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“Your father is a generous man,” Marcella’s father said. “I meant to assure you, though, that we do not think any less of you for whatever trouble you might’ve found yourself involved in. It’s quite customary for young men to be a little wild, as it is. I can assure you that I mind my share of mistakes in my youth.”
“Oh, did you, My Lord?”
“Indeed, I did.”
“If only young ladies were awarded the same freedom to make mistakes in their youth,” Marcella said.
Too late, Marcella realized that she’d let her mask slip once more, and Lord Reginald seemed to notice. His expression suddenly seemed to burn into her, equally curious and hungry. She must be more careful, but it was harder with his eyes on her. Did she imagine it was desire that she saw in his gaze, and if it was, did that make the situation better or worse?
Heat rushed to her face. He’d spent the last decade on the streets of London. He was a worldly man. Perhaps he’d even had lovers. She felt as though the idea ought to mortify her, but instead, she wanted to…just know. Did desire truly burn stronger for men?
“That is not the way of the world,” Claudia said. “You must consider the world as it is, my dear girl, not as you want it to be.”
There was her dear stepmother, bringing her quickly to the unjust matter at hand. Marcella had never wanted this marriage and was being forced into it. And even if the groom-to-be was not so abhorrent, Marcella still detested not being given a choice.
“If all of us considered the worldas it isand notas it can be, I should think our lives would be a good deal bleaker,” Marcella countered.
“The two of you are making this conversation far more serious than it ought to be,” Marcella’s father said with a small laugh. “It’s an engagement. This ought to be a light, cheerful discussion.”
“I admire your optimism, Lady Marcella,” Lord Reginald said. “When you are my Marchioness, we can work to make the world a better place. That is our sacred duty, isn’t it? To leave the world better than when we entered it.”
“That’s very altruistic of you,” Claudia said.
“Just like your father,” Marcella’s father added. “He had that same fire in his youth. He was involved in so many societies that I can scarcely name them all.”
“Truly?” Lord Reginald asked.
“Oh, yes. Rufus was quite passionate about education and the arts in London.”
“I didn’t know that,” Lord Reginald muttered.
“Children, too,” Marcella’s father added. “My dear friend cared so deeply for the plights of orphans, especially.”
Something like guilt flashed across Reginald’s face. “A generous man, indeed. I hope that someday I can be as good-natured.”
“I’m sure you will be,” Claudia said warmly.
Marcella felt as though she ought to say something, but she had no words. Lord Reginald seemed so solemn and genuine in his convictions to be a good man that she didn’t have the heart to deliver him even the dullest of verbal barbs. She felt quite wretched for even acting as though she disliked him. Really, he didn’t deserve her ire. He was only trying to please his father.
“Without a doubt,” Marcella said quietly.
“You’ll have your own causes to tend to, of course,” Lord Reginald said. “I know you’re very passionate about women.”
“Quite passionate,” Claudia agreed. “I would say too much for a young lady, but I’ve often heard that a passionate woman is far preferable to a dull one. In my case, I think that proved true. Wouldn’t you say, My Lord?”
Marcella’s father nodded. “Oh, yes. It never hurts to marry someone with convictions.”
Lord Reginald nodded. “I do believe your daughter has many of them, which I’m sure I’ll learn in due time.”
“It must be so difficult for both of you,” Claudia said, her expression brightening. “You both have such passions and ideals, and yet you’re being forced to court one another and to wait to achieve them.”
“Well, we’d be waiting anyway for the license to marry,” Lord Reginald replied. “These things take time. We know how slow solicitors and barristers can be.”
“They weren’t so slow in getting your title from your cousin, though,” Claudia said.
Marcella caught a certain victorious note in her stepmother’s voice. It was the same note which usually heralded disaster. Marcella felt her heartbeat quicken. She suddenly envied Lord Reginald, who sat beside her, utterly oblivious to any disaster which might be about to fall. Something very bad was coming.
“My success was doubtlessly due to my father’s excellent legal counsel,” Lord Reginald replied. “I’ve every intention of remedying this particular problem, but I’ll confess that at present I’m quite ignorant to the law. As much as I loathe being dependent on other men, I fear it’s going to take some time for me to educate myself.”
