However, there were two spokes in that particular wheel. The first was that his sister was incandescently happy and seemed determined to force him to be so, too; she made many pointed comments about the state of affairs between Charlotte and himself, spoke in increasing detail about the felicities of married life, and seemed, in short, determined to drag him to the altar as soon as possible.
Charlotte was the other spoke in his otherwise perfectly functional wheel. When he visited her, she was polite but reserved, only ever sparking into life when Marcella entered whichever room they were in. Then, she became increasingly animated and affectionate, going so far as to lay her hand possessively on his arm.
He had no time for childish games such as these, but there was little he could do but play along for the time being until he could pull her aside and speak with her privately about her behavior. Then, of course, there was the problem with what he was going to do with his sister and Edward.
Specifically, Edward.
Edward’s studies had finished, and he would, no doubt, be making a fine doctor, but he was in need of a practice, and currently a great deal of scandal still surrounded his name. Ideally, he needed to be out of the public spotlight and into a practice, but there were few places available, and setting up his own would be a costly event—one that Aaron was not yet certain he was willing to fund.
“Aaron, may I have a word?” his aunt asked as he entered the house from White’s where he’d had dinner. “It’s about Constance.”
He sighed inwardly. Since Constance had returned, Octavia had been fawning over them both in a way that, had he been paying closer attention, would have irritated him. Although he had forgiven Constance for her poor choices, he had not forgotten them. His aunt, it seemed, had, and she also seemed willing to make Edward a member of the family in a way that hardly felt appropriate.
“Of course,” he said, masking his frustration in a smile. “Come through to my study. We may talk there.”
“Such a masculine room,” Octavia mused, staring around with pursed lips. “It would benefit from a woman’s touch.”
“If you are also trying to persuade me to marry Lady Charlotte imminently—”
“I am trying to persuade you to do no such thing,” Octavia said sharply. “She is a nice girl, of course, and should you wish to continue the engagement, I shall have no qualms, but I am not here to urge you to marry. A decision such as this should be made carefully.”
Unlike Constance, he thought, but he merely said, “What was your purpose in speaking with me, then, Aunt?”
“I had rather hoped we might discuss Constance’s future. Or, rather more pertinently, Edward’s, as they are one and the same.”
“I see.”
“I believe he has spoken to you on the subject.”
“Extensively,” Aaron said dryly. “I have a notion that man could talk for England and not need to take a breath. I have been appraised of all the finer points of his education, his intentions, his goals, dreams, hopes, wishes, aspirations and concerns. In short, I feel there is little about Edward Calore’s profession of which I amnotaware.”
“Then surely you must perceive the necessity in helping him.”
“The question is not whether I shall help him—it is to what extent.” Aaron gestured his aunt into a chair by the fire and sank into the opposite armchair. “The fact of the matter is, if I establish him, my hand will be all too noticeable in this, and that might stymie his work. Besides, there will always be more bills. More favors. Constance is not, you notice, shy in asking for help now she has overcome the greatest obstacle—marrying him.”
Octavia smoothed down her dress and said in a voice of agitation, “Surely you do not object to the match now.”
“I do not approve, but that is neither here nor there. She has married him, and we must do what we can to limit the damage of the situation.”
“Thedamage?”
Aaron sighed impatiently. “Yes, Aunt. The damage. I have accepted her back into my house knowing it brings the scandal back on me and hoping my reputation and position will be enough to quell the talk, but there will be talk, and regardless of whether she had chosen to court him publicly, there would have been talk. She is the sister of the Duke, and he is a doctor. The two are not exactly comparable.”
“So,” Octavia said, a note of anger in her voice, “you would stand in the way of her happiness.”
“I would limit the damage her happiness causes to the family, yes. And I am not prepared to spend the rest of my life supporting a man who, for all he seems perfectly respectable, will never earn enough to support the lifestyle my sister wishes to have.”
His aunt stood, her face tight with anger. “I had thought you might be more understanding now that you are engaged yourself.”
“My future wife has more decorum than Constance, no matter how much I love her,” he said, also rising, “and my connection with Charlotte is not something I seek to hide.”
“I’m disappointed. I’d thought she might have softened you.”
Aaron gave a grim smile. “I’m afraid I am incapable of being softened, no matter the lady and no matter her charms.”
Octavia glared at him for one more moment before turning and leaving his study in a swish of her skirts. Aaron rested his head on the back of his chair and groaned. He was right about one thing at least: his aunt preferred Constance over him. She was not so concerned about his match, his prospects, his happiness, as she was over Constance’s—no matter Constance’s methods in achieving said happiness.
He collected his coat again and left the house. Now that he was back in London, he could partake of all the delights the capital had to offer. Although—curse him—he wasn’t interested in some, the appeal of wine and cards was too much for him to resist.
