Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
“Goodness old man. You look terrible.”
Algernon raised his head wearily, his brooding expression unmoving as he took in Henry’s appearance. As usual, he looked perfect, not a hair or garment out of place.
“What do you want, Henry?” Algernon gritted out, turning his gaze back to his open file.
Not that he was reading it. He had just been sitting there for hours now, staring blankly at the pages.
It had been days, nigh on a week, since he’d been able to focus.
He’d lost the ability even before his final argument with Beatrice—just as he’d lost the ability to do many things.
Sleep, eat, take care in his appearance.
All he seemed to be able to do was mourn the woman that was never his in the first place.
“I wish to acquire your assistance on a matter of Beatrice and my wedding,” Henry informed him, taking the vacant chair across from Algernon’s desk.
“The Church nor the Crown seem to want to expedite our license. I know you have a few friends that can pull certain strings, and I was hoping you could reach out to them.”
Algernon’s felt another crack open in his already broken heart, and he screwed his eyes shut to breathe through the pain.
“Why do you need to expedite the marriage?” he grumbled. “Would it not look better society-wise to wait the proper time?”
“If Beatrice was still residing here, I would agree,” Henry replied matter-of-factly. “However, her current place of residence is less than lacking. I do not wish her to be there any longer than she has to be.”
Algernon’s head snapped up as his eyes flew open, his aching heart racing. He’d known she’d left, but as much as he’d pressed Mira, the maid refused to speak of Beatrice’s whereabouts.
“Where is she?” he demanded.
“A boarding house just outside of Mayfair,” Henry uttered, his expression matching his unhappy tone.
“The matron is strict and seems to be able to keep the riffraff out. And Beatrice had a stroke of luck being bunked with a woman she already knew. Still, I do not like her being there. She deserves better.”
“And why did you not offer her better?” Algernon all but growled.
Henry answered Algernon’s hardened look with one of his own.
“Of course, I did,” he hurled back with obvious offense. “She refused.”
“You should have given her no choice,” Algernon seethed.
Henry scoffed.
“Yes, and that worked out so well for you when you tried such a thing, did it not?” he retorted accusingly.
Algernon flinched.
“Well played,” he murmured, willing his tense body to lean back into his chair.
Algernon might have forfeited the argument, but Henry still stared at him angrily.
“What?” Algernon snapped.
“I know you have difficulty understanding me, brother,” Henry said, “however, you need to know that I have the same difficulty with you. I do not understand you at all. I know our—particularly your upbringing—was less than favorable, but you are a man now. You do not have to make yourself so miserable.”
Algernon’s frustration ticked up again.
“You do not know my life,” he retorted.
“Precisely!” Henry shouted, rising from his chair. “I do not understand, but I want to, Auggie!”
“My well-being is not your concern,” Algernon shot back.
“Well, it should be!” Henry insisted then shook his head as he began to pace. Algernon’s eyes narrowed as he watched his brother.
“Something Beatrice has taught me is that I have allowed you to take care of me for far too long,” Henry went on.
“I had grown ungrateful for all you have done for me, but that time is over now, Auggie. I remember. I remember more than you think thanks to Beatrice, and brother, what you went through? With Father. With Mother. With keeping me alive. It is no less than traumatizing!”
“Stop saying her name,” Algernon gritted out as he pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes.
He could handle Henry bringing up their past even if he detested the subject… but his heart shuddered every time Henry said her name.
The room went quiet. Eventually, Algernon dropped his hand away and opened his eyes. He found Henry staring at him curiously. It was only then he realized that he’d actually spoken the plea out loud.
“Beatrice,” Henry said, and Algernon flinched as he closed his eyes.
They flew open again when Henry slammed his hand down upon Algernon’s desk, and he found his little brother leaning over him.
“It is time to tell the truth, brother,” Henry demanded. “You have been denying your affections toward Beatrice from the very beginning, and I think I can now understand why. But now, I need you to confess.”
Algernon flinched again as he heard her name as if it had become a nervous tic. He reached for the anger he’d been clinging to for over a week now, but this time, he felt too weary to hide behind it.
He shook his head, his last attempt at trying to deny the truth.
“I am in love with her,” he confessed.
“Finally!” Henry boomed, clapping his hands together loudly and startling Algernon.
“I knew it. I knew it before you did, I believe. You and Beatrice kept denying it, but I knew!” Henry said in almost gleeful tone.
Algernon looked up at his brother, confused.
“You are happy about this?” he asked.
“Of course, I am, you dolt,” Henry retorted with a chortle.
“I mean, yes, it does pose a slight problem for Beatrice’s and my arrangement, but I have grown to love her like a sister as I love you as a brother, and the last thing I want is for either of you to suffer just create a better situation for me.
A situation I could make better for myself—and will better as I see now, again thanks to Beatrice, that I have not been as mature with my life as I should have been.
I allowed you to take on too much on my behalf, brother.
It is time that I take that weight off of your shoulders. ”
Algernon peered up somberly at Henry.
“I am your older brother,” he replied with a helpless shrug. “That is what I do. That is what I will always do.”
“And I love you for it,” Henry answered quickly. “However, it is time for that to change. Start looking after yourself.”
Henry leaned in closer, his eyes begging Algernon to listen to him.
“Brother, that includes allowing yourself to love someone else besides me.”
Algernon winced at his words.
“You do not understand,” he rasped, “how horrifying it was for me to lose our parents so fast. To almost lose you because Mother forgot to feed you near her end. It is terrifying to love someone.”
Henry let out a bitter laugh, but he nodded his head.
“Try being in love with someone an entire group of people forbid you to be in love with,” he replied, giving Algernon a pointed look.
Realization dawned on Algernon, and he reached up and grasped Henry’s shoulder.
“You… you are in love?” he asked tentatively.
Henry’s gaze turned thoughtful then after a moment, he slowly nodded his head again.
“I believe I am,” he agreed, “and I understand now that if we want to be together for as long as possible, we must be more careful. You, though, brother, have no such restrictions. If you love Beatrice, you can tell her. You should tell her because as much as she refuses to talk about it, I know that she loves you, too.”
Hope flickered through Algernon’s aching heart.
Could she? After he refused her so vehemently?
“Are you sure?” he rasped.
“She will not confess it,” Henry said, “not even to me. But I know that is why is she is in such a poor state.”
Worry sent a sharp pain through Algernon’s chest.
“What do you mean poor state? Be specific,” he demanded.
“Will not eat. Will barely speak, other than to discuss our wedding. Her eyes are always red, and she has a constant look upon her face as if she is about to burst into tears at any moment,” Henry explained.
Algernon dropped his head into his hands and rubbed his face, feeling awful that he caused such a dismal state.
“You can fix it,” Henry said quietly. “You should fix it. Do not use me an excuse to be apart from her any longer. Face your real fear, and go get her, Auggie. I will be all right, I promise you. Just please, stop this. For your sake and hers.”
Algernon was silent for a long moment. The fear of losing a loved one had served as protection for his heart for a long time.
It kept him apart and focused on rebuilding their family’s wealth, but now…
now he saw it for what it truly was: a cage.
One he’d willingly locked himself into. Now, he realized, it was only he that could unlock it.
Algernon rose to his feet, mentally pushing away the fear of loss and rejection, and he straightened his jacket.
“Tell me where she is,” he demanded.