“Cousin,” Robert replied, his gaze assessing her briefly in a way that made her skin crawl.
Edward looked around the room as if assessing improvements.
“You have settled well,” he said. “York suits you. The air seems to have steadied everyone, which is precisely why I recommended this arrangement in the first place.”
“You didn’t recommend it,” Augusta rolled her eyes. “Charity decided. Though I am not surprised that you are trying to take the credit now.”
“I permitted it,” he corrected. “Let’s not pretend you have been abandoned, as I have honored the mourning period as promised.”
Charity didn’t flinch at the possessive language, as it was to be expected. She simply had to find a way around it and make it work in a manner that benefited her sisters.
“Uncle,” Charity tried to keep her voice even. The last thing that she wished to do was argue, as it would not do anyone any good. “You must have had a long journey here. Do you require anything, or shall I get the staff to attend to you in any way?”
Edward waved his hands dismissively in the air, though he seemed to be pleased at the fact that Charity was being considerate towards him.
“I do not want to waste a second longer, in earnest,” he said impatiently, “Charity, you will take tea with Robert and me privately. There are things that we need to discuss.”
“No,” Augusta said immediately. “If you want to talk, you talk here.”
“This is not a conversation for children,” Edward said, annoyance laced through his words.
“I’m seventeen,” she shot back. Charity could see her concern clearly. Augusta was afraid that once her sister left the room, Edward would twist her into agreeing to something she couldn’t undo. At the same time, she knew that it would not be wise to keep her sisters in the audience for a tough conversation.
She came to her decision swiftly.
“Fine,” she said to Edward. “We shall speak alone. Ladies, please excuse us for a moment.”
Augusta moved to protest but ultimately did not go against Charity’s decision, while Matilda went along with whatever was said. Edward turned toward the adjoining morning room without waiting for a servant to lead him, and Robert followed.
“Milk?” he asked Charity once they were alone in the room. They had opted to speak over tea, making the arrangement a bit more relaxed, though all of them knew that was not the case.
“No,” Charity said, once again having to muster up all her strength. With her sisters no longer next to her, she felt more vulnerable than before.
Edward paused as if considering whether to ignore her preference, then poured anyway and pushed the cup toward her with a small smile. It was not lost on Charity that he was trying to establish the upper hand.Whatever I say, goes.
“We should not waste much time,” Charity said, looking towards the door. The sooner she got done with this, the better for her.
“Very well,” he replied. “The mourning period has ended, and society will begin looking to you again. We will not give them time to invent their own explanations and assumptions. You will be formally betrothed, and we will announce it promptly.”
Yes, that much was expected, though her stomach still twisted when he said the words out loud.
“To whom?” She forced the words out of her throat, which seemed to be closing on itself. Hurriedly, she took a sip of her tea to wet her throat.
“Robert,” her uncle’s voice was delighted, and he spoke as though he had just revealed the best kept secret of the season.
For a second Charity thought she’d misheard. Then her cheeks turned bright red, flushing hard. A moment later, she choked on the tea that she had been sipping on, coughing so hard her eyes watered. She covered her mouth, embarrassed and furious at herself for giving Edward that reaction. Robert half rose, then stopped, hands hovering as if he didn’t know whether he was allowed to help her.
But her uncle did nothing at all. He seemed to be watching her only. When Charity finally got her breath back, she knew that she was expected to break the silence.
“Robert,” she repeated. “My cousin? I… well, I do not know if that is acceptable.”
Cousin-marriage, though still practiced in some families, was quickly becoming an archaic concept. And usually, if they were done, it was clear that the intention was to secure the property and keep the wealth in the family. There was no love in such marriages, and Charity felt a strange sadness as she thought about what her future might look like.
“I would advise you to keep your voice steady, because shouting will not change the legal reality,” Edward said, keeping himself calm.
“There is no legal reality that demands I marry my cousin,” she said. “This is your decision, and it’s obvious why you’ve made it.”
“Go on. I’m curious how dramatic you intend to be,” Edward said, grinning now.
