And here they disagreed. “Boundaries allow the wild ones to grow as they will and the ones who prefer structure to thrive.” He finished his tea then set it aside. “If people are given support, they will grow as they were meant to grow, but one cannot interfere with another. That’s what boundaries are for.” And that is what he fought for daily in Parliament: to give those who need it adequate support and boundaries against those who would take advantage.
It was his guiding principle. How shocking that she would have discovered that through her unorthodox spiritual explorations.
“And now you’ve chosen,” she said softly, “the brick path where the gavel of judgment constantly bangs down.”
“You are simplifying matters to a ridiculous degree.”
Lord Loughton frowned. “And what of you, Clara? Do you pick the wild path always?”
She smiled at him. “We are talking about my brother’s life, not mine.”
“Really?” he returned. “I’m not so sure.” But rather than press the issue, he pushed to his feet. “Either way, I should return home now that your brother and Miss Rees are safe.”
“I didn’t need your help,” Aaron grumbled.
“I wasn’t trying to help you,” Lord Loughton said, his gaze firmly fixed on Clara’s. “And I shall return at four for my reward.”
Clara winced. “Very well. I’ll promenade with you at the fashionable hour. Provided you agree to the rest of the evening’s entertainment.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Aaron leaned forward, abruptly feeling alarmed. “What rest of the evening? What’s the entertainment?”
“Perfectly safe,” Clara said.
“Perfectly fair,” Lord Loughton said at the same time. Then at Aaron’s scowl, he continued. “We are sharing interests, my lord. She will walk with me if I will accompany her to a true séance.” He winked at Clara. “She assures me no one will throw knives at me.”
“Unless you’re wretched to the spirits.”
“Unless I’m mean to the spirits,” he echoed as he bowed over her hand. And Clara, to Aaron’s shock, giggled like a schoolgirl when he pressed his lips to her hand.
Was it possible? Was the Scotsman finally making headway with Clara? Obviously yes, and Aaron was remarkably unsettled by that. He’d been for the union from the beginning, and yet finally seeing it play out before him left him irrationally grumpy. Just what kind of man was he turning into? Why would he be irritated by the idea of his sister finding happiness with an eligible suitor?
He had no answer as Lord Loughton took his leave. And none either when his sister turned her now cool gaze to him.
“You’re going all wrong, Aaron, and you’re trying to take me with you. But I won’t do it. I won’t let you turn me into something I hate.”
“Everyone hates growing up,” he snapped. “It’s hard. You have to be responsible. You have to make good decisions because the consequences hurt.”
“Who has been hurt? You want me to change because everyone else thinks I should. You want me to marry because everyone says I must. That’s not being an adult. That’s letting everyone else decide your life for you.”
He slowly pushed to his feet, his gut churning with acid. “Do you think I like coming home to this disaster of a house? That I like listening to the sneers about my unmanageable, unstable sister?”
“That’s a hurt to your pride, and that doesn’t bother me.”
“Well, it should,” he said firmly. “As I am the one who pays the bills. I feed and clothe you. I allow you to run to séances without a proper chaperone.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Good God, what was I thinking?”
“That you love your unorthodox sister. That you were proud that I cared for more than just throwing parties and marrying a title.”
Why wouldn’t she understand? “I care about parties! Because parties allow discussions which lead to the policies and laws that change the world. And I can’t host any while my home is in disarray.”
She nodded slowly while tears seeped from her eyes. Normally he would think she was forcing the show of emotion, but in this he knew she was genuinely distressed. “I thought you valued me over your politics. I can see now that you have turned away from love.”
“How can you say you love me if your actions are destroying my life’s work?”
“You’re turning into father. You see that, don’t you?”
“What are you talking about?”