Roswell put his hand up, stilling his brother’s words. “You don’t get to have an opinion on the matter.”
Before Charles could reply, his mother walked purposely into the room with Emma trailing behind her.
“You tried to bribe Ellie to leave?” his mother asked.
Roswell sighed. “I don’t need another lecture from you.” He flicked his wrist at his brother. “I believe Charles already sufficiently explained his disappointment in me.”
Harriet frowned. “How could you be so cold and unfeeling to Ellie?”
“I was no such thing,” he argued. “I think I was being rather generous, considering the circumstances.”
“Good heavens, you are such a boor,” Emma declared. “For all you know, Ellie could make a splendid match this Season.”
Roswell took a sip of his drink, then remarked, “Pardon me if I find that a bit unlikely.”
“Regardless, you are going to find a way to make this up to Ellie,” Harriet said.
“How exactly would I go about doing that?” Roswell asked, uninterested.
His mother gave him a blank look. “I do not care how you go about it, but Ellie is a guest in our home. She should be treated with dignity and respect.”
Roswell pursed his lips together, but he didn’t dare go against his mother’s wishes. “Fine,” he muttered, glancing down at his glass. “I will speak to her at my first opportunity.”
“Ellie is in the drawing room,” his mother revealed. “Perhaps you should go speak to her now.”
“And say what?”
Emma interjected, “You could always apologize.”
“For what?” he asked indignantly. “If she had accepted my offer, then she could have lived comfortably as she worked as a companion.”
“If you had listened to anything we have been saying, Ellie doesn’t want to work as a companion,” Emma said. “She wants to marry.”
“And I want to be the richest landowner in all of England,” Roswell countered, “but we must accept the hand that we have been dealt.”
Harriet came to stop in front of him. “You have been entirely unfair to Miss Bentley,” she stated. “If you do not make this right, then I will invite her to live with us until she has selected a suitor.”
“That could be years,” Roswell argued.
“I don’t believe it would be that long, but, yes, it could,” Harriet replied.
“I did not think you were one to resort to threats,” Roswell muttered, putting his glass on the drink cart.
“I find they come in handy when someone is being unreasonable.” His mother smiled. “Now go speak to Ellie.”
“This is a terrible idea,” Roswell said as he walked over to the door. “I am not even sure Miss Bentley will speak to me.”
“Try speaking from your heart,” Harriet suggested.
“If he even has a heart,” Emma muttered under her breath.
Roswell shot his sister an exasperated look. “I can hear you, you know.”
“I was hoping you could,” Emma said with a smirk.
With a shake of his head, Roswell departed from the room, hoping that Miss Bentley would at least be somewhat agreeable when he met with her. Not like the last time they had spoken.
8
