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"What do you have against Edwina, Steven?" Albert bit out.
His cousin was like a confusing braid that he had to loosen to understand. Just when he thought he understood him, the man would become something else. It was positively frustrating. "You know it is not so much about Edwina Pierce as it is the idea of you getting entangled in another engagement. We know what happened last time."
“You should stop reminding me of that.” Albert folded his arms across his broad chest.
"To be honest, I brought Nora here in the hopes she would serve as a distraction and a reminder of your ideal life. We are different from the rest of society, you and I. Our freedom means far too much to us. Marriage is not the path for you. Not until you find the right woman at least."
"And what makes you certain that Edwina is not the right woman?" Albert asked, surprising himself with his words.
Although he had never given much thought to a life with Edwina, the fact remained that a part of him was obsessed with her and she was fast ruining him for other women. It was not right, yet—
"She does not have any reason not to set her cap at you. Besides, what happened to employing this opportunity to get her a match?"
"Now listen here, Steven," Albert began, his low tone a warning in itself. "If you are here for the jolly like any other guest, then you are more than welcome. If not, then the door is wide open and waiting."
Steven sighed and shook his head. “This is my fault. I should have looked after you more.”
Albert swiveled on his heels, ending the conversation, and made his way to his study. Upon entering, his brows slowly ascended when he found none other than Nora sitting at his desk and idly twirling a quill in her hand.
Bloody hell!Just when he thought that this farce that was his life had reached a peak, he found yet another pinnacle to surmount. Was there no end to the challenges?
"Nora," he said, “what are you doing in here?” He walked to where she was seated and when she made no effort to relinquish his seat, he moved away and perched on the edge of the desk.
"I thought a proper meeting would do us both some good." She smiled, her eyes searching his.
"Right," Albert returned before clearing his throat and adding, "I do apologize for not telling you about the engagement myself. It was unbecoming of me."
Of all the women he had kept, Nora had been with him the longest, and they had developed a relationship that went beyond the sheets. She had become a valued friend.
He did not wish for anyone to get hurt now that he had plunged himself into a mire. Not her, and certainly not Edwina. He had not an inkling which path the events would take but every involved party deserved the respect that was due them. No matter what.
"You and I did not get into this arrangement without knowing that it would eventually have to come to an end, Albert," she said. "I suppose I underestimated how quickly the end would be."
"People are vultures when they see a scandal. I had to take measures. Surely you understand."
"The scandal might have brought you two together, but it is not what is keeping you together." She stood and walked to the tall window behind the desk. "I know you."
"What is that supposed to mean?" he asked.
"Until last night, I thought your engagement was a necessity. But now I know that it is more than that. You are very good at evading commitment." She paused and he raised an inquisitive brow, waiting for her to continue. She moved from his desk to a table where the liquor service was and began to pour some brandy into two snifters.
"You care. Perhaps more than you would want to admit to yourself but I see it in your eyes, Albert. And the eyes never lie."
His body tensed. "Do not make baseless assumptions.” First, his cousin had called him a fool and now Nora was saying he felt something for Edwina. Albert knew himself. He cared about Edwina’s well-being but not in the way they seemed to think.
"Oh, I wish they were just assumptions," she chuckled, the sound having a slightly pained edge to it.
He had known about Nora's feelings for him for a long time now. And although he had made it clear that he could not give her what she wanted, the guilt still weighed heavily on him. He had kept her close to him which was hardly fair even though she had been the one to insist on it.
"I suppose my time is up." She handed him a glass before she took a small sip from hers.
Her words had brought into focus a very disturbing fact for him. One he needed to put a rein on at all cost. Perhaps he was allowing himself to be distracted by Edwina. Perhaps he was feeling more than he should. "I cannot allow myself to get burned in the same place twice,” he said, referring to Roxanne but Nora did not know about her. Only Steven did.
“What do you mean by that?”
He downed his drink in one large gulp. “Nothing. Are you going to stay for the entire event?”
“I do not see a reason not to. I shall have a merry time here.”
