Eugenie arched an eyebrow. “And why, pray tell, is that?”
He sighed, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “It revolves around the scandal surrounding her family. It couldjeopardize your chances of making an advantageous match. I have a duty to protect your prospects, and I cannot risk tainting our name.”
“So you would sacrifice your own happiness for me?”
“It’s not about me,” Niles said. “It’s about what Father would have wanted. He entrusted me with your future, and I won’t fail him.”
Eugenie huffed in exasperation, placing her book beside her. “Father would have told you to follow your heart. To marry for love, just as he did with Mother.”
Niles straightened, growing defensive. “I said nothing about love.”
Her smirk returned, maddeningly knowing. “You didn’t have to.”
His pulse quickened. “I do not love Elsbeth,” he insisted, though his voice lacked conviction. He couldn’t. Not now. They hadn’t known each other long enough, and yet… in his heart, he knew he was more than halfway there. And that was the problem.
Eugenie leaned back in her seat. “What if I choose not to marry at all? Wouldn’t that make your sacrifice entirely pointless?”
“Regardless of what you choose, I cannot risk bringing scandal to our name by marrying Elsbeth.”
Eugenie’s teasing demeanor faded. “Then you don’t love her enough,” she said. “Because if you did, you’d move heaven and earth to be with her.”
His jaw tightened. “It’s not that simple.”
“It is,” Eugenie countered. “But that’s not for me to decide. Only you can.”
“Eugenie—”
She held up a hand, silencing him with an elegant wave. “And don’t tell me you’re doing this for me. I’ll be fine, Niles,whatever you decide. I think our family could weather a little scandal, especially if it meant your happiness.”
“I’m sorry, but I will not yield on this. I can’t.”
“Then you do not deserve Elsbeth.”
Niles turned his attention towards the window. He was bound by duty and responsibility, and he couldn’t risk getting distracted by something so trivial and unpredictable as love.
The long clock in the corner chimed and Eugenie spoke up. “Why don’t you go on a ride before you call upon Elsbeth? It might clear your head.”
He turned, tugging at the cuffs of his sleeves. “I think I shall.”
As he reached the door, Eugenie’s voice stopped him. “Just so you are aware, you came alive again when you met Elsbeth.”
He turned back, her words striking a chord he didn’t want to acknowledge. “I know you mean well but I must think of our future. I cannot—no, Iwillnot—allow myself to be distracted.”
Eugenie offered a weak smile, but her disappointment was palpable. “Very well. I won’t say anything more on the subject.”
“Thank you,” he said, already moving to leave, eager to escape the conversation that had begun to chip away at the walls he had carefully built around his heart.
“However…” Eugenie’s voice stopped him mid-step.
He sighed, bracing himself before turning to face her. “What now?”
“I will say this—you deserve more than a marriage of convenience. You deserve love. Real love. And I want you to be happy. Truly happy.”
“I thought you said you wouldn’t say anything more on the subject.”
She grinned, unabashed. “Now I am done. The lecture is officially over.”
A wry smile tugged at his lips. “You are relentless.”
