This statement made no sense.He was not sure that he had ever seen Mrs.Salisbury and Scarlett speak.
“She has?”
“Yes!You know I am an old friend of her mother’s—and I have been a confidant to her ever since her mother died when it has come to matters of matrimony.”
With horror, Malcolm realized that Mrs.Salisbury wasnotspeaking about Scarlett.“Mrs.Salisbury—”
“Eleanora—”
“We have had a misunderstanding.I believe you are speaking of Miss Marburry?”
Mrs.Salisbury blanched, and his stomach lurched.He hated that he would have to cause her more pain in this lifetime than he already had.
But then, to his surprise, she smiled.“And you are not.Speaking of Miss Marburry, that is.”
“No.”
“Then what lady are you speaking of?”
“Miss Scarlett Perkins.”
He watched as Mrs.Salisbury adjusted her notions.“Of course.I should have seen it.”
“I am very sorry to give you pain.”
“Oh, Malcolm, please.Do not worry about that.Miss Marburry will be just fine.I had only hoped she would catch your fancy because she liked you.And… and…”
She hesitated and left off.
“And what?”
She sighed.“I shouldn’t say it.It’s indecent.”
Now, he really was curious.“I am sure I will not be shocked.”
“I love Bertha,” Mrs.Salisbury said in a whisper.“She was, as I said, the daughter of a very dear friend.But of course, I thought ofyoufirst.Her dowry, while not spectacular, is very decent.I thought it would be rather neat if you were to have it.”
Malcolm was shocked—both by the fact that Mrs.Salisbury could be so tactical and that she would, as she put it, think of him first.
“I am gratified,” he said.“That you would construct such a kind scheme on my behalf.”
“Of course, Malcolm.I see you as one of my own children.You know that.”
He didnotknow that.And he was unsure how she thought he could expect it when he was the illegitimate child of her late husband, a man who had been cruel and faithless to her, by all accounts.
Such was his surprise that he did something unusual when in Mrs.Salisbury’s company.
He was honest.“I didn’t know that you felt that way.”
“I know you are not mine by blood—or at least not exactly.But you are the brother of my children, and that has always been good enough for me.Although I will admit with the others, it has been easier—”
Here, once more to his surprise, her voice broke.
She wascrying.
“Are you well?”Malcolm said.“Should I call for a servant?Please, do not agitate yourself on my account.”
“No, no, it is high time I said it to you, Malcolm.It shames me that I have never managed it.But I have always been afraid, I suppose.”
