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“Oh no, Baldwin. Don’t halt on my account,” Lord Remington said. He collected his hands beneath his chin and leaned forward, almost goading him.
Marta had the thought that if she hadn’t loved Baldwin so desperately, she would have loved to rush out of this situation as quickly as she could, take a coach to yet another country or a boat to a separate continent. She inhaled slowly and again made eye contact with Laura. Laura’s eyes shimmered with tears. What on earth was going on?
“I will speak my truth regardless of your allowance of it, Lord Remington,” Baldwin said.
“Baldwin, that really isn’t necessary,” Aunt Margaret said. “Why don’t we all sit down for our meal. I, for one, am quite…”
“There isn’t time for such things,” Baldwin said. “Aunt Margaret, you know that I’ve loved you as something of a mother figure throughout so much of my life. I will never forget all you’ve given me, nor the fact that you look at me with more love than any other member of my family. You’re a generous woman with an enormous heart.
“That said, I’ve had to go outside the bounds of your wishes, Aunt Margaret. I’ve had to follow my own heart, taking a cue from how you lead with your love.”
Aunt Margaret’s words sounded icy. “I don’t suppose I understand what you mean, Baldwin.”
“Aunt Margaret. Everyone.” Baldwin heaved a sigh. “I’ve asked Marta Schnitzler to be my wife, and she’s agreed. We will be married.”
The silence at the table was impenetrable. Marta felt stones form in her stomach. In truth, in all her years of imagining this moment, the moment when her engagement was revealed to her family, she had never imagined it quite like this. She’d imagined screams of joy, enormous hugs, whispered secrets; she’d imagined her father telling her how proud he was of her, how thrilled he was to welcome her beau into the family.
“I see,” Aunt Margaret finally whispered.
Ewan and Baldwin both remained standing. Marta was suddenly conscious that Ewan’s eyes had fallen to Lord Remington, seemingly waiting for him to speak. Baldwin, to his credit, seemed entirely pleased to only look at Marta in these moments. Regardless of the others’ approval, or lack of it, he seemed to wish only to view her, to feel her heart glowing back to him.
“Aunt Margaret, it really will make me happy to marry Baldwin,” Marta suddenly interjected, trying to penetrate the darkness that ached between all of them.
But before she could finish the sentiment, Lord Remington started to laugh. The laugh rang out, grew volatile, and almost violent. Ewan dropped back onto his chair and hugged his head in his hands. Massive tears rushed down Laura’s cheeks. Marta gaped at him, at all of them, genuinely confused.
Finally, she cried, “Why won’t you explain yourself, Lord Remington? Or will you leave the rest of us in darkness?”
Lord Remington placed his hands over his eyes and let out a last laugh. “Oh, darling Marta. Beautiful Marta. The belle of the ball.”
Marta’s throat constricted. “Don’t act so crazy. You’re a guest in this house, regardless of your title, and…”
“Marta! That’s no way to speak to a Duke,” Aunt Margaret cried.
“Don’t worry yourself, Aunt Margaret,” Lord Remington said. “She knows not what she does. One day soon, of course, she will be my wife, and she will know how to pay for her actions today. Mark my words.”
Marta’s heart nearly burst with apprehension. “Haven’t you been listening, Lord Remington? Baldwin and I have only just announced our engagement. We … we will be the happiest people in the county. We’ve begun our relationship with honesty and heart, and we…”
“Oh, but darling. You and Baldwin will never marry,” Lord Remington said.
He sounded so certain, so solid. Marta’s eyes flashed towards Baldwin, whose face was beet-red with anger. His hands drew into fists.
“I know you will take that back this instant,” Baldwin growled. “Or you will rue the day you…”
“Baldwin, don’t injure yourself with your own mysterious passion. We all know you’re better-suited to a life of office work and quiet,” Lord Remington said. “Does anyone at this table disagree with me?”
“I have reason to believe that that is quite incorrect,” Marta blurted.
But nobody else spoke. Nobody else came to Baldwin and Marta’s rescue. Lord Remington clucked his tongue and said, “In fact, I will see to it that you never marry. In years’ time, you will return to this memory and laugh, for how could you be so stupid as to believe that you could have such a childish wish?”
Baldwin hurtled around the side of the table and appeared directly over Lord Remington’s head. He steamed with anger. Aunt Margaret cried out, “Baldwin! What’s got into you?”
“Haven’t you heard him, Aunt Margaret? Or have you decided against any sort of negativity towards this monster of a human, all due to your intense desire for Marta’s increased position in a country she hardly understands?” Baldwin blurted.
Lord Remington rose abruptlyfrom his chair. His own hands drew to fists. All the colour drained from Marta’s cheeks.
“If you strike me today, Baldwin, you must understand that I will hold nothing back,” Lord Remington said. “You will remember this day as the very last decent one of your life. Right now, I’ve allowed your little charade with Marta to take its due course. But a blow to my physical form? That is beyond any line I could have drawn in the sand.”
“Then tell me, Lord Remington,” Baldwin said, his voice husky. “Tell me how you think you can stop our marriage? Tell me. What’s your grand scheme?”
