Bridget did not smile. His Grace’s proposal lingered unspoken in the air between them, like the calm before the storm. She suspected that Elias felt guilty about what had happened, and he was desperate to make amends. Was he desperate enough to refuse the Duke of Wheelton’s proposal? Likely not. But it was worth trying to convince him, at least.
“Elias,” she said.
He gestured to the seat at his right. It would be only the two of them at breakfast. After His Grace’s visit, Elias had returned to the family townhouse. Bridget had elected to join him, so Dorothy and her husband might have some time to themselves. That meant it was only the two of them at breakfast.
On one hand, that meant no one else would be vying for Elias’s attention. No one would be able to argue against Bridget, except for him. On the other hand, it meant that Bridget had no allies. That was unfortunate, for she suspected that Gerard would be easily coaxed into agreeing with her.
Elias stirred sugar into his tea and smiled. If she had not known him so well, Bridget would have thought he was sincerely happy. He lifted his cup and sipped from it, as though there was nothing wrong in the world.
“I do not want to marry him,” Bridget said without preamble.
Her brother coughed, evidently so startled by her brazenness that he had nearly choked on his own tea. He cleared his throat and shook his head. “I fear that you may have no choice in the matter.”
“I do have a choice,” Bridget said. “You may sayno, and that will be the end of it.”
Elias sighed, as the staff brought them their breakfast—fluffy eggs, roasted potatoes, toast, jams, and delectable fruits—all of which only turned Bridget’s stomach. How could she eat when she knew what dinner might bring?
“Bridget, I know that you want me to refuse Wheelton’s proposal, and I want to.”
“Then, do it!”
Elias evidently had no qualms with eating, for he promptly shoveled a substantial serving of the eggs into his mouth. “I cannot,” he said, once he had finished chewing. “His proposal is generous.”
Bridget clenched her jaw.
“We cannot refuse him in the hope of getting something better,” Elias continued. “Because I do not foresee any other man being willing to marry you. We have an offer after two scandals. We would be foolish not to accept it.”
“Would we?” Bridget asked. “I do not recall your forcing Cat to marry anyone.”
“She volunteered,” Elias said. “If she had not agreed to marry Sarsen, Dorothy would have. But your sister is a good example—happily married.”
Bridget shook her head. “You have mentioned that twice now, and I am still not persuaded. If anything, my sister’s success makes mine less likely! Love-matches are rare enough in the world, much less ones that grow from marriages of convenience. The chances of two sisters in the same familybothmarrying for convenience and finding love is impossible.”
“I was unaware that you were so well-verse in math, Bridget,” Elias said lightly. “You ought to visit the tables more often.”
“If I do, I will make you lose your entire fortune out of spite!” Bridget cried. “You would deserve nothing less for making me marry that awful man!”
“I believe that you can do it, too,” Elias said, giving her a cheerful smile. “If Cat managed to find love, you can.”
She shook her head.
“Your sisters are married, though,” Elias continued. “You are the last one.”
“You are not married,” she countered.
“I am different. I have the Dukedom to think of.”
Bridget pressed her lips into a thin line. For a long time, she and her brother simply stared at one another. Elias resumed eating.
After a heartbeat, Bridget seized a piece of toast and bit into it in what she hoped was a sufficiently spiteful manner. Once, Elias would not have accepted this. He would have let her become a spinster. Once, that had been Dorothy’s dream, and he had agreed to it. Why did he have to be the responsible brothernow?
Maybe he had changed after seeing two sisters succeed so thoroughly on the marriage mart.
“I love you,” Elias said softly. “I hope you know that.”
She bit the inside of her cheek. A pressure built behind Bridget’s eyes; it was the familiar sensation of gathering tears. Her chest hurt, and her face warmed. She could not bring herself to say that she doubted his love.
“I know.” Bridget paused. “And I love you, too. Even now.”
