Algernon winced at his words.
“You do not understand,” he rasped, “how horrifying it was for me to lose our parents so fast. To almost lose you because Mother forgot to feed you near her end. It isterrifyingto love someone.”
Henry let out a bitter laugh, but he nodded his head.
“Try being in love with someone an entire group of people forbid you to be in love with,” he replied, giving Algernon a pointed look.
Realization dawned on Algernon, and he reached up and grasped Henry’s shoulder.
“You… you are in love?” he asked tentatively.
Henry’s gaze turned thoughtful then after a moment, he slowly nodded his head again.
“I believe I am,” he agreed, “and I understand now that if we want to be together for as long as possible, wemustbe more careful.You,though, brother, have no such restrictions. If you love Beatrice, you can tell her. You should tell her because as much as she refuses to talk about it, I know that she loves you, too.”
Hope flickered through Algernon’s aching heart.
Could she? After he refused her so vehemently?
“Are you sure?” he rasped.
“She will not confess it,” Henry said, “not even to me. But I know that is why is she is in such a poor state.”
Worry sent a sharp pain through Algernon’s chest.
“What do you mean poor state? Be specific,” he demanded.
“Will not eat. Will barely speak, other than to discuss our wedding. Her eyes are always red, and she has a constant look upon her face as if she is about to burst into tears at any moment,” Henry explained.
Algernon dropped his head into his hands and rubbed his face, feeling awful that he caused such a dismal state.
“You can fix it,” Henry said quietly. “Youshouldfix it. Do not use me an excuse to be apart from her any longer. Face your real fear, and go get her, Auggie. I will be all right, I promise you. Just please, stop this. For your sake and hers.”
Algernon was silent for a long moment. The fear of losing a loved one had served as protection for his heart for a long time. It kept him apart and focused on rebuilding their family’s wealth, but now… now he saw it for what it truly was: a cage. One he’d willingly locked himself into. Now, he realized, it was only he that could unlock it.
Algernon rose to his feet, mentally pushing away the fear of loss and rejection, and he straightened his jacket.
“Tell me where she is,” he demanded.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
“Ido not care what your rules are, madam. If she would allow it, then I demand to see her if she is here.”
Beatrice froze on the steps, her broken heart beginning to thrash wildly as she heard Algernon’s familiar voice at the door. She looked up and saw not just Mrs. Kilborn but Deborah as well blocking the entrance.
“Absolutely not,” Mrs. Kilborn replied in her usual sharp tone.
“I know who you are, Your Grace,” Deborah added icily, “And even if Mrs. Kilborn would allow you entry, I certainly would not. You need to leave the poor girl alone. Have you not put her through enough?!”
Despite her appreciation for Deborah’s protective nature, despite her crushed heart, Beatrice hurried the rest of the way down the stairs. It might pain her to see the man that had causedher so much sorrow, but she could not seem to stop herself from going to the door.
She pried her way between Deborah and Mrs. Kilborn’s shoulders, and her heart gave another powerful thump within her ribcage as her eyes landed on Algernon. He looked as terrible as she felt. There were hollows under his deep green eyes, and even they seemed a bit faded and dull. There was a dark scruff along his jawline, and his usually well-combed hair looked mussed.
At once Algernon’s gaze fell on her, the skin around his eyes tightening the moment she came into view, and almost as though it was a reflex, he lifted his hands as if he were about to embrace her. Beatrice’s gaze dropped to the movement, longing filling her even as she stood straight and still between her two protectors. Then, as if he’d realized what he’d done, a look of pain flashed across his eyes, and he dropped his hands back to his sides.
“Beatrice, I beg you for a moment,” he pleaded, all sharpness and command dropping away from his deep voice.
“Absolutely not,” Mrs. Kilborn and Deborah replied in startling unison, both of them staring daggers at the man.