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“I know, and there is nothing I would like to do more at this moment than to please Father in that regard.” Marcus turned on the wall slightly, setting his eyes on the stars another time. “I have no objection to Lady Helen herself, it is merely that I feel….” He paused, struggling to think of the right words.
“You feel?” Walter’s prompt brought no more words from him, though. Marcus scratched the stubble that was beginning to peek through on his chin in deep thought.
On one hand, he was reminded of the last lady he had attempted to court who had so easily trod on his heart. That fear made him wish to avoid marriage altogether, yet there was more to his complaint.
“I have been having so much fun recently,” he said, feeling the words leave him in a rush. “With…” He paused and gestured into the parlour.
“With Mr Blake?” Walter said, filling in the gap for him. “Well, what is the harm in that? After you are married, you can spend as much of your spare time with Mr Blake as you want. You can always play cricket and go fishing together, whatever you desire. But if you wish to make father happy, then you know you must do one other thing first.”
“Marry.” Marcus coupled the word with a deep nod. He knew very well it was what he had to do, yet his gaze slipped back into the parlour, watching as Mr Blake played cards with Laurie. He couldn’t help but wish he had spent the entire summer with Mr Blake first. That way, he would have had some happy memories to sustain him, when he decided in the autumn to marry a woman of his father’s choosing, rather than his own.
“She is not wholly bad, Marcus,” Walter said, tapping Marcus on the shoulder and urging him to whip his head round.
“What?”
“Lady Helen. She could make you happy.”
“Perhaps she could,” Marcus said with a sigh, uncertain if it were possible or not.
