Page 44 of An Arranged Marriage with a Mad Marquess
“Are you quite all right, my dear?” Thomasin asked, voice cool and even.
Patrina cleared her throat, straightening. “Of course. I’m upset, though. How could I not be? My husband is upstairs, sick in bed, and I am being kept from him.”
Thomasin closed the door behind her and leaned against it. She smiled faintly, tilting her head.
“Pray, my dear, there is no need for such dramatics. Nobody has said as much, but everybody knows this marriage of yours is only one of convenience.”
Patrina flinched, recoiling. “I beg your pardon?”
“Oh, I meant no offence, truly. But as wearefamily now, I thought a little frankness was in order. I hope you don’t mind.”
Patrina deflated a little. There seemed no point in getting angry. She threw herself onto a nearby seat.
“No, I don’t mind. I shan’t be returning to the dining room, if that is what you’re here for.”
“Not exactly. I wanted to talk to you, my dear.”
Thomasin perched neatly on the edge of a seat, leaning forward. Patrina sighed.
“Very well. What is it?”
“I understand you want to help Neil. We all want to help him, and you must know that your efforts are greatly appreciated.”
Patrina bit the inside of her cheek. “And yet…?”
“And yet you arenothelping,” Thomasin said frankly, looking Patrina dead in the eye. “Estranging him from the only physician who has been able to control his symptoms is a bad idea. Encouraging him to explore different medical solutions is a bad idea, when he has so little time to do so. You saw how serious his fits can be. There is constantly a risk that he may hurt himself, that he may get worse without warning… oh, you can’t imagine the pressure we live under. You are just beginning to experience it now, butwehave been going through it for some time now. You are fond of Neil, I am sure but think of how his mother feels. His sister, his cousin.Me.”
Patrina jumped to her feet, pacing up and down. “I won’t listen to this.”
“Patrina,please. Just hear me out. Emma would never speak to you on this subject, because despite what you think, she respects you. But really, the best thing you could do for Neil would be to go back to London, for now.”
She stopped dead. “Go… Go back home?”
Thomasin shrugged. “You could take an apartment or a townhouse in the city. Just until his health stabilizes. Your presence here is… well, I think it might be distressing him further.”
“That is not fair.”
Thomasin sighed, glancing away. “I don’t mean to hurt you. I simply can’t watch this go on. Nobody will tell you the truth, but I don’t intend to let it slide. For example, think of the soiree!”
Patrina blinked. “Soiree?”
Thomasin clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, did they not tell you? You poor dear. Still, it is arecentthing, and with all that has happened…”
“Thomasin, please. Just tell me.”
She pursed her lips, and took a long moment before she replied.
“Newlyweds are expected to host a party sooner or later,” Thomasin said at last, shrugging. “Emma decided that yours should besoonerrather than later. I suppose she was worried about Neil’s health deteriorating, and it might as well happen while Clayton and I are here to help. I believe the date is set for three days’ time.”
Patrina reeled. “Three days’ time? And nobody thought to tell me?”
“As I said, it is a recent development. Emma only confirmed it this morning. I suppose with Neil’s fit, she will be thinking of delaying it. But, no, she cannot – the invitations have already gone out,” Thomasin sighed. “Oh, well.”
Patrina covered her face in her hands. “Oh, heavens.”
“Think on what I said, dear,” Thomasin said gently, rising to her feet. She reached over to take Patrina’s hand. Her fingers were cold. “Think of what is right forNeil. Nobody would blame you.”
Patrina did not respond, and so Thomasin let her hand drop. She slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her.
