“Why should I? It is simply the way of my life. I was born into this role, and thus I shall fulfill my duty.”
“It doesn’t have to be so black and white. There’s more to life than duty.”
“And that is the fundamental difference between us, Lady Charlotte. You shall never understand me, and I certainly shall never understand you. I assume you probably believe that Achilles was justified in removing himself from the war inThe Iliad.”
While the statement was not framed as a question, it was accompanied by an enquiring eyebrow. Charlotte realized that Nathaniel was testing her knowledge of classical texts. Yet again, he was trying to prove himself her superior, probably assuming that as a woman she read frothy romance stories.
“Actually, I do. There was an agreement; it was breached, and so he declared a natural consequence. I’d have thought you would agree with him, too, since you are so devoted to rules.”
Nathaniel placed his book on the table beside him. She finally had his full attention.
“While I don’t agree with Agamemnon’s decision, he was granted command of the army. He was the king of kings, and even when the others disagreed with his decision, he should have been respected. I feel that I am justified in my opinion, given the chaos that followed.”
“Chaos that never would have happened had Agamemnon chosen another prize.”
“Chaos that never would have happened had Achilles controlled his emotions. Because of him, the Greeks suffered; he lost his close companion, and the war was dragged out longer than it needed to be. All because he decided he wanted to live by his own rules rather than the ones agreed upon by others.”
“Or because he recognized injustice and was unwilling to put up with it. He stuck to his moral principles.”
“And he ended up dead,” Nathaniel replied bluntly.
“This is why I prefer books about plants,” Charlotte whispered under her breath.
“Why, exactly?”
“Because they are filled with facts rather than interpretations. Despite what you may think, I do not seek out arguments.”
Nathaniel tilted his head to the side and gave her a disbelieving look. “While we have disagreed on many things, on this occasion, I took it as a spirited discussion. I enjoy rhetoric and defending a stance. It’s much more satisfying than frivolous conversation.”
“And do you believe Lady Honoria will be able to provide you with such debate?”
“Again, I am not looking to debate with my wife.”
“Do you believe she will agree with you on all matters?”
“On the important ones, yes.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“Then she will not be suited to me. I shall find out all I need to know when we meet.”
“I see,” Charlotte said. She paused for a moment. “There is one more thing I would like to mention about Achilles. It has been a while since I have perusedThe Iliad, but if memory serves, it was Agamemnon who changed the rules first. Achilles’ rage was in response to that. Agamemnon broke the agreement.”
She watched as Nathaniel adjusted his position. He leaned forward slightly, intrigued by her words. A lock of hair swept across his forehead, and his eyes flashed as they reflected candlelight. Charlotte took this as an invitation to continue.
“Are you saying that changing rules is justified if someone is in power? I should think that everyone would be subject to the same rules, to an objective, absolute authority that goes beyond mere mortals.”
Nathaniel pressed his tongue into his cheek and brought his eyebrows together. He clasped his fingers, forming a steeple with them, and all edge was completely stripped from his voice.
“That, Lady Charlotte, is a most astute observation. Indeed, I would have to say that we are subservient to an absolute authority. Our role is to enforce the rules that are handed down to us, not to make up new ones that suit our own designs.”
He smiled as he spoke. Charlotte was pleased to elicit such a reaction from him. It was the first time they had discussed something without her feeling as though she was on the verge of losing her temper.
Another feeling entirely overwhelmed her. When he smiled, his face was transformed. He looked younger and more carefree. All the hard lines softened, and he almost looked like a different man entirely. It was impossible to deny his handsomeness when his face lit up like this.
Charlotte blushed as her gaze lingered on his smiling lips. It was only natural that she should think about the kiss. She quickly pulled her gaze away.
The candles flickered. Hector and Brutus were fast asleep, snoring softly. The library felt vast around Charlotte, and yet the area they inhabited felt incredibly small. She became aware of every breath, every heartbeat, and she was glad she was sitting because her legs trembled.
