“I do. What day is it? Did I wake up in time? Am I…am I married?”
Her parents both looked at her in horror. “Heavens, no. We never would have permitted that,” said her mother. “You were in a coma!”
“Really? Even if it meant the end of the Aberdeen Bequest?” Mathilda was actually quite touched, although of course she knew in her heart that her parents wouldn’t force her into anything. It was a good thing they’d stuck around, because she couldn’t say the same for Philip Phelps.
Her parents shared a glance. “You know our feelings on the matter,” her father said gently. “We want the best for you, one way or another. The good news is that you still have time. At least…” He checked his watch. “Fourteen hours.”
“Plenty of time.” She made to get out of the hospital bed, then moaned. “Ow. My muscles. I think they’re out of practice.”
“Be gentle, darling. Take your time.” Charlotte fluttered over her like a mother hen. A muumuu-wearing mother hen.
“What’s this now?” A doctor strode into the room. She recognized that voice, and now she saw that he was an authoritative man with perfect posture, like someone out of those vintage photos of early Japanese community leaders. “Stay where you are while I check your vitals.”
There was no arguing with that command, so she obeyed, which also gave her a chance to catch her breath. He ran her through a series of questions, and her answers seemed to satisfy him.
“What do you remember?” he asked.
“Hardly anything. Everything went dark, and then Rory and Lincoln came and I was so confused, and then…where are they?”
“Oh dear, who knows?” said Charlotte. “Duncan threw them out of our cottage, then you passed out and we rushed you to the hospital. We haven’t seen or heard from them since.”
Her stomach cratered. Rory must have moved on from whatever undefined thing they had between them. Did that make a difference for what she was about to do?
No. This was her call. Hers and Duncan’s. And actually, she was going to have to make it by herself because Duncan clearly had a very strong sense of duty and tradition.
As the doctor was wrapping up his examination, Jamie strolled into the room, his face pink from his jog. A moment later came Duncan in rugby shorts and a loose t-shirt.
“She’s awake! You’re awake!” Jamie rushed toward her and gave her a slightly sweaty hug. Over his shoulder she met Duncan’s eyes. He grinned broadly, but she couldn’t read anything else in his gaze, neither excitement nor doubt about getting married in the next twelve hours.
This decision was definitely going to be up to her.
Philip Phelps hurried into the room. “I got your text. Marvelous. There’s still time to execute the contract. And look at this. We’re all here. Bride, groom, lawyer, witnesses.” He pulled a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. “I even had time to stop at the hotel gift shop.”
Mathilda inhaled the scent of plumeria and felt such a surge of longing for the jungle that she grabbed onto the bed.
“I’m fine! Jeez.” She waved everyone away before they could all rush to her side to help her. “Mr. Phelps, I wanted you here because I want to hear the exact language in the bequest when it talks about our two families marrying. Can you read it out loud?”
“I know it by heart. ‘When a member of the Aberdeen line and a member of the Spencer-Sutton line, as defined elsewhere in this contract, join in marriage, the bequest shall be granted to them and the title of Marquess of Aberdeen shall be reinstated.’”
“Good. That’s what I thought.” She drew in a deep breath and scanned the faces around her. “I’m in favor of our families uniting and benefiting from the bequest and the title.” She held Duncan’s gaze. “But we should not get married, not to each other. You know that as well as I do.”
His chin dropped to his chest, but he didn’t disagree, which relieved her to no end. When he lifted his head again, she saw agreement in his eyes. “I…I guess I’m confused, then. How do you propose we fulfill the conditions of the bequest?”
“I may be way off-base here, and if I am, just tell me, or slap me, or something. Blame the coma. Blame Hawaii.” She looked at her brother. “Jamie, I think it should be you instead of me.”
No one seemed to get it, not even Jamie. “Huh? Duncan’s an only child. He doesn’t have a sister. Besides, I’m…”
She kept looking at him steadily, and his pink face turned even more red. “Oh. You mean…”
“I’ve had nothing to do but lie here and watch you guys in between sleeping spells. I’ve seen more natural chemistry and connection between you and Duncan than with me, by far.” She turned to Duncan, who was watching her, transfixed. “Be honest, aren’t you more attracted to Jamie than you are to me?”
He glanced at Jamie with such an expression of longing that her breath caught. She was right. She’d known it.
“But the bequest, it’s not possible,” he said.
“The contractual language says nothing about gender. It doesn’t specify a man and a woman. Back in those times, they didn’t need to because it was assumed. Same-sex marriage wasn’t a thing. But today…” she shrugged. “Unless it specifically forbids it, why couldn’t you and Jamie be the ones? I assume same-sex marriage is allowed in England too, just like here?”
Philip Phelps nodded. “Indeed. Since two thousand and thirteen.”
