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“You’re too much like my mother. Too much like me,” he said, his face pinching with disapproval.
“What are you talking about? What has happened to you?” She asked while Gates hovered in the corner with Reginald’s robe.
“That is my business and is no concern of yours, madam.”
“No concern? I am your wife,” she insisted and Reginald held up a hand.
“Not anymore. I hereby release you from all your matrimonial duties and obligations,” he stated and made the sign of the cross as if he was blessing her. Paul stumbled back into the room in a pair of Reginald’s trousers, cursing under his breath as he held onto the fly. They were a few inches too short and the thighs looked like they’d burst.
“I am so sorry, ma’am!” He told her, Paul’s face crimson with embarrassment as she flew at him.
“I don’t know who you are but I’ll have you—” She started but Reginald stuck two fingers into his mouth and whistled loudly, silencing her and halting the room.
“You will not come into my home and threaten the man I love,” he stated and grabbed her firmly by the back of the neck and pushed her at the door.
“You can’t do this! George!” She slapped at his hands. “We agreed that you would come home after the session ended and that we would have a child!”
“I’m afraid I’m under new management now, madam, and I won’t be doing that. All previous contracts are null and void.”
“Null and void?” She parroted and looked at Gates. He shook his head, confused as well but he held the door open and gestured for her to leave. She turned back to Reginald. “You cannot simply say that it is so and send me away!”
“Why not?” Reginald countered. “It’s my dream. Take as much of my money and go do whatever it is that you want,” he said but she became even more lost.
“My lord… What else could I want?”
“I don’t know. A better man?” Reginald suggested, for starters. “Go crazy. Take all my money and buy a big house and lots of dresses.”
“But I have all of that…”
“I see why you’re in a hurry to get knocked up!”
“George?!” She looked like she was going to faint.
“You’re as free as a bird once I’ve got an heir and a spare.” Reginald clicked his teeth at her. “That’s no way to go about motherhood. Look at how I turned out,” he said. She turned her big, blue eyes on Paul.
“How could you do this to me?”
“I…” He shook his head. “I didn’t mean for any of this. I didn’t even know him two days ago but… I can’t help myself. I’ve fallen in love with him.” He looked so sorry as he held up Reginald’s pants and grimaced at her, it broke Reginald’s heart. He took her hand and gave it a gentle pat.
“I know this won’t make sense to you and I seem quite heartless, but I promise, none of this matters. None of this is real,” he said with a tender squeeze to her fingers. Reginald marveled at how real her gloved hand felt in his as she blinked back big, trembling tears. “Do you know A Christmas Carol?” He asked her and she nodded. “Well, you’re the Ghost of Christmas Could Have Been, I’m afraid. George’s entire life is what I was supposed to be,” he explained and laughed as he looked around the room and at Paul and Gates. “He was the model Marston who married well and played the game the way he was told. My parents wanted to keep me and the rest of our line stuck in this glorious past.”
“Reginald.” Paul’s eyes were heavy as he shook his head. “Perhaps you should get back in bed.”
“I’ll go,” Lady Marston said weakly and gave her hand a tug, asking Reginald to release her. He shushed as he raised it to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
“I want you to go and be very happy for as long as this weird little episode lasts.”
“Oh, George,” she groaned with a sorrowful look at Gates and Paul before excusing herself.
“Should I send for Dr. Lister?” Gates asked quietly but Reginald gave his head a shake.
“Just the gin,” he requested and went to his desk.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do,” Paul said sadly.
Reginald sighed as he looked out the window and watched the horses and their stylish riders. “I’m a bit like a cracked vessel. I still work as long as I can stop the leaks. You’re the patch and you hold me together. That’s why you’re here and why I’m not afraid of being trapped in this mess forever. I can survive anything as long as I still have you.”
“That doesn’t help, you know!” But Paul was laughing as he wiped his cheeks and went to Reginald. He cradled Reginald’s face in his hands and it hurt, seeing Paul so worried. “Tell me what to do. I can’t figure out where the brilliance ends and the madness begins but I can see you drowning in there.”
