William turned on him.
“I’m interested in her, obviously.”
Finn took his brother by the arm and led him into the nearest public house. William cursed at the strength of Finn’s grip.
“Interestedhow?” Finn said, throwing him in the chair.
William was laughing through his surprise at his brother’s strange reaction and cradled his arm in mock pain.
“Brother, what’s gotten into you? How do you think I’m interested?”
Finn crossed his arms, signalled to the barman to bring two beers, and then looked sternly at his brother.
“I think,” Finn began, “you’re interested in Marigold in the way any man is ‘interested’ in a woman, and it’s not right, William. It’s just not right. She’s very vulnerable.”
“I’mcourtingher, Finn,” William said. “At least in a preliminary way.” Their beers came, William took a long sip, and shrugged. “I’m not looking to sleep in her bed while she lives under our roof–that’s for sure. I think she’s beautiful, and interesting, and I want to get to know her, and if I continue to like what I learn, I think I will court her. But properly. How could you accuse me of anything else?”
Finn raised his eyebrows.
“Okay, okay,” William said, putting his hands up. “So I’ve had flings with a few women. Just for fun. But none of those women were like Marigold.”
“You can’t marry someone just because they are beautiful and ‘interesting,’” Finn said. “Especially not someone who you only met yesterday.”
“I didn’t say I was going to propose this evening!” William shouted, drawing stares from a few other customers. He lowered his voice some. “And don’t act like you’re a great example. Hestia is beautiful, but she’s certainly not interesting.”
Finn’s mouth hung open. He was dumbstruck.
William, realizing the effect of his words, began to apologize.
“I didn’t mean that,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s just that…well, I’m sure Hestia is interesting to you. She’s just not what I’m looking for.”
Finn nodded. He had been silent because he wasn’t sure how to defend his fiancee. She was beautiful. That was not up for debate. But interesting?
“Tell me what you mean by interesting,” Finn said.
“Um,” William said, tugging on his collar. “It’s just that, sometimes I get bored when Hestia is talking. It’s just that she talks so much–” William paused and swallowed, perhaps discovering that he was getting himself even further into hot water, without knowing a way out– “and if she didn’t talk so much,” he continued, “I might find what she says more consistently interesting. And maybe it’s not Hestia so much as…Marigold, when she talks, she’s always interesting.”
“Go on,” Finn said.
“I like a woman with a past,” William said. “It indicates a certain strength. And for Marigold, it seems that, because of what she’s been through, she appreciates the fullness of ordinary things so readily.”
“Well put,” Finn said, setting his glass down. “I agree.”
“So maybe it’s not that Hestiaisn’tinteresting, it’s just that, to me, Marigoldis. Whenever I talk to Hestia, it seems like she can’t contribute to anythingIbring up, only those topics that she monologues on….err, sorry.”
“I’m glad to know how you feel,” Finn said.
“Oh, it’s not so dramatic. I like her fine!” William said. “I was only angry because you insinuated that I was trying toseduceMarigold.”
“I’m just looking out for her–Marigold, that is,” Finn explained. “Since I found her in our fields, I’ve felt…a little protective of her. Eager for her to find what she’s looking for.”
William nodded.
“You’re being a good host,” he said. “I admire that.”
But Finn asked himself: is thatallI’m doing?
Finn paid the tab and patted his brother on the shoulder as they left.
