Just when she thought he'd never speak, he opened his mouth. "Edward and I don't look alike. He's taller and more handsome, and he's been gifted with brighter brains. But I am half an hour older and therefore the heir. That hasn't always been acceptable to my brother. Or to my father, who never made a secret of the fact that Edward was preferable. He was the better heir. The better son. He never embarrassed him. He's not a fool like me and, as far as I know, has never made a single mistake in his entire life."
“Oh Edmund.” Ellen regarded him with compassion.
Edmund looked up and away, as if not seeing her. "There was an argument. Not a minor disagreement, but a big one. We were about to kill each other if Mother hadn't pulled us apart. I'd had enough and left. If Edward wants it all, he shall have it. What do I care? I never asked for it and I don't need any of it. But that's not the way the world works. Then my father died. I made my own way through life. Haven't seen the others since. The end."
There was silence.
Ellen grimaced. "I'm so sorry, that's terrible." She took his hand.
"Yes, well, now you know. And as lovely as Penwick Park is, I'd rather not set foot on it. Not even to do my mother a favour for a cup of tea, not while Edward is there. He seems to do an excellent job of looking after the place, so I'm not needed and they're better off without me." He shrugged again.
Sorrow filled Ellen's heart. So that was what was driving him: forevermore being measured against his twin and being found wanting. To escape it, he'd fled into the caricature he'd created of himself, exaggerating the characteristics of an empty-headed fool. All to hide from a world that had badly hurt him.
She lifted her hands to pull his face down and kissed him.
A small sound escaped his throat as he responded.
He was so familiar to her now; his scent, the feel of his arms around her, the strength of his body against hers.
"Oy, they're kissing again." A booming voice broke into her foggy mind.
They moved apart, but then Edmund pulled her back and held her by the waist.
Dobberham, Monteroy and Tilney stood at the door, grinning.
"If you could stop what you are doing for a moment and listen, please.” Dobberman announced. “Louisa has instructed us to find you, for the games are to continue. Are you ready?"
Edmund groaned. "Must we?"
"Yes, you must. The weather has suddenly changed, and it is raining, so we cannot go on the trip to the Gothic Abbey, and Louisa has come up with an alternative programme. She says it will be a witty afternoon." Dobberham grimaced.
"We could play a game or two to please Louisa and retire early," Edmund suggested, a gleam in his eye.
The men smirked and slapped him on the shoulder.
Ellen did not know where to look.
Lady Dobberham'schoice of games today seemed more to Ellen's taste, for they were word games.
Ellen sat in her chair next to Edmund. She smoothed her skirt with a sense of relief. She was good at these games and hopefully, with some luck, she would not have to pay any forfeits.
They had to sit in a circle and answer random questions without using certain vowels.
That's easy enough, Ellen thought, as it was a game she used to play with her pupils at the seminary.
Thus, to everyone's amusement, when Tilney asked Miss Anne if she enjoyed kissing, she blushed and stammered, "Yes," only to immediately clamp her hand over her mouth because she'd used a word containing the forbidden vowel E. Her forfeit was the feather she wore in her hair, which Tilney removed with nimble fingers.
Ellen noted that Edmund seemed rather poor at this game. He was clearly not in the mood. Every time it was his turn, he gave the wrong answer, to the general amusement of the group.
For example, when Lady Cynthia asked him if he thought it was important for a man to be well dressed, a question that required him to answer by avoiding the letter A, he replied, "Of course, a man should always be dressed according to the latest fashion," and everyone shrieked.
"Tewkbury! Have you got any idea how many A's you have used?" Dobberham laughed.
Tewkbury folded his arms and shrugged. "I say. Three?"
Ellen noticed a blush had crept up his neck.
Another round of laughter.
