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“At least stay for dinner.”
Oliver opened the door and replied over his shoulder, “I shall eat at White’s.”
“You are making a terrible mistake, Son.”
He turned back to face his mother. “Emmeline knew what she was getting into by marrying me,” he said. “I have no doubt that she will be fine.”
“I just think—”
“You don’t get to have an opinion on this matter,” he interrupted. “Emmeline and I made our decision, and you will respect that.”
His mother’s face grew expressionless. “As you wish.”
“Thank you.” Oliver spun back around and closed the door.
He walked purposefully down the hall and descended the stairs. As he stepped into the entry hall, he saw Pratt step out from the drawing room.
“Ensure my horse is waiting out front,” he barked.
Pratt tipped his head. “I shall see to it,” he said before departing to do Oliver’s bidding.
As he paced the entry hall, Baldwin emerged from one of the rooms and gave him a questioning look. “Whatever is the matter?”
Oliver stopped pacing and faced his brother. “I just had the most uncomfortable conversation with Mother.”
“Pray tell, what was it about?” Baldwin asked, growing serious.
“Emmeline.”
“Ah,” his brother said. “What about Emmeline?”
Taking a step closer, Oliver lowered his voice as he admitted, “Mother disapproved of the fact that Emmeline and I entered into a marriage of convenience.”
“Did you explain your reasons?”
“I tried, but she kept spouting nonsense about how Emmeline and I would suit if I would just make an attempt at it.”
Baldwin gave him a knowing look. “She is not entirely wrong.”
Oliver huffed as he tossed up his hands in the air. “Not you, too.”
“I am just saying that you should make an effort to make this marriage work.”
Oliver glanced over his shoulder before asking, “How do you suppose that is possible? We both know that I can’t be fully honest with Emmeline about my past or how I truly spend my evenings.”
“I’m not saying that it will be easy, but I believe it will be worth it in the end.”
“You were fortunate in finding Madalene,” Oliver said. “Not everyone would be as accepting of your past as she has been.”
“You are right.”
“We must put our duty ahead of our own wants.”
Baldwin sighed. “You are going to botch this up, aren’t you?”
“Meaning?”
“Go to Corbyn and tell him that you can no longer play the rake now that you have gotten yourself married,” Baldwin encouraged.
