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“And you wasted no time in laying claim to my title and my inheritance after I ran away,” Reginald sneered, climbing to his feet. “You even desired the woman to whom I was promised to wed! I can tell by how you look at her! Did you even feel the smallest shred of guilt for any of it, for driving me away?”
“Of course I did! You were my cousin!” Simon roared, practically shouting. “I felt terrible for telling you that you weren’t suited for Hurrow, much less Mavis. When I said life would be better if you were gone, how was I to know that you’d take my words so strongly? I made a mistake, but eventually, I had to move past that! You moved on, too! I still remember how much you detested coming back. Maybe you’ve forgotten that, but I haven’t.”
Reginald leaned forward, bringing his shoulders close together. He and his cousin stood glaring at one another, separated only by the rosewood desk, overflowing with papers and documents. Some of Reginald’s fury abated. He faltered. What if Simonwasgenuinely repentant for what he’d done?
But he isn’t. This is just a trap. A game of sorts.
“And I haven’t forgotten how hesitant you were to relinquish your stolen title,” Reginald retorted, pushing back.
“You weren’t suited for it when you returned,” Simon said. “How could you be? You abandoned that title when you were just an adolescent. It might’ve been yours by birth, but I worked to earn it.”
“Oh, yes. I’m sure you workedvery hardon all those trips to Italy, Greece, and Spain. I’m sure all that travel and all those extravagant purchases was just tortuous. I don’t knowhowyou managed to survive.”
Simon’s lips pressed into a hard line. “I didn’t come all this way to be insulted. I’d anticipated us having a very pleasant conversation, but I should’ve known that such a thing would be impossible for a brute like you.”
“I suppose so,” Reginald replied. “And I should’ve known that admitting to any wrongdoing and accepting consequences for your actions would be too much for you.”
Simon stormed to the door. “I’ll be in the gardens. Send your staff to collect me when my mother is ready to leave.”
“Gladly,” Reginald replied, stiffly lowering himself once again into his chair. “I hope my beloved aunt leaves soon, which is a pity. I can scarcely imagine what a lady like that did to deserve a son like you.”
Simon halted at the door. “And I can scarcely imagine what Marcella did to deserve a husband like you.”
“As if you were a better choice. You called her odd when I asked for your opinion of her. You talked about her as if her beauty was the only thing that mattered, and I would guess that if you married her, you wouldn’t support her dreams of being a writer, which—in case you didn’t know—is what she desires more than anything in the world.”
“But she doesn’t love you. How doesthatfeel?”
“She does,” Reginald insisted. “She’s made it quite apparent.”
Simon whirled around, putting the door to his back. His cold façade cracked, revealing an expression that was cruel and victorious. “Oh,hasshe? That’s curious because that’snotwhat dear Adeline told me.”
Reginald paused, considering his cousin more carefully. As far as he knew, Simon and Adeline hadn’t exchanged any correspondence since the young lady’s arrival in Hurrow. This was likely something which Adeline had told himbefore, maybe before he and Marcella were even wed.
“I don’t care what she says,” Reginald said, “because I’m quite sure that Marcella would’ve told me if she hated me. She is not a woman who keeps secrets, and she can always be counted upon to speak her mind.”
“Is that so?” Simon asked. “Then, you’re welcome to speak to your doting wife herself and learn the truth of the matter, but she didn’t want to marry you.”
“Because she felt she’d been forced to,” Reginald replied. “She felt as though she was being treated unfairly. I already know this, and I respect her feelings on the matter. Besides, Marcella has already apologized for being horrible to me. I’ve forgiven her for it.”
“Oh, horrible to you? Do you think that was only because she was upset? Oh, no. Marcella’s behavior wasverycarefully calculated.”
“What do you mean?”
“She tried to make you break the engagement. It was all some game to her. She thought it would be the most wonderful pastime to play the part of a vain, frivolous lady in the hopes that she could make you mad enough to end it. Herdisappointmenthad little to do with the matter.”
Reginald could only stare at his cousin. Marcella would never be so cold as to do something like that. Wouldn’t Simon’s explanation make so much sense, though? It would certainly explain why during their courtship Marcella always seemed so unpredictable.
“She wouldn’t,” he said. “No, I won’t believe that.”
“Believing it won’t change the truth of the matter,” Simon replied. “You can try and justify her actions and claim that she loves you, but none of it will change the fact that Marcella was so utterly repulsed by you that she pretended to be something you’d hatejustto avoid marrying you. She played you like a game of cards or a finely tuned instrument. Quite well, it seems, if she’s deluded you into thinking she actually loves you.”
Reginald shook his head. “That’s not true. It can’t be.”
“Then, you’ve no qualms with asking the lady why dear Adeline would say such a dreadful thing, do you?”
