“Marjorie, I promise to think of a way to help you out and get Andrew to ask for your hand.”
“Oh Ellen, you would? You would find a way to drum it into his stupid head that nothing else matters as long as we are in love?”
“I will do my best,” Ellen promised.
“Thank you.”
“No, thank you for saving my skin.”
“I mean it though, be careful! Do not get ruined!”
“I will be. I will be,” Ellen assured her, but she could not help but wonder if Gerard would marry her if they were caught by someone else instead of Marjorie. She knew without a doubt that, although he might marry her to save her honor, it would be an entirely loveless marriage where he would always feel trapped. She realized in that instance that she did not like the answer.
* * *
Andrew Bamber felt as if he had dueled with a horse. He was exhausted and knew that the sooner he arrived home, the sooner he could catch some sleep. As he rode, he wondered if he could steal a brief moment to check in on Marjorie like he always did but decided against it.
She was angry with him, that much was certain, but for what, he did not know. He knew that she was tired of waiting, and the truth was, so was he. But there was no way he could face his mother to inform her that he was in love with Marjorie. Not when his mother hated her liberal ideas. Andrew was wise enough to know that the reason why his mother really disliked Marjorie was that she was everything his mother could never be. He knew that nobody else could light a flame next to Marjorie, but he knew, he was damned. He had tried to put it off for as long as he could, but he found that the harder he tried, the worse off he was. And he knew that soon after Ellen was married, the noose around his neck would start to tighten promptly.
Andrew got home in time for supper to find his sister in the dining room. He kissed her forehead. “Sister, to what do I owe the rare pleasure of your company?” It was true, whenever he got back, she was usually asleep or at that book club.
“Shall I ask the footmen to serve you, Brother?” Ellen asked sweetly.
Andrew stopped in surprise and looked at Ellen with an expression that made her burst out laughing. “Oh! Don’t look at me like that, Brother! Surely, I have tended to you in the past.”
“I am glad that you yourself have said it was in the past. I do not like what I see, and I believe that you are up to no good. Now, would you take a seat and tell me, or shall we continue our charade?”
Ellen laughed. “You have always known me so well.”
Andrew rolled his eyes in mock disgust. He pulled out a seat for her and watched her sit down. “Now, shall we?”
“I know about you and Marjorie.”
If Andrew was surprised, he did not show it. Instead, he nodded. “It took you some time to figure out. Did you find out yourself, or did she tell you?”
“I am ashamed to say that she informed me. How did I not see it? You two were always fighting and bickering like children.”
“That, Sister, could be called the language of passion.”
“Passion. You sound like a failed poet.”
“I am afraid I could have been many things in life, but Mother cut short my dreams. Now, I am a mere Duke.”
“You are also my brother.”
“Ah. That fulfilling role that absolutely comes with no reward.” Ellen hit his shoulders playfully, and they laughed.
“Is that all you wanted to talk to me about?” Andrew asked.
“So, you are in love with Marjorie then?”
“Yes. I will not lie to you. She vexes me so, but I want her as much as I cannot stand her.”
“When will you offer for her hand then?”
“I don’t plan on doing so. I want her to meet someone else, someone who would make her happy, match her in her views, and watch her beautiful face light up when she talks about the things she is so passionate about. You know, sometimes that’s why I do it; it’s why I rile her up. She looks so beautiful when she argues. She needs someone who would do right by her. That person is not me.”
“But, Brother, I do not understand, why cannot that someone be you? She clearly adores you as you do her.”
