“I don’t know becauseyouaren’t going to tell him,” Enid said, her voice unusually firm. “What happened between Greydon and me is between us, not Father.”
Malcolm glared at Greydon. “I asked you to watch over Enid, not compromise her.”
“I did not compromise Enid,” Greydon contended.
“You should do the honorable thing and marry her.”
“Happily,” Greydon responded.
Enid glanced between them, her lips pursed. “Do I not get a say in this?” she questioned. “After all, you both seem to be planning my future right in front of me.”
“I am trying to help you,” Malcolm said.
“By forcing Greydon to marry me?” Enid asked in disbelief. “How is that helping me?”
Malcolm sighed as he placed a hand on his sister’s shoulder. “I am not forcing him to marry you but I’m giving him a push.”
“How is that any different?” Enid shrugged off his touch. “I am not some weak-willed woman that you can boss around.”
“I never implied that you were—”
Malcolm’s words stopped when Enid turned to face Greydon. “And you,” she started, “why would you go along with anything my brother said?”
Greydon went to place his hand on her sleeve but thought better of it. He feared that Malcolm would object profusely and would start up with this whole duel nonsense again. “I want to marry you, Enid. I don’t care about the reasoning. I would marry you today, tomorrow, or the day after that.”
“I refuse to let my brother dictate our actions,” Enid said. “If I marry you, I want it to be on our terms, not his.”
“Does that mean you are considering it?” Greydon asked hopefully.
Enid held his gaze as she admitted, “I find that I am not as opposed to the thought as I once was.”
Greydon felt his heart take flight at her admission. He was slowly breaking down her barriers, one by one, until he could claim her heart. “I can live with that,” he said.
Enid spun back around to face her brother. “You have no right to make demands of us. I am a widow, and I am allowed certain freedoms.”
“I am trying to protect you,” Malcolm asserted.
“From what?” she asked.
He tossed up his arms. “From yourself!” he exclaimed.
Enid stood her ground, showing no signs of backing down. “Haven’t I proven that I can take care of myself?”
“You were forced into a workhouse after you escaped an abusive husband,” Malcolm reminded her.
“And I survived,” Enid said. “Does that not speak for itself?”
“Enid, you are being entirely unreasonable,” Malcolm replied. “You must think of your future; of Marigold’s future.”
“I am, but I am in control of it. Not you.”
Malcolm went to reply, but Enid interjected, “Excuse me, gentlemen, I find that I need to lay down.”
As Enid walked away, Malcolm glowered at Greydon as he crossed his arms over his chest. “This is all your fault, you know,” he declared.
“I do not contest that,” Greydon said.
“What were you thinking kissing my sister?” Malcolm demanded.
