The next morning, Alexander found himself in the quiet sanctum of his study, the room seeped in the soft glow of morning light filtering through heavy drapes. The rich mahogany furniture exuded an air of timeless elegance, adorned with meticulously arranged volumes of literature and artifacts hinting at the family’s storied history.
Seated behind a grand oak desk, Alexander was engrossed in perusing letters and documents that demanded his attention. The atmosphere in the room carried a sense of serene purpose, each item in its designated place reflecting his penchant for order and precision.
His brow furrowed as he delved into the matters at hand, his keen focus momentarily disrupted by the creaking of the study door.
“Am I interrupting you?” Leonard asked, his face peering from behind the door.
“No,” Alexander assured him. “Come in.”
Leonard walked in languidly then lounged in a plush armchair nearby, a mischievous glint in his eyes betraying a youthful spirit unburdened by the weight of noble responsibilities. The room, though adorned with the trappings of aristocracy, bore witness to the dichotomy between tradition and modernity, just like the one between the two brothers.
“What brings you here so early?” Alexander wondered, lifting his gaze from the stack of papers that stood by his left side, which needed his urgent attention. “I thought you were accustomed to sleeping in late.”
“And miss all the excitement?” Leonard teased. “Absolutely not.”
“What excitement?” Alexander frowned.
“You know exactly what excitement, old boy,” Leonard replied with that same playful tone of voice.
Alexander sighed. “Polite conversation and exchanged pleasantries. Nothing out of the ordinary.”
Leonard, ever the provocateur, grinned. “Ah, but in the world of courtship, isn’t it the ordinary that hides the extraordinary?”
Alexander tried to hide his amusement. This was, after all, what his brother always did. He made the situation lighter by joking about it.
“Have you no other place to be than to torture me with used up puns?” he asked, much to his brother delight, who immediately chuckled.
“I was there, Alex,” Leonard reminded him. “I could see a hint of scandal beneath that veneer of propriety.”
Alexander sighed, leaning back in his chair, his gaze fixed on a portrait of their late father that adorned the study wall. The image depicted a man whose countenance held a mix of pride and remorse, a stark reminder of the legacy left behind.
“Leonard, this isn’t a matter to jest about. Our father’s decisions left the dukedom in a precarious state. Investments gone awry, alliances forged with the unscrupulous, and a trail of debts that threatened to consume us. I agreed to this marriage not for some frivolous pursuit of romance but to secure the stability our family desperately needs.” Lexander explained in a monologue that seemed to take forever, but it was a useful one nonetheless, because he needed to be reminded of the same himself.
Leonard’s playful demeanor shifted, and a note of understanding entered his expression. “I know, Alex. But you can’t ignore the human aspect of this arrangement. You deserve happiness too, not just duty and responsibility.”
Alexander frowned. “You sound like Mother now.”
At that moment, the door opened.
“Who sounds like me?” the dowager duchess appeared, looking as regal as ever. Her silver-streaked hair framed a face that bore the lines of experience, and her gaze held a maternal warmth that belied the challenges she had faced.
Both her sons looked in her direction, with Alexander inhaling deeply. “It seems I will have no rest this morning.”
His mother walked in. “The door was open, and you two are not the quietest of conversationalists, you know. It doesn’t take a keen ear to hear what your conversation was about. Especially now that we have guests at the house.”
Upon those words, she closed the door behind her, allowing them some privacy.
“I was just telling Leonard that happiness is a luxury we cannot really afford at the moment. My priority is to restore the honor and prosperity of the Woldaves name. This marriage is a means to that end, and I will see it through,” Alexander explained something he believed was already clear as daylight.
“Alex here is convinced that practicality should triumph over passion,” Leonard added.
The dowager duchess’ gaze turned to Alexander, a silent inquiry in her eyes. Alexander braced himself for the conversation he knew was inevitable.
“Mother, you know the circumstances we find ourselves in. The financial strain, the downsizing of our loyal staff, the selling of much of our property, the tarnished name. Marrying for love, as noble as it sounds, is not something we can afford,” he repeated.
The dowager duchess, however, remained undeterred. “My dear, I understand the burdens you carry, the weight of responsibility that rests upon your shoulders. But love, Alexander, is not a frivolity. It can be a source of strength, a foundation upon which you build not just a noble legacy but a life worth living.”
Leonard had always been the mediator between the two, and this instance was no exception to that rule. “Alex has a duty to restore what was lost. Love may come in time, but perhaps practicality is the path to follow for the time being.”
