Alice was a mess of mixed emotions. Though she had suspected that Ethan might love her as she loved him, he’d never admitted to it before. Hearing the actual words was humbling and made her heart overflow with happiness, but it also made the piercing pain in her chest that much more intense.
“I know you are more concerned than ever about your father and that choosing me might exacerbate matters. But, Alice,”—he held the side of her head and looked her deep in the eyes—“wouldn’t he want you to be as happy as he was with your mother?”
Her tears returned with a vengeance, grief for her beautiful mother rising to the surface. Memories that had been long buried ran through her mind—her mother laughing at something her father said and him beaming at her; Father watching Mother play with her; Mother observing father painting, praising his picture, when he had still indulged his love of art before the accident.
Father was a happy man once, and he’d so loved her mother. Maybe, just maybe if he could set aside his worry about pleasing his own brother, the great Marquess of Wrexham, he’d see and accept that Ethan was who she really wanted.
“I know you are scared,” Ethan said as her hitched breathing slowed. “And I know there could be real consequences to the choices you make. But, Alice, I’m telling you that I love you andI want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you. So whether you choose a future together or not, I will respect your decision. But I don’t want you to have any doubt as to how I feel for you or what I hope for, and I want you to know with all certainty that if you decide to fight for us, I’ll be by your side to support you every step of the way.”
Ethan leaned forward and placed a kiss on her head. With a final squeeze of her hands, he stood and left her to her thoughts, asking the footman to see her to her room to rest on his way out.
That was so like him, always looking out for her. In that moment, her heart knew what she must do, even if it might kill her.
Alice sucked in a breath and held it for a moment before letting it out slowly, shakily. From the age of eight, ever since the accident, she’d tried to be the best daughter possible, never causing her father a moment of upset if it could be helped. But now, she knew the only way to live a life that would make her truly happy meant she would severely disappoint him.
She needed to be braver than she had ever been before.
CHAPTER 27
“I don’t care what time it is,” Alice’s father harrumphed. “I want to talk to my daughter.”
“And I’m telling you that she has hardly left your bedside for two days and needs rest,” Wrexham replied.
Ethan, slipping into the room, sidled up to West. “When did he wake up?”
“Only a few minutes ago,” his cousin whispered. “He asked for Alice, but mercifully Wrexham is giving it a moment, hoping he’ll cool off before then.”
“Stay calm,” Wrexham urged. “You’ve done enough to upset that girl.”
“I’ve upset her?” He stopped to cough, voice still weak. “She’s the one who went and fell in love with someone from your damn son-in-law’s family. You know the Beaumonts are nothing to speak of. The only reason you accepted Priscilla’s marriage was because it was to the actual marquess.”
Ethan flinched. He shouldn’t be here; this was a family matter and he felt like he was intruding. He began to slip away, but Priscilla came up beside him and grabbed his arm, halting his escape.
“No, stay,” she whispered. “You should hear this.”
Not given much of a choice, Ethan leaned back against the wall. He knew he was about to hear things that would make him supremely uncomfortable; however, he would do anything for Alice. And if Priscilla thought he should stay, he would.
Wrexham heaved a sigh. “I know I’ve been an absolute snob in the past—Lady Wrexham and I were far too concerned with status when we first matched Priscilla.”
“As you should have been, you made her a duchess,” said the ailing man.
“Yes, but at what cost? I saw how miserable she was in that marriage forced to take care of her husband and not having any kind of affection to sustain her through such tasks. I wish I would have considered her happiness before her status. Now seeing her so happy with West—I was a fool.”
“Brother, what are you talking about?”
“Look, we can discuss this later when you are stronger and more well rested. But please, don’t be upset with Alice for her choice. Let her be happy,” Wrexham said while attempting to tuck his brother in.
“No, we are going to discuss this now. What are you talking about?” he shot back, grabbing the marquess’s sleeve.
Wrexham sat back down on the edge of the bed with a sigh, head hanging low. “I can see that you won’t rest until we’ve had this out. So hear what I’m telling you.” He looked over at the three of them huddled in the back of the room, seeking his daughter’s eyes. Priscilla gave him a nod of encouragement, and the lord took in a deep breath before turning back to his brother.
“I was stubborn about who I thought my girls should marry, just like you are with Alice. But Priscilla shared that your daughter has fallen in love with a good man. No, don’t protest, just listen.” Wrexham held up his hand, silencing his brother who was attempting to sit up in bed. “Don’t you want Alice to behappy? Don’t you want her to have a marriage like you had with Agatha? Isn’t that the most important thing?”
“Of course I want Alice to be happy. But more than anything, she needs security. Life can change on a ha’penny—I know this. She needs to marry a title and money so she’ll never have to worry about her place in society and she’ll be cared for once I’m gone.” He paused to shove himself up into a sitting position, Ethan now able to see his pale face for the first time since entering the room. “She needs to find a match this season and can’t be distracted by this estate manager.”
“Why the rush, there’s no reason she must marry this season.” Wrexham leaned forward as Alice’s father mumbled something in reply. “What?”
“I said I can’t afford another season. There, are you happy?”
