"Clearly not enough to stay on a horse." Lady Egerton produced a small velvet box from her reticule and tossed it onto the bed with the casual indifference one might show a handkerchief. "There. The Egerton betrothalring. As requested, though why you need it now is beyond me. You're already married."
Aubrey picked up the box with hands that trembled slightly. Inside, the ring glittered in the winter sunlight. A large sapphire surrounded by diamonds, set in gold. The ring his father had given his mother. The ring that had been in the Egerton family for five generations.
"Now then," his mother continued, leaning back in her chair with the air of someone preparing for gossip. "Which courtesan is this for? We heard rumours you've taken up with some opera singer in London. Though frankly, I thought you had better taste than that."
Aubrey's head snapped up. "I beg your pardon?"
"The ring, darling." Lady Egerton gestured at the velvet box. "Which mistress are you planning to give it to? Because I must tell you, giving the family betrothal ring to a paramour is in terribly poor taste. Even for you."
"It's for my wife!" Aubrey's voice came out considerably louder than he'd intended. "For Eleanor! My wife, who I am married to, who I have been faithful to despite everything!"
His parents exchanged glances.
"Well," his father said mildly. "That's unexpected."
"Why is that unexpected? She's my wife!"
"Yes, but we didn’t realise you knew that judging by the way you’ve been behaving." Lady Egerton examined her nails with interest.
"I was wrong." Aubrey clutched the ring box. "I was blind and stupid and cruel, and I was wrong about everything."
"Oh dear," his mother murmured. "He's in love."
"Seems to be." Lord Egerton shook his head sadly. "Poor boy. Love makes foolsof us all."
"I'm not a fool."
"No, you are a wastrel," his father said.
"A wretch, for abandoning your angelic wife," his mother added.
"You should have given it to her when you were betrothed." His father clicked his tongue.
"You refused then,” his mother added. “Refused to honour her as your betrothed."
Aubrey pressed his hands to his face. "I know what I said and did. There truly is no need to remind me."
"Of course there is." Lady Egerton's voice was almost fond. "We're terrible at showing affection and raised you with all the warmth of a military boarding school. The least we can do is to remind you of your wrongdoings."
"I see. Are you quite finished?"
"No." His father settled into the other chair. "But you turned out well enough. Mostly. Aside from almost losing your manhood over a phantom."
"How is Eleanor, by the way?" Lady Egerton's tone shifted slightly. Less teasing, more interested. "You look reasonably healthy. I suppose your wife hasn’t poisoned you yet. I would have."
Aubrey felt his expression soften involuntarily. "She's been... extraordinary. She nursed me herself. Every day. Every night. Turning me, changing dressings, managing my pain. And the estate… Mother, you should see what she's done with the estate. The accounts are impeccable. She's saved us hundreds of pounds while improving everything. She's negotiated better contracts, organised charitable giving, managed the staff with perfect efficiency—"
"Good Lord," his father interrupted, holding up a hand. "If you continue waxing poetic, I'll need brandy. He's besotted."
"Completely gone," his mother agreed. "Look at his face. He's glowing."
"I am not."
"If it's not love, then you're feverish and we should summon the doctor." Lady Egerton leaned forward with undisguised amusement. "You look like a boy describing his first pony. It's almost endearing. Almost."
Aubrey felt his face heat. "She's brilliant and kind and stronger than anyone I've ever met. She held this entire estate together while I sulked in London. She's been caring for orphans and managing accounts and dealing with my absence with more grace than I deserve. And I…" He stopped, swallowing hard. "I hope she’ll give me another chance. Even after everything. I hope she’ll permit me to court her properly."
"Court her? You're already married to her." His father looked confused.
