Chapter Twenty-Eight #2
Her brother’s eyes narrowed further. “He should never have broached the subject with you before speaking to me first.”
“Oh, Henry,” their mother said. “While it is an honorable tradition, it is not strictly necessary to ask permission of one’s guardian first. I seem to remember your father proposing to me before speaking to my father,” her mother said with a fond smile.
“And I had not yet reached my majority at the time. Unlike your sister.”
Henry glanced at her, startled, and then grumbled. “Yes well…this is different. Lord Hugo should have made his intentions honorable from the start.”
“He didn’t have any intentions toward me other than steering clear of my ire, and me of his,” Adaline insisted.
“Until…things changed. And do not ask me when or why they did so because neither of us could tell you. They just…did. And now that they have, we are happy and wish to marry. Can you not be happy for us?”
Her mother seemed to be wavering, but Henry’s scowl did not bode well.
He looked moments from storming out, though he didn’t actually have any legal authority to stop her from acting as she wished.
Truly, neither did her mother. She did not legally need their permission to wed.
But she wanted it. Both because she loved and respected them, and because it would make her life a good sight easier if she were not cut off from them emotionally and financially.
“I wish nothing more than to secure your future, Ada,” her brother said.
“And my happiness?” she asked, brow raised.
“That would be preferable, yes. But I fear that you will not find that with Lord Hugo. You insist he has changed. That you know his mind through his letters. All I see is another example of how little care he has for you and your reputation. No true gentleman would have engaged in such a campaign with you, no matter who initiated it. That he did so does not speak well of his character, or his honorable intentions.”
Adaline frowned, another shard of misgiving piercing her resolve.
Had she been a fool? She had hoped that telling them of the letters would prove to her family that their feelings were real.
That they did indeed know and love each other.
Instead, it seemed to have only made matters worse.
Perhaps they should have waited. Maybe they did need to know each other better.
They had made some questionable choices, she could admit that.
Were they on the verge of making another?
Doubts pressed in, cold and suffocating.
But only for the briefest of moments. No. She straightened, pushing all uncertainties aside. She was not mistaken. Not this time.
“I understand your fears, Henry. Truly. And if it had only been the words on the page I had fallen in love with, then perhaps I might be swayed by your fears. But it isn’t his written words alone that have won my heart.
We have grown closer with every meeting as well.
I’ve seen for myself the type of person he truly is. ”
Henry snorted. “Oh? And what type of man is that?”
Adaline glared at him. “A man who helped me, though he knew I hated him. He showed me compassion when I had given him nothing but scorn. He’s a man who is kind to children, who obviously loves his nieces and nephews.
Who plays with them and truly enjoys their company, which is a far sight better than I can say for most men of my acquaintance. ”
Henry had the grace to look a little sheepish, knowing well enough that he was one of those men. Though his jaw was still set in that stubborn way of his.
“He is a man who is witty and amusing and compassionate, who has gone out of his way to put me at ease and make me laugh when he had no reason to do so,” Adaline continued before turning to her mother.
“I know he is not perfect, Mother. But neither am I. But I know in my heart he is a good man. He has done nothing but strive to make me happy. I love him. I wish to marry him. And so,” she said, looking back at Henry, “I ask for your blessing.”
Her brother’s face remained stony, though he did seem to be wavering. A little, perhaps. “Please,” she added, her voice cracking.
Henry’s eyes crinkled with regret. “I am sorry, Adaline. You may not understand or appreciate my actions now. But I assure you, I think only of you and your best interests. I will not allow you to wed a man who cannot be trusted with your reputation, much less your heart. You say he has changed. But all I see is a man whose behavior has remained distressingly consistent. His choices repeatedly put you and your reputation at risk.”
Adaline’s hands shook. “You cannot mean to judge him based on a few mistakes—”
“A pattern, more like,” Henry interjected. “You cannot hope to change him, Ada. He will only bring you more heartbreak.”
“Henry…” their mother began. But Henry shook his head.
“I am sorry. But I’m afraid my answer is no.” His steady gaze met Adaline’s and her heart dropped. There was not an ounce of vacillation in his countenance.
“I may not be able to stop you from marrying this man,” he said, his voice hard as steel.
“But my approval of your spouse is required for you to access your trust. And your dowry. If you choose to go ahead with this marriage, you will do so without a shilling from this family.” He turned to leave, then paused.
Adaline watched him warily. Finally, he sighed. “I am sorry, Ada. Truly.”
“No, you’re not,” she said, swallowing hard to keep the emotions that were choking her from spilling over.
“I am. I’m sorry for your pain. But I hope you understand that we are simply trying to prevent you from a lifetime of worse.”
He bent to kiss her cheek and then escorted their mother from the room.
Adaline dropped into a chair and leaned her head against her hand.
His words had battered her. She knew they feared for her.
And she was honest enough to admit that were she in their shoes, she’d likely feel much the same.
If she did not bow to their wishes, she could lose them.
Or at least lose their trust. Respect. Support.
And that was no small thing for a woman.
However. If she did acquiesce… it meant losing Hugo.
And that, she feared, was the one thing from which her heart would never recover.