“You soon will be, I can assure you, if you follow through with this elopement.”
His mother sniffed. “That would say more about the quality of our acquaintances than it would about me. My true friends will stand by me. The rest don’t matter.”
That sounded very much like the lofty sentiments Miss Irene Deverill had trotted out two days before. Fine enough in theory, he supposed, but wholly untenable in reality.
Still, as he studied his mother’s resolute expression, he decided another shift in tactics was in order.
“Have you thought of how this will affect the marital prospects of your daughters?” he asked.
“Of course I have.”
“Then you know your marriage will considerably diminish their chances of making a good match themselves.”
“That depends on one’s definition of a good match, doesn’t it? I would say that because of my marriage, my daughters will soon be able to determine which gentlemen of their acquaintance genuinely care for them, and which only care for their position in society.”
“As if position is not important.”
“Henry, do you really think worrying about my matrimonial future or even that of your sisters is your most vital concern?”
That took him back a step. “Of course it is of vital concern. You are my family.”
She leaned forward, close enough to put her hand over his. “My dear, perhaps instead of worrying about my matrimonial future or that of your sisters, you should be considering your own. Elena passed away eight years ago, freeing you to marry again. David is your only heir,” she rushed on as he opened his mouth to reply, “and he is married six years now, with no children. You must marry again. You know that.”
“I am well aware of my duty, Mama. There is no need to remind me of it.”
“Falling in love is not a duty, Henry.”
“Are we back to talking of love?” he countered. “Forgive me, but I thought we were now talking of marriage.”
His mother gazed at him with sadness. “Oh, my dear,” she said, “I begin to fear the romance you once had in your soul may be irretrievably gone.”
“If so, I cannot help but find that a good thing.” He met his mother’s unhappy gaze with an implacable one of his own. “We both know the task of choosing one’s marriage partner is a serious business for people like us, Mama. It’s not a frivol. Marry in haste, repent at leisure may be the course you seem bent upon, but for myself, I will not choose it twice in one lifetime.”
“We love who we love, Henry. Love can’t bend to one’s will.”
“Stop,” he said fiercely. “Stop speaking of my marriage to Elena as if I had no choice. I forgot who I was, and where my duty lay, and I allowed passion to dictate my course. The result was tragic for all concerned. Do not spare me or excuse me, for I certainly shall not spare or excuse myself.”
She studied him for a moment, opened her mouth as if to argue further on the topic, then closed it again, much to his relief. “Very well,” she said quietly. “Just which young ladies of our acquaintance might enable you to do your duty most commendably?”
He ignored the acidic note of her voice. “I am considering several, but my matrimonial future shall have to wait until yours is settled, so stop trying to deflect the conversation.”
“It is settled, my dear boy, whether you like it or not. Fifteen days from now, Antonio and I will be married, and try though you will, you cannot stop it.”
That remained to be seen. “I assume Foscarelli has the blunt to support you?”
“Why? Are you threatening to cut off my portion if I marry him? Now who’s behaving as if I’m nineteen?”
Henry was shocked. “I have no intention of cutting off your allowance from the estate, Mama. I know you do not need it, but it is yours by right. I cannot imagine any circumstances in which I would ever deny it to you. On the other hand, I confess I am not thrilled it shall end up in the hands of a man who cannot seem to support himself, much less a wife.”
“Really? That will be news to David and Jamie.”
“It is not the same thing, Mama, as you are well aware. Jamie and David are family, and their allowances from the estate are a given, as is yours. Antonio Foscarelli is not family.”
“He soon will be. Still, you have no need to worry that my allowance from the estate shall be needed to support him.”
“Yes, no doubt because he is counting on a substantial marriage settlement from me.”
“Not at all. There will be no need for you to give him any money.”
