Victor furrowed his brow and recoiled a little.
“Do you really believe that is how I see you?”
“How can I not?” Harry opened his palms and wore a pained look. Victor stroked his chin and raised his glass to his lips although he did not take a sip. He simply breathed in the aroma of the champagne.
“Harry, all I want is for you to be happy. It’s just that we must measure ourselves,” he said.
Harry inched closer to Victor and lowered his voice.
“If you were deeply concerned with my happiness, then you would have allowed me to marry for love. You worry too much, Victor. I do not seek to plunge this family into scandal. I am not like Father.”
Victor bristled with tension. His blue eyes became darker and he gritted his teeth.
“Do not speak of our father like that.”
“Why not? Isn’t that what you’re afraid of, that people will end up associating our family name with wretchedness? By doing so, you are keeping us in the shadows. You might protect us from scandal, but you prevent us from living our lives, too.”
“I prevent you from making mistakes. That is my duty as the Duke and your older brother.”
“It should have been my choice,” Harry said bluntly. Victor glanced around uncomfortably, aware of the people around him,fearing that they might overhear the conversation. They were keeping their voices low for the time being, but Harry was becoming more agitated with every passing moment, and so his voice might erupt with emotion at any time.
“You would have allowed yourself to be ruled by your heart. There was no rationality at all, no reason.”
“Because there was love,” Harry countered.
“There needs to be more than love. She filled your head with those flimsy notions because it suited her.”
“Don’t speak about her like that. You don’t know her.” Harry jabbed a finger in the air. Victor turned his body, hoping to hide the gesture from anyone who might have been looking in their direction. He leaned towards his brother and spoke through gritted teeth.
“I know her enough. I know her type. She thought she could climb above her station and secure a privileged life for herself.”
“You should not speak about her like that, Victor. If there were not so many people around, I would strike you for saying such awful things. And if you continue in this vein, I might be unable to restrain myself.”
“Think clearly, Harry. A common woman like that would see you as an opportunity. You might have married for love, but can you honestly say the same would be true of her? I’m sure that if yousought her out, you’d probably find her trying the same scheme with someone else. I saved you, even if you cannot see it.”
Harry’s arms were locked straight beside him, and his hands were clenched into fists. He trembled with rage, and his cheeks bore a shade of scarlet.
“I loved her, Victor. I still do. I will never forgive you for what you did,” Harry said. He turned on his heels and marched away. Victor exhaled deeply. His heart was beating quickly, and a dull thrum pounded behind his eyes. He pinched the bridge of his nose.
If only Harry could understand… such a union with a common woman would have brought scorn and shame upon their name. Things were precarious enough considering what happened with their father, and the last thing they needed was to have scandal associated with their house. If Victor had allowed Harry to proceed with his own plans, he and his young woman would not have been able to show their faces in London again.
Although he mused, that might not have been such a terrible thing.
The noise was becoming intolerable, and the glittering jewelry irritated his eyes. He searched briefly for Harry, but the man had already disappeared. Victor had never wanted to be his brother’s enemy, but unfortunately that was the role in which he had been cast. He couldn’t simply let Harry get away with everything he wanted.
Victor was the Duke. Victor had to think about the bigger picture. Thank Heavens that Harry was not in control, otherwise they would have fallen into ruin. Goodness knows what that woman would have done. She would have plundered their estate and spent every coin extravagantly until they were bankrupt.
Well, he just had to hope that in time Harry would see sense and realize that Victor had done what was best.
Victor took another sip of champagne. The liquid danced upon his tongue, but it did not bring him the relief he sought. He noticed a few people glancing towards him, trying to catch his attention. It would not be long before they approached him. That was the problem with being a host, everyone wanted to offer their gratitude and compliments.
In fact, coming his way was an older woman. She was dressed in a gown that he believed was too extravagant for her years. In his opinion when women reached a certain age, they should dress more conservatively. She might have been beautiful once upon a time, but her heyday was long in the past. He deduced that she was of a similar age to his uncle.
“Your Grace, it’s such a pleasure to meet you, and I must say you throw a grand party. I’m Agatha, Agatha Hartley,” she said. Victor’s ears pricked up at this, linking her to Edmund, the Duke of Stonewood, and his sister… What did Harry say her name was again?
“It’s an honor to meet you. It pleases me that you are enjoying the event,” he said, forcing a smile to his face. The thrum behindhis eyes was getting more powerful, and his throat was becoming scratchy.
“Of course, I don’t have as many opportunities to attend these events as I used to. But I would like to speak about my granddaughter, Lydia. As far as I’m aware you are unmarried, yes?”
