Abel laughed in disbelief as the men quickly began to banter again. As he watched, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy deep within his heart. He was reminded for the first time in a while how he longed for the kind of close relationship that brothers shared.
Their teasing and playful exchanges only emphasized the void in his own life with each passing second. Caught in his thoughts, he struggled to find his place in the conversation and continued to drink in silence.
“Your Grace?” Elliot’s concerned tone drew his attention after a short moment. “I hope my brother and I aren’t being a nuisance.” He gave a short laugh before continuing, “We’ve always had this dynamic between us, you see. Sometimes we tend to forget it’s not enjoyable to the poor innocents around us.”
Abel shook his head and responded with a warm smile. “You needn’t worry. Your banter and closeness fascinate me. In truth, I’ve never witnessed brothers who share such a deep bond. It’s truly a marvel to behold.”
“Well, Your Grace…” Hector’s smile was understanding as he spoke. “You may not have been born into this family, but you can consider yourself an honorary brother from this moment forward. I dare say, you do better than us in fiery wordexchanges. None of us have truly been able to put up a fight when it comes to our dear younger sister.”
Elliot nodded with a laugh, and he grinned and raised his glass. “We welcome you with open arms into our circle of banter and never-ending quarrels.”
“I’m honored, indeed.” Abel laughed as the elder brother raised his glass enthusiastically. He shook his head and laughed again after dropping his own glass back to the table. “Have you all always been like this, truly?”
As the candlelight flickered, casting a warm glow on the elegant dining table, Elliot leaned back in his chair, a nostalgic smile gracing his lips. “Oh, yes, indeed, it’s always been like this. Bridget, dear little Bridget, of course has always been right there, following Hector’s every step, eager to partake in all of his schemes, fueling the drama.”
“My schemes alone? Brother, I can recall you roping her into your own escapades if we’re to be honest,” Hector piped up instantly.
A soft chuckle escaped Elliot’s lips, the sound carrying the weight of countless shared memories. “We’vebothalways been fiercely protective of her,” he continued, his eyes glancing towards Hector, who nodded in agreement.
“However, unfortunately…” His voice faltered, the jovial tone giving way to a hint of sadness. “… there’s only so much wecan do. Neither of us can relieve her of the burdens that Society places on women.”
A hushed silence fell over the table, the air heavy with words unspoken.
Abel debated with himself for a while, then finally mustered the courage to ask, “Why… is Bridget not married yet?”
Hector and Elliot exchanged hesitant glances, their eyes silently conveying the weight of the answer.
Finally, Elliot let out a weary sigh, his gaze fixed on the dancing flames.
“It was her choice,” he revealed, his voice filled with a mix of admiration and resignation. “She sabotaged all of her Seasons, determined to defy our father’s strict notions of propriety.”
He paused, and his face was slightly pinched as he went on, “Our father has always been a man of unwavering principles, particularly when it comes to the women of our household. He believed that a woman’s worth is equal to her husband’s.”
He hesitated again then leaned forward in his seat, his eyes meeting Abel’s. “I’m assuming you’ve heard about our family’s scandal a few years ago?”
Abel nodded slowly, his memory reaching back to the whispers of various scandals that had once gripped their society. “Yes, Ibelieve I have.” he responded, his voice tinged with a touch of uncertainty. “But it was so long ago, the details have faded from my memory.”
The brothers shared another glance. At last, Elliot cleared his throat. “Your Grace, it’s best I remind you of the forgotten tragedy that has haunted our family for years.” His voice was filled with a weighty solemnity as he began.
“In simple terms, we have another sister.” His eyes were fixed on the contents in his glass as he swirled the drink around. “Virginia. I assume the name will bring back the infamous tale.”
He drew in a deep breath. “We haven’t seen her for many years. We’re all forbidden from initiating any sort of contact with her nor accepting one in any form.”
Elliot fell silent for another moment, then he cleared his throat again and drank from his glass. “Virginia fell in love with a commoner, so she was banished from our home, cast aside by our father like a forgotten relic.”
As the flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the table, Elliot’s voice grew stronger, his emotions pouring forth like a torrential storm. “Virginia wished to marry the man, despite everything. However, our father, his thinking clouded by his rigid notions of status and propriety, forbade their union.”
He continued, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness, “He has always believed that love should be confined to the boundariesof wealth and lineage. Never once has he cared for the true essence of the heart.”
“Alas, Virginia fell pregnant.” A sad smile touched Elliot’s lips. “The estate shook and trembled the night it was discovered. Up till now, the memories of their muffled screams and quarrels live on.”
“Our father made plans to send our declared shameful sister away to one of his sisters to avoid the scandal, but Virginia had plans of her own. Brave and resolute, as is the Fadden way, she refused to succumb to the shackles of societal expectations.”
Despite the pained laugh that left his lips, his voice was filled with admiration. “She chose to be with the man she loved on her own terms. So, after that night, not one of us ever set eyes on her again.”
“Together, she and the father of her child fled to the sanctuary of Gretna Green, where their love could be celebrated without our father’s blessing. And that is all we know.”
He sighed. “Of course, news of their clandestine marriage spread like wildfire through the ton, nevertheless, casting a shadow of scandal on our family name.”
