Bobby forces himself to smile back, watching as if in a trance as Demeroven turns back to the conversation. There’s a swoonin his stomach and a tingle in his fingers at the mere mention of an outing with Demeroven.
There’s no denying it. All this time convincing himself it was just the security he wanted in a relationship, not Demeroven himself.Friends.What a load of rot. All those things Prince said about falling in love with your best friend, of feeling safe and secure with your partner—has he fallen that hard for Demeroven amid all the squabbling and sparring?
He doesn’t know what to do with himself, with this revelation, trapped in this coach. He isn’t even sure he knows what to do with himself once they get to the manor. Everything just feels too big and too complicated.
Across from him, Gwen and Beth rest against each other, Beth’s eyes slipping closed, Gwen looking peacefully out the window, both of them sufficiently cheered up and comfortable. Beth shifts and wraps her arm around Gwen’s stomach and Gwen smiles, bending to press a kiss to Beth’s forehead.
Bobby’s pulled from his swirling thoughts at Demeroven’s sharp intake of breath.
“Just a reminder, we all need to be discreet while we’re at the manor. Meredith’s mother is staying with us, and she is not privy to our... group dynamic,” Albie says.
Bobby nods, but Demeroven looks back and forth between them. “Discreet?” Demeroven asks.
“Demeroven is very discreet,” Bobby says, smiling at Demeroven, whose look of consternation turns to genuine alarm. “What? You are.”
“I don’t—I don’t understand,” Demeroven says, and there’s a hint of panic in his voice, all that jovial good humor dropping away now.
“We... work as a team to provide Beth and Gwen withtime alone away from prying eyes,” Albie says slowly, glancing at Bobby.
Bobby watches Demeroven’s eyes dart around the carriage, from Beth and Gwen, to him, to Albie, and back. The look on his face reminds Bobby of his retreat after their tryst at Ascot and something clicks sickeningly into place.
Demeroven doesn’tknow. No wonder he balked at the idea of an alliance! He hasn’t even noticed the one staring him in the face. And how could he possibly know how accepting Uncle Dashiell and Aunt Cordelia are if he’s never understood that Beth and Gwen—
“You haven’t figured it out yet,” Bobby says softly.
Demeroven’s confused eyes meet his. “Figured out what?”
Bobby looks over at the girls and then at Albie. This isn’t their secret to tell, but Demeroven needs to know. Though honestly how he’s failed to notice before now is truly a mystery. Especially given Demeroven’s own inclination, he must have some sense for when he’s in accepting company.
But then, he’s always so scared, always so concerned with appearances. Perhaps this really is the first time he’s ever been surrounded by safe, accepting, loving people, and he hasn’t even known he’s had that support.
Surely he won’t judge Beth and Gwen. How could he?
They need to make this right.Heneeds to make this right. But he knows that they can’t just... expose their cousin and Beth like that without permission.
“Would someone please explain what’s going on?” Demeroven says.
Bobby huffs, glancing across the carriage to find Gwen looking back at him from where she’s been resting her cheek on Beth’s head. She gives him a little smile and one bob of her head, before closing her eyes. Bobby looks to Albie, who sighs.
“Beth and Gwen are in love,” Albie says, matter-of-factly, which Bobby appreciates. But Demeroven just stares at him. “Together. In love... together.”
“Surely you’ve noticed something,” Bobby adds gently. Demeroven swings his head around to stare at him, because clearly, he hasn’t. “Never wondered why they’re both still single when they’re so eligible?”
“I don’t want to get married; why should they?” Demeroven asks tightly.
Albie laughs and Bobby hears Gwen snort, though her eyes remain decidedly closed. Goodness, they’ve made a mess of this somehow.
“You’re all missing out,” Albie says, smirking at them.
“Yes, well, it’s a bit easier if you’re born wanting to get married, isn’t it?” Bobby says tartly.
“I can’t help how I was born. Nor can they,” Albie says, looking toward the girls. “So I ask that we all simply be careful at the house. Meredith knows,” he adds for Demeroven’s sake. “And they’d be bunking together either way. But we just don’t discuss anything with her mother, all right?”
“Of course,” Bobby says, while Demeroven just nods, staring at Gwen and Beth napping against each other.
Bobby sits back in his seat and the rest of the ride passes peacefully. But he can feel every movement Demeroven makes, every shift, every little adjustment. Because now Demeroven knows—now he understands that the family loves Beth and Gwen the way they are. Now Demeroven knows they’ve architected a situation where the girls can be happy, and together, and in love, without consequence, or pressure, or judgment.
And sure, all four of them could force themselves into traditional marriages, and take their true happinesses fleetingly. Live their lives in bits and pieces, hiding who they are.
