Page 23 of The Trouble with True Love

“Yes, morally outraged ladies often deem me so.” He paused, donning an expression of penitent earnestness as he pressed a hand to his chest. “But only until I am able to convince them of the true goodness of my soul.”

“There is no goodness in you. You are a cad. And so is your friend for attempting to play on a young woman’s affections with such cavalier disregard. It’s disgraceful. It’s appalling.”

“So, you decided to interfere in something that was none of your business?”

“When I perceive that another person is in harm’s way, I think it a good idea to warn that person. I’m strange that way.”

He made a scoffing sound. “And just which party did you think was in jeopardy?”

She stared at him. “Her, of course!”

“Or perhaps,” he countered, “it’s my friend who is truly in danger? Have you considered that?”

“Nonsense.”

“Dina’s starting to feel guilty about what they’re engaged in, that’s what this is about. The morality she’s been stuffed with all her life is starting to prey on her conscience. That’s why she’s bringing marriage into it now. It’s expected of her to want it. Is guilt a good reason to jump into matrimony?”

“People don’t want marriage merely to soothe their consciences!”

“Many do. Society’s prudish, downright ridiculous dictates about where love should lead play merry hell with people’s minds, filling them with guilt about physical desires—desires that are natural and just, and almost always transient.”

Clara stirred, hot embarrassment flooding through her at the mention of physical desires. “This is hardly an appropriate topic for conversation.”

“As a result of their guilt,” he went on as if she hadn’t spoken, “people often feel compelled to chain themselves to each other for life when they barely even know each other and haven’t the least understanding of whether or not a life together could make them happy.”

“Barely know each other?” she echoed. “The two people we are talking about are intimately acquainted.”

The moment the words were out of her mouth, she wanted to take them back, for she knew what he would make of them.

“Very intimately,” he agreed, his voice grave, the corners of his mouth curved in a faint smile. “But only in a biblical sense.”

Clara gave a laugh, one borne of astonishment and embarrassment, not amusement. She pressed her hands to her burning cheeks, hardly able to believe that she was discussing this sort of thing with a man, though from what she knew of this particular man, she supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. “You speak as if such intimacy is a trivial thing!”

“Not trivial, no, but it’s a poor reason to wed. Lionel and Dina have known each other a month. One month,” he added, as if to underscore the point. “Do you really think they are in any position to commit to each other for the rest of their lives?”

“They are sleeping together!”

He gave a shout of laughter. “God, I hope that’s not all they’re doing. I should hate to think their trysts are for a purpose as dull as mere sleeping.”

She folded her arms, glaring at him. “This is not something to laugh about. Although the fact that you would describe this sort of situation as a harmless entertainment is quite in keeping with what I know of your character. As is your attempt to take the credit of it.”

“Well, I think I’m entitled to take a little credit. I did introduce them.”

“And yet, you don’t feel any responsibility for the fact that you encouraged him in a despicable courtship?”

“We’re not talking about an innocent young girl here. Dina knew just what she was getting into when she launched this affair with Lionel—and yes, she was the one who launched it. To put it bluntly, she wanted to bed him and she did.”

“More fool her, then, for ever wanting more?”

“That’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying both parties are culpable here, so describing his actions as despicable is a rather harsh judgement, don’t you think? In any case,” he added before she could reply, “they are not involved in a courtship. Courtship implies a view to matrimony, and as I said, neither of them is ready to take that step. They may never be ready.”

“She seems quite ready, from what I overheard. She’s in love with your friend, though why that is so, I’m sure I can’t fathom. And he has told her he’s in love with her—”

“Yes, yes, they’re in love. At least, they’re madly infatuated with each other and both are willing to call it love. Why should they ruin such a blissful state of affairs by getting married?”

Clara shook her head, wondering if this man’s capacity for depravity would ever cease to shock her. “Ruin it?”

“Yes, ruin it. Again, they have been acquainted for a month. Do you think that’s a sound amount of time for two people to decide they want to spend their lives together?”

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