“I see your gratitude from last night has faded,” he muttered. “Do you have something to say about that?”
“Yes,” she hissed.
“Out with it then,” he sighed.
“Iamthankful for how you took command last night,” she said with haste, some of the venom leaving her gaze, “however this seems… overly meddlesome. I understand you want your brother to be married. I even understand, to a certain point, why you chose to find him a bride the way you did. But what if this is all for naught? He is not some child that will simply follow your commands, and if he chooses to go against you, what happens then? What if I sacrifice my innocence and the natural order of romance for a man that after all of this still refuses me? What does that make me, Algernon?
“I may not have been a mistress when you purchased me, but what if this situation turns me into one? What happens to me then?”
Algernon’s humor faded as he heard both the fear and practicality of Beatrice’s questions in her tone.
“May I sit?” he asked, gesturing toward a chair.
Beatrice looked him warily for a moment then nodded.
He took a seat and gave her an expectant look. For a moment, Beatrice stayed perfectly still as she watched him distrustingly. Then when he pulled out the other chair for her, she rolled her eyes and joined him at the table. Even so, she wrapped her dressing gown even tighter around her body and closed the neck of it with her hand in a guarded gesture.
“You are right,” he admitted. “My brother is not a child. However, there are many aspects of him that refuse to mature.”
Beatrice gave him a questioning look.
“When we were boys, Henry was quite coddled. I was in good health and the heir to the title, so my parents’ kindness was given mostly to him while I was forced at a very young age to learn how to take over the family legacy,” he explained.
As he spoke, memories of such a past erupted in Algernon’s mind. Discomforted by such vivid reminders, he did what heusually did with such reminders. He used the mental walls he so painstakingly built through the years to shut them out.
“Our father died when we were young, leaving us in quite a state,” he went on, his tone gruffer than before. “My mother was still with us at the time, but even then, she became a shell of person after my father’s death. I had to learn how to balance the rest of my education, the overseeing of my legacy,andraise my little brother. I was only ten and six, but Henry had barely turned twelve when it happened. Such a confusing age for a boy. Stuck between childhood and manhood.
“Our father did little to teach him how to move toward the latter, as even before his death he was ignoring his duties and spending his time drinking and gambling our fortune and future away. It left an impression on Henry. One I have since tried to correct but thus far have been unsuccessful.”
Beatrice relaxed a little in her chair.
“You do not want him to stumble,” she said softly, her tone leaning toward a question.
Algernon nodded.
“Precisely. And as of late, my brother has been stumbling quite a bit. He’s losing sight of his future very much like our father did and is only acknowledging this now. A very dangerous game to play for someone in his position. He does not want to admit what is best from him.”
“And you believe that you know what is best for him?” Beatrice asked.
“I do,” he stated without thought.
“And would you tell me what sort of trouble he is stumbling toward?” Beatrice asked.
This time, Algernon paused. On one hand, if Beatrice was to marry Henry, she deserved to know the truth. On the other… he was not the one who should tell her.
“I am hoping that you and Henry grow closer, he will tell you such things,” Algernon replied, his tone soft.
Beatrice did not look too happy with his response, but she did not push either.
“As for you,” Algernon went on, “despite what it may look like, you are not just some game piece I am playing with. If our efforts do fail—and I pray that they will not—but if theydofail,I will take care of you, Beatrice. You will be no one’s mistress. Your efforts will be rewarded however you see fit. If you want a cottage in the country away from the confusing lot that is our society, then you will have it as well as an allowance. If you want a flat here in the city so that you may attend a soiree every now and then as other single ladies of thetondo, you may have that as well. Whatever it is that you wish, I will provide. But I cannot give up on this—my brother—yet. I have to try to get him settled. Itismy duty.”
Beatrice was silent for a long time, her gaze penetrative as if she was trying to physically see the truth or lie of his words. Algernon merely waited, knowing that she had to decide for herself.
“I suppose I wish that my father would have taken even just an ounce of the great responsibility for me that you have put upon yourself,” she said at last.
Though he was careful not to show it, Algernon relaxed considerably.
“You deserve to be taken care of, Beatrice,” he said, his deep tone soft. “I am most regretful of how you ended up here, and I apologize if I have not said this yet, but Iamgrateful that you are here.”