“I don’t know,” Alexander said the first thing that popped to mind. “When Jonathan came to me with the news, I fear she had injured herself gravely, and I rushed over there immediately, unable to think about anything else.” At least that part was true. He was not lying.
Percival’s brow knitted, as if a dark cloud just passed over him. “Who is Jonathan?”
“One of the little orphans that we have been taking care of,” Alexander explained. “He ran all the way to my home. Can you imagine?”
Alexander was still in awe at the feat of that little boy, who had left a deep impression in Alexander’s mind. It commenced with the handshake, then him being the one to run all the way from the inn, with only one shoe.
“Well,” Percival huffed. “What did the physician say?”
“Fortunately, it is nothing but a mild sprain,” Alexander explained.
He got up from the armchair he was sitting in and went to open the window. The sun outside promised a lovely day. He inhaled deeply as the fresh spring breeze hit his nostrils. Then he exhaled, in a satisfying manner. When he turned to Percival again, he could notice the look of impatience on his friend’s face.
“He advises rest, and about two weeks of keeping her weight off that leg. It needs to heal properly.”
“I see,” Percival nodded, patting his chin with his index finger. “I was hoping to go visit her tomorrow or the day after tomorrow and announce my desire to marry her. I suppose it is not the right moment, then.”
“I fear not, old boy,” Alexander nodded. Outside, he was calm as a mountain lake, but inside, his emotions exploded out of him like hot, molten lava. And there was nothing he could do about it to prevent it from coming on. “But what are two weeks’ time? Allow her to rest. You can always write to her. Keep in contact with her. But I would allow her some time to heal. Then, when you appear for your visit, you tell her what it is you have to say.”
Somehow, saying the wordsmarry herout loud didn’t sit right with him. He felt selfish about her, about those words as well. He felt as if he should be the only one with the right to say them. Yet, he knew that it was his fault, because it was he who pushed Marjorie in Percival’s direction. Now, the two would be married.
“I must say, I am very excited,” Percival also stood up and started pacing about the study, stopping in front of Alexander’s vast library, with books lined along a bookshelf throughout the entire length of the wall. He seemed to skim through the titles, as if in search of something that would tickle his fancy, but then gave up, turning to face Alexander once more.
“As you should be,” Alexander smiled back. “One should only marry once… if one is lucky enough to choose the right partner.”
“I believe I have found the right one,” Percival’s voice was laden with emotion, something Alexander witnessed rarely. His friend had always been the type to hide his emotions, fearing it might make him appear to be less of a man. Alexander had tried to show him numerous times that their friendship meant they could both lower their guard and be who they truly were in front of each other.
“Marjorie is a wonderful young lady,” Alexander echoed the feelings of his own heart, a labyrinth he could not find his way out of. The more he talked about her, the more love he felt for her. The more love he felt, the more he wished to talk about her.
“I would never have met her if it weren’t for you,” Percival acknowledged. “Nor would I have even considered her as a potential bride. I took an interest because of you, because you were my friend, and I am so glad I did, because now, I could not imagine not having her in my life.”
Alexander knew how that felt. He could not imagine not having her in his life either. Only, Percival’s life was only about to become even more blessed with her presence in it, while his would be surrounded by bleak memories of her past presence.
“We are both fortunate to have her,” Alexander acknowledged, about to cut this meeting short with some polite but decisive reason, when Collins knocked on the door, opening them with an apology once he was beckoned in.
“My lord,” he bowed courteously, “Mr. Fitzgerald kindly requests your audience.”
“Oh, yes,” Alexander nodded, remembering that he had instructed William to call upon him once the documents were ready for signing. “Do send him in, Collins.”
“Well, I’d best leave you to it, then,” Percival announced his departure as well.
“I apologize for the abrupt end to our conversation, old boy,” Alexander smiled, grateful for what he had just apologized. “But I need to sign the papers for the Miller residence, and I am quite eager to start with the renovations.”
“Ah, yes. The new orphanage you have been planning?”
“Indeed,” Alexander beamed at the idea, but more so because it would provide him with some more precious time with Marjorie, before the marriage.
“You know, I considered buying the old place myself,” Percival suddenly revealed. “It never seemed like a good investment.”
“Truth be told, it is not an investment in the real sense of the word,” Alexander cleared. “I do not expect any return for anything I invest in that place. It is solely to help, nothing else.”
“That is… rather altruistic of you,” Percival acknowledged. “It is easy to be altruistic when one has enough money.”
“A little bit of money can always be gifted away, old boy,” Alexander smiled, when the door suddenly opened, and William Fitzgerald was ushered in by the butler.
“Good day, gentlemen,” William greeted them both, already well familiar with Alexander, but being only an acquaintance to Percival.
“Good day,” Percival nodded. “Always a pleasure to see you, Mr. Fitzgerald. I was just on my way out.”
