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Chapter 6
The situation in the salon had gone from bad to worse. One card player had passed out in a corner chair. Norman’s face was covered in sweat. Was it because he continued to lose? Edward was at a loss for what to do. He craved his bed but didn’t know how much longer this spectacle would go on for. Thankfully, the drunken gamblers had what appeared to be their final hand. They made their exits, some holding up the others to keep them from stumbling.
As though Norman sensed that his brother wished to speak to him, he remained in his chair. Edward was placid. “Are you proud of yourself?”
“I don’t always lose so much.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“You have little faith in me. Always have.”
“Brother, I have little faith in you because you’re gambling away the Pembroke fortune.”
“It would take rather a long time to do that.” Norman picked up his brandy and took the last sip. Edward hadn’t drunk in hours. His mind was as clear as a bell.
Getting up from his seat, Edward crossed his arms in front of his chest and gazed out the window, his back facing his brother. “It would be nice if you helped for once, Norman.”
“Helped?”
“Our two estates combined constitute a great deal of money and responsibility. I feel this responsibility on my shoulders.”
“They’re rather strong shoulders. You can handle it.”
Edward turned to his brother in disgust. “It’s not about handling it. It’s about having my older brother become a man instead of a drunk pantaloon.”
Norman looked furious. “You’re accusing me of not being a man?”
“Yes. A man knows his duty. He takes care of his affairs. He shoulders the burden.”
“Don’t you know that I tried to shoulder the burden?” Norman slammed his fist down onto the table. “All my life. Mother and Father never cared about anything I did right. They only scolded me for what I did carelessly. You were the golden child. Their only hope. How am I supposed to rise above those circumstances?”
“By merely rising above the circumstances.” To Edward, it seemed simple enough. He, too, had had his own trials and tribulations in life. When things became difficult, he put one foot in front of the other and focused on what was important. Duty. Honour. Responsibility. Not because he wanted to, but because he must. That was his station in life, and while focusing on those priorities, he’d still manage to eke out some kind of happiness. Edward was determined.
“You disgust me sometimes, Edward. How you make everything look so effortless.”
“Nothing is effortless.”
“Then stop trying to make me look bad. Even as children, that was your intent.”
“Hogwash.”
“It most certainly was. I knew that I could never live up to any of this because you would always manage to outdo me. Always manage to beat me.”
Edward had to consider if what his brother was saying was true or no. They were quite competitive as children, but Edward did not think that he overtly tried to sabotage Norman. In fact, he would help his older brother on occasion when he was struggling. Even then, Norman would retreat to the library to read. Perhaps he was trying to escape scrutiny.
Once, the two boys were out on the hunt with their father, and Norman struggled with his horse. Edward did everything he could to be of assistance because he knew his brother was frightened by horses. Norman forcefully told him to back away, that he didn’t need any advice, and moments later, he fell from his horse and suffered an injury to the ribs. The two brothers never spoke of that incident, but Edward thought of it often. Nothing had changed. Edward was still trying to help, and Norman was still refusing.
“How often do you partake in these gambling parties?”
Norman scowled. “Does it even matter?”
“Of course, it matters.”
Norman sighed to himself and picked up his empty glass, frowning as he remembered there was no more brandy. “Twice a week.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“Thrice.”
