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“Perhaps a little. These last few weeks, as the weather has warmed from the coldest part of winter, she has been stronger – strong enough to go outside, which has made her happier. But… it is most variable. Some days she is wracked with coughing such that she can barely move, sometimes her body rejects all food, sometimes she claws at her skin until it bleeds, declaring there to be an unbearable itching. Every time that I feel some hope, it is dashed again. But no matter Maggie’s state, you must marry. You will need an heir, and your wife will simply have to do as you require, and keep Maggie’s existence as private as we do. I… I cannot see that it will be necessary for too much longer.”
Her voice caught, and Leon reached out to place his hand on her arm.
“I know, though I desperately wish that I could find a way to change that. But can you not see – that is exactly why I cannot marry – I must be patient, and attend on God’s will in the matter of my sister. I would not force any woman I married to live with the challenges we do, nor require her silence on the subject – what basis for a marriage would it be, if I did such things?”
“A basis no different from that of most society marriages. And… I would hope that having a wife might bring you some consolation in the face of the difficulties we must deal with every day.”
“Mother, no. I will not put a woman in that position – that would be taking my own comfort at the expense of hers. Do not ask it of me.”
“I do ask it of you. But I also can be patient. In time, you will come around to my way of seeing things.”
“I very much doubt that.”
The rest of the carriage journey passed in silence, and they did not speak of the matter again that week, before his mother returned to Greenleigh Park.
The next few weeks brought nothing different – his mother came to town for a few days at a time, bearing slowly worsening news of Maggie, and Leon immersed himself in the matters before the House of Lords, whilst actively avoiding social occasions, and any conversation with Lady Iris Gardenbrook at those events he could not refuse to attend.
By mid-March, he felt exhausted by it all, as if he walked in a world of perpetual darkness and misery, where black clad people struggled to ever smile, even though the early spring flowers were beginning to fill the London parks.
The few times he went to Greenleigh Park for a short visit only made it worse, as Maggie clung to him, demanding that he stay with her, that he play for her at every hour of the day. There was not the tiniest trace left of the girl his sister had once been, in this creature who now wore her skin.
>>>
“Your grandmother will be attending the soiree this evening, with us. Lady Gillieston is one of her oldest friends, and she has decided that, after months shut away, she really must take this chance to see Lady Gillieston again.”
“But… Grandmother has barely spoken to us for two years…”
Leon’s mother nodded.
“Which in no way stopped her from demanding that I, as her daughter, ensure that you arranged for us to collect her tonight. I suspect that she will simply pretend that everything is wonderful, or that Maggie doesn’t exist. I doubt that she has yet forgiven me for bearing a daughter who suffers so obvious and terrible a weakness, but it is more convenient for her to be able to call on me for assistance than not.”
“I see. Then I will be as polite as is required, but do not expect me to greet her with any effusiveness.”
“I won’t.”
They finished their tea in silence after that, and soon Leon went up to dress for the evening, after first giving instructions for the coachman to bring the carriage round a half hour earlier, to allow the extra time for collecting Lady Neelsham.
Two hours later, as he sat in Lady Neelsham’s parlour waiting for her to come down, his tea long cold beside him, he wondered if he should have made that an hour earlier. His grandmother appeared to believe that the entire world could wait on her whim, and was now proving that her daughter and grandson would do as she wished, regardless. But perhaps that was uncharitable of him. Finally, the sound of footsteps on the stairs presaged her arrival. Leon rose, as did his mother, and stepped out into the foyer.
“Let us be on our way then, Greenleigh – no time to tarry.”
Leon gritted his teeth, and forced a smile to his lips.
“Of course, Grandmother.”
He offered her his arm, and escorted her to the carriage. This evening, he could see, was not likely to be at all enjoyable. No sooner had the carriage door closed behind them, than Lady Neelsham fixed Leon with a stern gaze, and spoke abruptly.
“Not married yet then? Disgraceful. You need an heir – and pray that whatever child you father is not afflicted with the madness that’s taken your sister. A madness which does not run in your mother’s side of the family, I remind you… you’d best choose a young lady of the highest possible breeding, and soon.”
What could he say to that?
“Grandmother, I am not ready to marry yet.”
“Balderdash! Of course you are. Just choose a woman – or are you being affected by this modern whimsy of expecting a love match?”
“Not especially. I am considering ladies, but none have truly appealed to me yet.”
The carriage halted outside Lady Gillieston’s home.
