Vaughan crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Except that you would hate me.”
“Hate you! Vaughan, it is my idea. I know it would only be for mutual convenience, but she would be happier with you than with Sir Charles.”
“Brampton, you are my cousin—more than that, you are the brother I never had.” Philip felt his cheeks heat to hear Vaughan admit to it. “And you love Eleanor Tilney,” he said, pointing to Philip. “You have never said it, but you do not need to. Ever since we were children, you have been devoted to her. How much will you grow to hate me if I married her, even if it was at your urging?”
He blew out a breath and rubbed his eyes. “You are right,” Philip said. “Damn it. How can she settle for Sir Charles? She has so much sense, but after what happened to this Miss Morland and her brother Henry, she is determined to escape from her father as soon as possible. A fortune, a title, and her father’s approval, and she would have any man with a pulse!”
To his surprise, Vaughan said, “Of course she would.”
“How can you say that?”
“What point is there for her to be particular when all she needs is to get away from the general, to not suffer under an impatient, dictatorial man, and live her own life?” the viscount explained as though instructing a slow child. “She could never replace you, so if she can never marry for love, then any man will do.”
“She is going to replace me, though,” Philip said quietly. “Another man is going to be the first person she consults and confides in, even if he does not deserve her.” He could not bear to see her with another man, and he could not put himself in a situation where he would be tempted into anything more than friendship. What happened at Northanger last winter could never be repeated after she was married.
“Our friendship will have to sink,” Philip finally said, “as much as it pains me. I have too much honour, and too much respect for Miss Tilney, to have a liaison with a married woman.”
Philip heard Vaughan take a quick intake of breath, and then watched him lift his chin ever so slightly. He felt a thickness in his throat at his blunder. “Sorry,” he said through a sigh. “Truly, I did not mean it. I know what Lady Metcalfe means to you.”
Vaughan gave a tight smile. “I put myself in this situation, and I continue to stay there.”
It was a secret that was no secret, likely not even to Lord Metcalfe. Everyone knew it, but no one spoke of Vaughan’s years-long love affair with a married woman. “I am sorry for what I said.” Vaughan waved away his apology. “You are going into Kent in May?”
He nodded, a faint smile on his lips. “Lady Metcalfe’s little girl turns four, and she always hosts a party in the spring. I shall stay with my friend Sir Lewis, at least until Lord Metcalfe goes to town in June.”
Philip had seen the little girl’s miniature and anyone who looked at it would see Vaughan in her eyes and smile. He would never say so, but Philip thought that Vaughan and Lady Metcalfe were waiting for her husband, who was twenty years her senior, to die.He doubted Lord Metcalfe would even be in the ground before Vaughan went to Doctors’ Commons for a marriage licence.
Vaughan looked at his watch and gave him an emphatic look. They rose to go to breakfast, and in the corridor, he asked, “When I leave, will you stay here, or do you wish to return to Belleville?”
“I waver between wanting to never see Miss Tilney again and wanting to stay near to her as long as I am still able.”
His cousin clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Do not judge her harshly, Brampton. I have a great deal of sympathy for Miss Tilney. Lady Metcalfe—” He then lowered his voice as a footman passed. “I cannot but take notice of the hardship women are reduced to, in that she may not court the man she loves, but only accept in marriage one who happens to court her, and only accept it if the union is sanctioned by her family.”
“Whereas men may address themselves to whomever they please? You are right, it is unequal. Still, for Miss Tilney to encourage Sir Charles of all men...”
“Then you know how dreadful life must be for her.” Vaughan raised an eyebrow. “Think of the want of spiritsyousuffer under the general. What must it be like for her?”
* * *
When breakfast was finished,Philip played billiards with Vaughan, Dryden, and Sir Charles, but soon grew weary of them. Vaughan did his best to draw him a little out, but between the other men’s ribald talk and a game he did not like, Philip wanted to leave them.
After he pled to be excused for the sake of his unfinished work, Dryden said, “You are a dead bore, Brampton!” Philip knew it was a good-natured attack. He smiled and touched his forehead in salute as he walked to the door.
“What work doyouhave?” Sir Charles asked, disbelieving, as he struck a ball with his mace.
Philip turned around slowly. “A few mathematical calculations I am obliged to finish by the end of the spring.” There was no need to explain that these questions were for his own edification and enjoyment, and not for any grander purpose like he explained to the general.
Sir Charles laughed. “Do you mean, ‘If four yards of cloth cost twelve shillings, what will six yards cost at that rate’ or other such schoolboy’s nonsense? Only a shopkeeper would ever need to know that.”
Philip looked away, unwilling to argue but hating the restless feeling in his chest as he stayed silent. He felt Vaughan’s attention and then heard him say, “And also anyone who does not want to be cheated by one, Sir Charles.”
Sir Charles rocked back on his heels. “Or one whose fortune is too small to allow for a few petty losses.”
He felt the slight on his income not for his own sake—he was content with his situation—but it did prevent him from being able to address Eleanor. Philip took a deep breath but said nothing.
“Well, maybe that is because you could not solve it without pencil and paper,” Vaughan teased Sir Charles, with an easy laugh and then a gesture that they might now return to the billiard table.
Sir Charles scowled, and before Philip could leave, said loudly, “I need not worry about shillings and pence. However, I do not think Brampton either could solve it in his head.”
