“Possible yes, likely no.”
“But why did you say it like that?”
“Like what?”
“As if you expect her to run a mile upon bearing witness to me. I would have thought that you would be more supportive.”
“My apologies. Of course I do not mean it like that. I do not wish to discourage you, and I never have. This will be good for you,as your mother and I have told you time and again. I am not concerned that this girl will not like you, I am simply concerned because this sort of behavior is unlike you. Nothing more.”
It was true. Philip had changed since Lady Ophelia had shunned him, and he had thought for the longest time that he would not find happiness a second time, and now that Lady Jacqueline had arrived it gave him hope that he could trust that happiness again.
Regardless of how much he wanted to, however, he had to admit that Lucien was right; his sudden change in behavior was strange, and he had to remember not to throw himself in too far, lest it not end well once more.
“Was this a mistake?” Philip asked.
“No, no of course it wasn’t,” Lucien replied, though he did not sound certain. “I only want what is best for you, and you to only act when you are sure it is right to, as you do with everything else.”
Philip nodded, understanding his position completely, when there was a knock at the door.
“Excuse me, Your Grace,” the butler said quietly. “Lord Pemberton wishes to speak with you.”
Philip groaned. He did not wish to speak to Lady Jacqueline’s father for the moment, frustrated with him after what he had done. He did not want to discuss any particular matter with him until he had calmed down about it, and he did not know when that would be.
Even so, he had to be a good host, and that included speaking to his guests whether he was pleased with their actions or not.
“We can continue this conversation later,” he said to Lucien, who simply nodded and left the room, and Lord Pemberton entered soon after.
“Before you say a word,” Philip said firmly. “I want to make it clear to you that I am unimpressed by what you have done.”
“What might that be, Your Grace? I do believe I have acted as any good guest should during my stay here.”
“It is the reason for your visit here that has left me unimpressed.”
“What do you mean, Your Grace? Is my daughter not pleasing to you?”
“She most certainly is, but the fact that you have brought her here without telling her the true purpose of the visit has left me anything but pleased.”
“Ah, you have come to learn that.”
“You know perfectly well that I would have eventually. What sort of marriage, if that was truly your goal, would be made up of two people that do not discuss things with one another?”
“My marriage worked perfectly well that way. We found it more amicable.”
“Well, thank God that such a fate will not befall me. It does not matter what excuse you give, it was completely wrong of you to deceive your daughter in such a manner. I did not agree to this arrangement thinking that I was fooling a sweet lady. It astounds me that not only did you choose to do such a thing, but that you are so evidently proud of it.”
Suddenly, he saw the earl falter.
“I am not proud,” he mumbled. “I may act as though I have no regrets, but that is precisely as it appears to be, an act.”
Philip tried not to roll his eyes at the man.
“You see,” he continued. “I am every bit the coward that you think I am, but I only needed more time.”
“You had enough time to tell her.”
“I did, but I did not know how to broach the subject. I thought, I hoped, that if we gave it enough time for the two of you to get along before I revealed the truth to her, she might have been more willing to listen. I was only wanting to soften the truth, not to trick my own daughter.”
Philip did not believe the excuse, but he pitied the man a great deal.
