“He has much to say on the topic, I see.”
“But I said that a woman should only marry for love no matter the circumstances. I also said that if I can’t find you an appropriate man among those yearly at the house party then I’m not the Marchioness of Waneborough.”
Maggie sighed. “He’s right, you know, Mama. I should be forced to wed Mr. Blake.” Not that Maggie wanted to, no matter how well he danced atop a painted stone.
“Nonsense!” Her mother swatted her shoulder. “Why, I’ve heard that you’ve received at least two proposals just today! Far from making you less eligible, I would say being compromised has improved your eligibility!” Her mother’s hands fluttered excitedly every which way.
“I thought you wanted me to wed Mr. Blake. I thought a romance for us was in the stars. Or at least in your dreams.”
Mama nodded her head vigorously. “Oh, it is, it is! But such a star-fated romance must occur naturally. By no means should it be forced.” Her mother shivered dramatically. “If your brother had his way, the two of you would be married as quickly as possible in a heartless wedding stifling all gossip and also any hint of a budding romance.” Her mother sniffed and stamped her foot. “I will not allow it! Your brother is coldhearted and cruel.” She snapped her gaze across the room and Maggie followed her line of sight to see her brother scowling, bearing down on them. Tears magically appeared in the corners of her mother’s eyes.
If Maggie did not stop the confrontation between her mother and brother as soon as could be, things would turn into a very public drama before she could blink. It had happened before, and it would certainly happen again unless she acted quickly. The trick was to make each of them feel as if they had gotten exactly what they wanted, even if neither of them actually had.
Maggie lowered her voice and pulled her mother in close so only she could hear. “You know I won’t do it, Mother. I will not let anyone pressure me into marrying Mr. Blake or any man I do not wish to wed.” It was not quite the truth. If there was good enough reason to marry a man for the sake of convenience or for propriety or even for the funds her family needed so desperately, Maggie would do it. But that did not seem to be the case in this instance. Besides, the only proposals she seemed capable of inspiring were from talented, passionate, and poor artists. That sort of marriage was currently not possible. Best to stick to blackmail. She smiled brightly at her mother. “After all, I amyourdaughter.”
Her mother joined their hands and squeezed. “For all your stodginess, you are my daughter after all, yes.” She trained her eyes over Maggie’s shoulder, watching the progress of her eldest son across the room.
When her mother’s eyes rounded, Maggie whipped around to face her brother. “Hello, Raph.”
Raph had eyes only for their mother. “Don’t hide behind Maggie, Mother. It won’t help. I know, you know, and Maggie knows what must be done. Mr. Blake knows it, too.”
Maggie pulled him closer. “Shhhhh. I’d prefer no one else know.” A futile wish, that. Everyone had been in the hallway after Tobias had saved her from the falling wardrobe and everyone’s heads swung their way now, not even trying to hide their interest.
Raph laughed, a mirthless sound. “Too late for that, Maggie.”
“Yes,” she hissed, “but we do not have to have this conversation in the middle of a crowded room and half a room away from one of the central players in our little drama.”
Their mother held her arms out wide. “I have nothing to hide from all of our guests.”
“I do.” Raph wove his arms through both his mother’s and Maggie’s and dragged them into the neighboring room. It was blessedly empty. The increased quiet would help Maggie figure out how to solve this dilemma and appease her brother and her mother at the same time despite their diametrically opposite desires.
Once privately closeted, Raph guided Maggie and their mother to a low settee and then stood over them, arms crossed, scowl in full force. Ever since he’d grown taller than everyone else, he loomed whenever he could.
Maggie quickly reviewed what she knew. Raph wanted her to marry Tobias. Her mother wanted her to marry for love. Maggie wanted to save her family, and if marriage to Tobias wouldn’t help with that, then marriage would not be on the table.
And it wouldn’t. Tobias was an artist, after all. So, in a very odd reversal, she’d have to side with her mother for once, but use the sort of logical reasoning Raph would only listen to. Her mother’s talk of love and dreams would never work. Maggie stood, refusing to be intimidated by her brother’s looming. “Raph, we must accept three truths about this situation.”
He raised a brow and rocked back on his heels. “Oh, must we? And they are?”
“First, Mr. Blake saved my life and, in the process, may have accidentally compromised me.”
“Didcompromise you. I’ve accepted that truth, but you do not seem to have.”
“Second, our society, particularly at the highest levels, abides by antiquated rules of conduct for women.”
Their mother shot to her feet. “Here, here!” She bounced back down to her seat on the settee with a wide grin. “Continue, dear daughter, continue. I’m glad to see my parenting has not missed its mark.”
Her mother’s remarks would not help Maggie’s case as the obvious roll of Raph’s eyes proved. “Those rules exist to protect you and our society. And even if they are antiquated, they do still exist, and you must still abide by them!”
“No she does not!” her mother shouted.
Raph’s face grew red. An explosion was imminent.
Maggie placed a hand on her mother’s shoulder and wrapped her other hand around Raph’s wrist. She tugged them together. “We must not let these unfortunate truths tear us apart. Mama, Raph, you both love me, and I love you, and I know that though your ideas differ, you both want what is best for me, which brings me to the third truth applicable to this situation.”
Her mother and brother stared at her, waiting.
“We, the Bromleys, exist in a gray area somewhere beyond the dictates of society, not because of social power and clout but because we have carved a space for ourselves beyond these rules. We can ignore them. At times. But not always and not forever.” She held her brother’s gaze. “I will marry by the end of the house party.” She swung her gaze to her mother. “If I’ve fallen in love.”
