“Thank you,” she replied, not used to such flattery. In the world she came from, overly used flattery meant that someone had ulterior motives, which were usually not of the good kind. It took all her conscious effort to remind herself that she was not in that world any longer. It had been years, but the terrors, the nightmares were still as fresh, as potent inside her mind as before. “The dress was a gift from Alexander.”
Alexander twitched a little nervously at her admission.Perhaps, she ought not to have mentioned such a thing?Marjorie was not certain if she had said something wrong. Alexander’s reaction was certainly such.
“It is?” Percival inspected her gown scrutinously from top to bottom. “A rather fine choice, I must say. You would certainly have much work as a fashion advisor to the ladies, old boy.”
“That is good to know,” Alexander replied a little awkwardly. “I shall take it into account if all my investments take a sudden plunge.”
“I doubt that would ever happen, though,” Percival patted him on the shoulder. “Speaking of investments, perhaps we could discuss them one of these days. I have a small sum which I am hoping to invest wisely, but I am still considering perhaps banking? Or maybe building?”
“Well, both require some insight, which I would be happy to provide,” Alexander nodded, obviously feeling more at ease discussing business than discussing ladies. Marjorie was surprised to see it. She expected him to be very charming with the ladies, with this charm coming as absolutely no effort. As it turned out, Alexander was not such an extrovert as she first considered him to be. Strangely, she liked it.
“I would be grateful for that. On another note, my mother sends her regards,” Percival announced, as they walked, passing by couples and small groups of people who also preferred to be outside on such a gloriously sunny day. “And is asking when you shall visit us.” He turned to Marjorie with his next suggestion. “The both of you.”
“Your mother is very kind,” Alexander nodded respectfully. “We shall certainly take her up on her offer one of these days, won’t we, Marjorie?”
Marjorie mirrored his confirmation with a gentle nod of the head, hiding her eyes underneath her bonnet. She doubted she had ever met the woman, but if she was already inviting them, then that had to mean something, something important. A gut-wrenching sensation took over her, and she pressed her lips tightly shut.
“You know how highly she thinks of you,” Percival added. “Why, sometimes, I think she wishes you were her son instead of me!” He laughed loudly, cheerfully, although Marjorie did not find it particularly amusing. A mother should never wish to substitute her child for another, even as a joke. She was certain that Percival was exaggerating for some still inexplicable purposes, but she still smiled, as that was the polite thing to do. And Marjorie was anything if not polite.
“She keeps telling me she would like to see me settled with a good woman,” Percival said importantly, with Marjorie refusing to look in his direction.
Certainly, strolling with him here with Alexander as their chaperone meant that they were there to get better acquainted with each other, for the purposes of potential marriage. That was implied. But speaking of it openly made Marjorie feel as if she were truly on the market, and instead of her being the purchaser, she was in fact the goods. The thought did not sit well with her. Not one bit.
“Mr. Allen,” she rushed to change the topic of conversation, “what do you do in your spare time?”
It was a simple question, obviously meant not to pry into someone’s life, but still endeavored to provide a window into the way one spent his time.
“Well, first of all, I would like you not to refer to me so formally,” he frowned. “I may not be Percy to you yet, but please, do not push me even further away by making me sound like an old banker about to offer you a loan.”
She smiled. It was a forced smile, but it was a smile, nonetheless. “All right… Percival.”
That was as much as she could muster at the moment. She doubted this man would ever become Percy to her, as much as her heart would recognize him as such. Then again, she was not fond of shortened names in general. Alexander, for instance, would never be merely Alex. It simply did not sound like him. Just like Percy did not suit the man she saw before her.
“Well, now that we’ve got that out of the way, I suppose I should not say drinking and gambling,” he said, elbowing Alexander, who looked mortified at the joke.
“Even if you do not say it, it is generally implied,” Marjorie decided to take him up on his joke. Certainly, no gentleman would ever admit to any of these pastimes, to which she could add one more, even more shocking. But that still did not mean that they refrained from those indulgences. The only difference was to what extent was it done.
“I am a fan of fencing and hunting,” Percival finally said. “I hope those are better than drinking and gambling.”
Killing innocent animals?Hardly. But Marjorie did not share her sentiments with him.
“Percival also used to box before,” Alexander added. “He was quite good.”
Perhaps they expected her to be enthralled by these traits, as a woman. A weak woman who needed to be protected and saved. She reminded herself that this was how the ton worked. Women were beautiful creatures who needed to be taken care of. Men were the protectors, the knights in shining armor in search of a princess to save. They merely believed that she, as any other woman, was in search of a man who was obviously strong and powerful. It was nothing personally aimed at her. It was merely the order of things.
“Oh, that was a long time ago,” Percival waved his hand dismissively, as if none of that mattered at all. “But I do remember sparring with you several times. It was a draw.”
“I remember beating you,” Alexander corrected him.
“I also remember beatingyou,” Percival challenged. For a moment, Marjorie thought she could sense the air around them tighten in tension. But she was obviously wrong. “All in good fun, though.”
“Of course,” Alexander agreed.
The rest of the conversation passed agreeably enough. Percival was more direct this time. At least he heeded her advice. He was not completely unlikable, but there was simply no spark. For what she needed, a spark was not necessary. Marriage in their day and age was rarely conducted out of true love. Marriage was a business contract. She hoped hers would be the one to beat the odds, but… It was best to accept reality, and make it work somehow. She could do much worse than Percival Allen, who seemed occasionally amusing, moderately wealthy, and archetypally handsome.
Not as handsome as Alexander.
The thought sneaked up on her as she listened to the two men banter playfully, proving the strength and longevity of their friendship. She reminded herself that Alexander was not there to marry her. He was there to help her get married to someone else. That was what mattered.
