“Of all the women available,” he continued, as though James had not spoken. “Every respectable widow, every agreeable young lady whose family would be grateful for the match—which I think we both know is not a small number—you chose my sister.”
“I have.”
“And you thought this was sensible.”
“I thought it was practical.” James kept his voice even. “Which is not the same thing.”
The wordpracticallanded the way he had expected it to.
William’s expression sharpened. “Good God. She is not a solution to a household problem,” he scoffed, pacing back to the fireplace.
“I know that.”
“Or a convenient answer. A practical arrangement.” He turned, and his expression was colder than the room. “She is my sister.”
“I am aware of who she is, William. I have been aware of who she is for many years.”
“Are you? Then you will understand why I am standing in your study at eight o’clock in the morning, asking whether you have lost your mind.”
James looked at him steadily. “I understand. I did not say it was unreasonable. I am telling you that it is not what you think it is.”
Silence ensued.
William dragged a hand over his face as if trying to master himself.
“Then explain it to me,” he demanded, his voice rising with each step he took toward James. “Because from where I am standing, you need to marry before those solicitors make your life impossible. Isadora is in the house; she is of good family and better character than you deserve, and you’ve decided that she would do.”
The words were accurate enough that James felt them land precisely where they were aimed.
“She would not simply do,” he said. “She would be… exceptional, in every capacity the situation requires.” He kept his voice level, because both of them raising their voices would not make things easier. “She already knows Violet. The baby trusts her. She has the character and the steadiness the household needs, and she is not the kind of woman who requires performance or flattery or managing. She would have full security as the Duchess of Ashbourne. Complete independence. She would never havereason to fear instability in this house or in her life.” He paused. “I made that clear to her.”
“You made the terms clear.”
“Yes, William. Isadora understood the situation before she agreed to it. I explained the terms clearly. I offered her nothing I cannot deliver and promised nothing I do not intend to keep. She went into this with open eyes. I did not mislead her or persuade her against her better judgment. You know me well enough to know that I would never do that,” he said firmly. “She made her own choice.”
William was quiet.
“I would treat her with respect,” James continued. “In every respect. I want that clearly understood.”
“I understand it.” William’s voice was measured. “I do not doubt that you mean it.” He leaned forward and placed his balled fists on the desk. “But I have one question.”
“Ask.”
“What about love?”
The words hung heavy in the air.
James held his gaze. He did not look away, nor did he reach for the composure he affected when a question was inconvenient. This one deserved an honest answer.
“I cannot promise it, William,” he replied. “I told her that. She is fully aware of it.” He paused. “She refused me at first because of it.”
Something moved through William’s expression. “Yes, I thought so,” he murmured. “I cannot decide which offends me more, the fact that you proposed it or that she accepted.” He slowly uncurled his fists. “You think you know my sister.”
“I think I know her reasonably well.”
“You know what she presents.” He moved away from the desk toward the fireplace and stood with one hand on the mantelpiece, staring into the fire. “You know the composure. The dry wit. The way she walks into a room and reads it before she’s crossed the threshold. You know the woman she is in company.” He paused for a moment. “You do not know what she looks like during Christmas, sitting by the fire with her book, pretending she does not care about the carols.” He turned. “She does. She cares about everything, James. All of it. She simply does not show it because the world never rewarded her for it.”
James said nothing.
