Dervil pulled on his sleeve as if he was more interested in the cut of his jacket than Mars’s challenge. “I shall see you there at half past six. Have your man meet with Roberts for the details. You shall provide the doctor since you issued the challenge?”
Again, Mars nodded. He hoped Thurlowe was still in town.
“Very well,” Dervil said. “Tomorrow.” He turned and walked with purpose toward the door. Those who had not gone running inside to spread the word about what was happening on the portico moved out of his path, and then followed him in.
And Mars was left alone.
He should find Clarissa and explain his position... except, he was not yet ready for that confrontation. He’d been wrong to blurt out her history, even if there hadnotbeen so many gossips to witness his words. She’d confided the information in him and, he realized, he had betrayed her confidence. For that, hewas truly sorry. She didn’t offer trust easily and he had trampled all over it.
When he talked to his wife, he knew she would be rightfully angry with him.
However, he was not a coward. He had to face her. Mars started to go inside when his mother came out the door. Her face was tight and her eyes alive with anger. “Is it true? You’ve challenged Dervil?”
“I’m too old to answer to my mother.” He took a step toward the door, but she moved into his path.
“So much like your father.” She did not mean that as a compliment. It was as if that was the worst insult she could hurl.
He nodded. “Fortunately, I’m not bound to you the way my father was.”
She took ahold of the material of his sleeve. “You are going to ruin everything. This could have waited until after the vote. We have what we need to win. What if you kill him? Then we need to start from the beginning and there may be a new challenger to Fenton.”
He didn’t answer. She wouldn’t appreciate knowing he really didn’t care who was Chairman of Committees. And that, as to meeting Dervil, he was ready to pay the price, whatever it was—banishment or even his own death. He also doubted if she would care about either outcome.
Then, to his surprise, she changed the topic. “Is it true what everyone is saying? That Dervil is your wife’s father? Asecretfather? You know, therearesome advantagesto being aligned with someone as powerful as Dervil—”
“I willneveralign myself with him.” It was a warning. Clarissa wasn’t the only one who didn’t trust easily.
“Then you’d best be careful,” she said as if he had asked for her advice. “Dervil has many friends. Some of them dangerous.”
He frowned, not understanding her game. “Dangerous?”
“Toward Fenton’s ambitions.” She released her hold and brushed something off his coat. Anyone seeing them could believe they were witnessing a scene between a concerned mother and son.
“DidIever matter to you?” It was a question he’d always wanted to ask, even before his father’s death.
His mother took an offended step back. “You are my son.”
There was no sincerity in her voice. It was merely a statement of fact. She had needed him for the vote to keepherin power.
And he realized this lack of a mother had always gnawed at him. He thought of his almost immediate feelings for Dora and finally understood his mother was just unnatural. Cold. Remote. For her husbands, her son—even her liaison with Dervil probably hadn’t meant much to her.
He was dueling with the wrong person. She’d manipulated them all...
“Yes, I’m your son,” he agreed. “And, I am also a vote,” he reminded her.
“Not justavote.Thevote. Remember?” she said brightly. “That is our arrangement.” She smiled as if pleased with herself for being so benevolent. “Youcast the deciding vote. That is, if you don’t kill Dervil and ruin it all.”
“What if I do?”
“Then I will do all in my power to ruin you.” Her tone was pleasant, boastful.
Never once had he turned to her for comfort. It had been his father who had always been there when he’d needed help.
Just like Clarissa was there for him. Clarissa, who had been brave enough to say she loved him.
He needed to speak to her. He owed her an explanation. She was right to be furious with him. He needed to apologize and ask her to understand his purpose.
And maybe, he might be truly honest with her and confess that perhaps he’d overreacted in her defense because he understood all too well the pain of a callous parent. The pain of feeling abandoned by those one should be able to trust.
