“I’m sorry, but I fear I cannot sit still,” Morgan said, still in stride. “I can’t sit still because my mind is running a mile a minute, and I fear that if I do sit still, I am the one who will become insane.”
“Well, better you than me, I suppose,” Arthur said under his breath but loud enough that Morgan stopped to glare at him. Arthur pulled a bottle of smooth whiskey from his desk and pulled two glasses, avoiding Morgan’s burning gaze.
“Fine, I am sorry,” Arthur said placatingly. “Now, are you going to tell me what it is that has you so worked up?”
Morgan leaned on the desk. He watched his friend quietly, wondering how much he wanted to tell him. Suddenly, he wondered if he ever wanted to talk about something so embarrassing with anyone in the world.
Arthur waited patiently, leaning backward into the chair with his arms crossed on his chest. He held Morgan’s gaze, giving him a look that said that he was not alone. That he had some help and some company.
Morgan sighed deeply. “It’s about Ms. Knight.”
Arthur frowned. “Barbara’s governess? What happened to her? Oh no, did your character chase her away as well?”
“Let me finish, and then, maybe you would know exactly what’s going on,” Morgan scolded Arthur.
“Fine, fine,” Arthur acquiesced. “I beg your pardon. Please, go ahead.”
“It all started this morning, when I was looking for Barbara,” Morgan began. He recounted the entire episode to Arthur as accurately as he could, speaking swiftly as words tumbled out of his mouth.
He had skimmed over the details of the ball, however, not wanting to revisit that event. Everything else he told his friend about.
“You’re joking,” Arthur said incredulously after Morgan finished speaking.
“I wish I was, Arthur. I practically brought the roof down over her head this morning. All she ever did — all she has ever done, since she came here — was treat Barbara well. And yet, I condemned her for hurting the same person she cared about.
“I was so stupid. I can’t stop thinking about her face just before she bolted out of the room. I’m sure all she sees now is a monster. Just like every other governess Barbara has ever had. Just like everybody else.
“And yet, how could I have known? This, Arthur, is the reason why people don’t like me. It’s the reason people are so scared of me. Because of moments like this.
“I really should have given Selina time to explain what was going on. I could have been more patient and calmer. Unfortunately, I can’t help myself when it comes to my little sister.
“All I really want is the best for her and to keep her safe. I just wish I didn’t end up hurting someone who cared about her in the process. But as I said earlier, I really did think that Barbara was hurt.”
When Morgan had started speaking, his pace had quickened as he spoke. He became animated and energetic. Now, however, he seemed drained and spent, like a field at the end of a battle.
Arthur watched Morgan quietly, a slight frown on his face as he listened. The whole time Morgan had spoken, Arthur had remained as quiet as a mouse. Now, he watched Morgan as he made his way toward the desk.
Morgan slumped into one of the chairs, nursing his glass delicately. He peered into his drink for a few seconds, then swallowed it in one gulp.
Arthur reclined in his seat and chuckled, his serious expression from earlier replaced with his usual pleasant one. Morgan shot him an icy look and Arthur acted like he could not see it.
“I find it rather amusing that you didn’t know what that was, Morgan. I have to say. I mean, a man as smart as you, I would expect that you could have pieced two and two together in such a situation.”
“Well, I’m very sorry to say,” Morgan protested as he poured himself another drink. “But unlike you, I’m not that well acclimated in the ways of women.”
“Oh? How interesting. Did you just call me a cad?” Arthur’s voice was sardonic and it annoyed Morgan, who shrugged in response.
“Not my words, my friend. However, you know what you are so don’t go acting surprised.” Quietly, he wondered why he bothered to speak about any of this to Arthur, when all he was going to do was mock him.
“Well, I will have you know that whilst I may have won the privilege of seeing beneath many skirts, that does not mean that it was while those women were in their… womanly period.”
Morgan glanced at Arthur curiously, then gazed back into his glass. “If such is the case, then how did you learn about it?”
“I simply learned because I was curious enough to want to know what it was. I saw it happen to my mother by mistake a long time ago.”
Morgan turned to Arthur again, this time an incredulous look on his face. “What?”
Arthur nodded and took a sip from his glass. “When I was ten, I ran into my mother’s chambers without permission. Like you, I saw the blood, even though they tried to hide it from me.
