“You will be a perfect husband. Marriage is for life, and when you find a proper match, you will do everything in your power to keep her,” his father explained. “Marriage is a sacred institution, after all.”
“Y-y-y-es, Father.”
“Stop your insufferable whimpering, boy, and speak properly. People will think you simple. Do you want to bring shame to me? To your family? Your mother died to bring you into this world. The least you can do is show her that her sacrifice was worth it.”
“I wish Mother had not died.”
“So do I, boy. Perhaps she might have borne me another, more useful son. But you are all that I have, so I suppose you will have to do.”
* * *
“Marriage is the best thing that has ever happened to me.” Nigel’s voice snapped Blake back into the present.
Blake shook his head, reminding himself that he was a grown man. His father had been dead for years.
“I cannot wait to be married,” Richard added dreamily.
“Ugh, stop it, you are all being ridiculously soppy.” Blake went to pour himself another measure of whiskey but then thought better of it.
“You are only saying that because you have not met the right woman yet.” Richard held out his empty glass for Blake to refill.
“Nor do I plan on doing so. I shall be the eternal bachelor, as is my destiny.” Blake grinned at his friends.
“She will find you, whether you like it or not, Rochester. That is how these things work,” Alexander said sagely.
“Yes, I had no plan to marry, and now here I am with a wife and children.” Nigel shook his head in disbelief.
“Nor had I,” Alexander added.
“Well, youhadto marry your wife. It was the only honorable thing to do,” Blake pointed out.
Though he was not overly familiar with the details, there had been a scandal at a ball, and very swiftly afterward, his friend had ended up getting married. Alexander seemed surprisingly pleased with his fate, but that didn’t mean Blake wanted to follow suit.
“And it turned out rather well.” Alexander smiled, his entire face softening.
Blake shook his head. “Well, I see no reason to risk it. I do not wish to be trapped for the rest of my days.”
“Marriage is not a trap,” Nigel pointed out. “In fact, it can be the opposite.”
“Perhaps not for you three, but it would be for me.”
It would be a fate worse than death—it would mean my father would win.
Blake’s last words to his father as he lay on his deathbed had been a promise that the Rochester line would end with him.
“You do not know that.” Richard frowned at him.
“I do.”
“Perhaps you just need to find a woman to make you see the light,” Alexander said reasonably.
“I doubt such a woman exists.” Blake laughed.
“I do not know, Rochester and Miss Pembleton seem to have a rather fiery connection—Ow, I am only teasing!” Richard rubbed his arm where Blake had swatted him.
“I barely touched you, Glassbury. Do not be such a wimp. Besides, if you think my exchanges with Miss Pembleton are indicative of a happy marriage, I fear for your sanity. And your impending nuptials.” Blake rolled his eyes at his friend.
“It would at least be interesting,” Alexander teased.
