that nature.”

Beryl’s brow furrowed. “You have dinner parties and soirées?”

“Quite lovely ones too,” Mother said in a confidential manner. “Her parties are most delightful. You have no idea what you’re missing.”

“Apparently.” Beryl stared at the younger woman.

Delilah beamed at her mother’s praise.

“We certainly cannot take offense, as we have not invited you to our gatherings either. However, that is now in the past,” Camille said. “If, of course, this is something you wish to pursue as well.”

Delilah looked at one twin, then the next.

“Go on, dear,” Mother urged. “Tell them you accept their offer of friendship, their olive branch, as it were.”

“Well, yes, I suppose,” Delilah said thoughtfully. “I daresay, it won’t be easy. I haven’t been at all fond of either of you for as long as I can remember.”

“How perfect, then, as we are all starting in much the same position.” A weak smile curved Beryl’s lips.