“I thought you needed a reminder of who she was. I thought for certain that interest would return.”
“It did not,” Emory ground out. “And you left me in an awkward position.”
“How so? It was an introduction, nothing more.”
“Because Mrs. Wilder expected more. Even if she never explicitly said the words, you knew, I knew, she knew, and she anticipated an intimate interlude.”
Emory couldn’t believe that his brother would arrange such for him. First, he’d already said that he did not want to pursue Mrs. Wilder, and second, it was a betrayal of his trust.
“I thought one of us should have some enjoyment in this village, as I’m not granted such.”
“That is your decision, not mine.” Emory stood with such force that the wooden dining chair fell, banging on the floor behind him. “I have always avoided causing pain to others when I can. However, my rejection of Mrs. Wilder last evening did just that.”
“I’m certain she was not harmed,” Liam dismissed.
Emory stared at him. “Have you not felt the sting of rejection yourself?”
“We all have,” Liam dismissed, though Emory doubted as such. “Further, I really think you are making too much of this.”
“And you didn’t respect my wishes.”
Liam sighed and set his coffee aside. “I am sorry.” At least he sounded apologetic. “I found it difficult to believe that you’ve changed so much.”
“I’ve not changed,” Emory argued.
“Have you not?” Liam countered. “Until the end of last Season you made no secret of your many lovers. The fact that you behaved in a somewhat proper manner at the end of the Season was more on a dare from father, and not a desire you wished to pursue. Then after the accident, you were hell-bent on marrying the first woman that you could tolerate, until Lady Violet pointed out the error of your thinking. Therefore, I assumed that you’d return to your earlier behavior, and I introduced you to a perfect widow to help you get back to normal.”
Emory gaped at his brother. “Back to normal? You think I tup women simply because they ask? I pursue them to determine if they are willing and often avoid the ones who are a bit too overeager, if you must know. There must be balance and understanding of the situation or one party is going to be disappointed when matters do not progress beyond simple bed sport.”
“A commitment,” Liam clarified.
“Yes, a bloody commitment.” Emory threw up his arms in irritation. It was as if his brother suddenly didn’t know him. Emory had avoided commitments his entire life, especially ones that risked emotional involvement as those never ended pleasantly and one person always suffered when the association was terminated.
“Do you consider yourself in a commitment with Lady Violet? Is that why you declined the widow’s invitation?”
“We have atemporaryarrangement, as you well know. A binding agreement due to expire in…a few days.”
They were to end on Epiphany, which was in two days, and Emory was taking every moment of that time to be with Violet. He still hadn’t bloody kissed her yet. He’d wanted to, but they were never allotted privacy, not even when they were shopping yesterday afternoon,sanschaperone, because they were in public shops and too many people were out and about. It was quite aggravating, which further fueled his ill temper this morning.
“As it is not a commitment, I still don’t understand why you declined the widow. It was midnight when you made her reacquaintance, and you could have left a few hours later, and no one would have known, as the village would have still been slumbering.”
Emory placed his fists on the table, leaned forward and glared at his brother. “I will not disrespect Lady Violet in such a manner. Whether anyone knew or not does not matter becauseIwouldknow.” He straightened. “Besides, how do I know that Mrs. Wilder doesn’t gossip.” Ever since their discussion in the park, and the pain he witnessed in Violet’s eyes over the cruelty she’d suffered, he refused to be guilty of the same offense, irrespective of whether their courtship was real or not. He wouldnothumiliate her in such a manner.
“There is more to this than not wishing to upset Lady Violet.” Liam studied him. “I’ve not seen you so adamant or angry over any woman before, especially since this courtship of convenience was agreed upon simply to appease your fathers. There is no real emotion attached.”
“It is more than Lady Violet. It is more than an agreement. It also has to do with being able to look Father in the eye and tell him that I did court a lady. That I grew fond of that lady. That I behaved in all manners respectable, which includednottaking a widow or anyone else to bed.”
“It is likely Father won’t remember, Emory,” Liam said quietly.
That’s what pained him the most, not that he’d say as much. “There are moments of lucidity, as you know,” Emory offered in a calmer tone. “And when that time comes, I want to be able to tell him of my courtship of Violet and maybe, just maybe, I’ll finally stop being a bloody disappointment and earn his respect.”
With those words, Emory stormed out of the dining room, paused in the entry long enough to take his greatcoat from the peg, then left the home, slamming the door behind him.
That was the truth of the matter. He wanted to earn his father’s respect. He hadn’t realized that it had been lost, or perhaps he had never had it, but the rambling words since his father’s accident made it clear that Emory was a disappointment.
He paused only a moment then made his way down the winding, cobbled street until he once again stood near the beach in the bay, where he and Violet had stood not long ago. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, absorbing the sound of the waves, the sun on his face and willed both to soothe his soul.
“Disappointment? And what is this about respect?”
