Page 54 of Baron in Check
“Unless…” Rachel let go of her hair and took Hermy’s hand.
“Unless your courage and bravery to show your true feelings are geared at a deserving man who loves you right back,” Lizzie said.
“And who forgives the transgression because he wants you so much more than any rules of society,” Hannah said in a dreamy voice, as though recalling a memory of forbidden pleasure in her past.
Hermy patted the tears on her cheeks. “You can’t mean it.”
“Look at it this way,” Rachel said, “the rules of society are meant to maintain a certain level of order.”
“A hierarchy,” Lizzie said.
“Social norms give stability,” Hannah added.
“Except when they don’t and cease to be useful.” Rachel crossed her arms and locked eyes with Hannah. “We all know these rules can hinder progress.”
“They are roadblocks we need to kick away,” Lizzie said.
“And you did that, Hermy. The daughter of an Earl who followed her heart, it’s brilliant!” Rachel said.
“I was compromised by my brother’s classmate.”
“Oh, weren’t we all?” Lizzie blushed and waved as if an invisible fly were buzzing around her head.
Hermy’s eyes widened. “Do tell!”
“Another time.” Lizzie rose and winked at Hermy. “I have to go find my husband, it’s time to read a bedtime story for the children.”
“So, you don’t think I bring shame to your home?”
“How could the woman who’s captured the heart of one of our closest and dearest friends do such a thing?”
“I’m here because you respect Greg, then?” Hermy felt her face burn, she’d probably grown blotchy with self-pity-tears.
“No, that’s not quite right,” Rachel pursed her lips. “May I?” she asked Lizzie, who
nodded and left. Hannah folded her hands in her lap.
“Hermy, neither of us grew up here. We married into this family and if there’s one thing you ought to know when you do, it’s an irrevocable commitment of loyalty.”
Hannah nodded. “We bring everything we have and everything we are and somehow, the family grows.”
“Lizzie knows best of all, she’s married to one of the Klonimus brothers. It’s like a merger of two countries, the Pearlers and the Klonimuses, but mind you, us Solomons, we’re not to be trifled with.”
“B-but Greg isn’t a Pearler,” Hermy ventured, yet Rachel and Hannah met her with incredulous glances.
“He’s an honorary one, and that counts. Believe us.”
Hermy swallowed hard. It felt as though the rules of society were rewritten in this family to suit a greater goal. “And I?” She set down the handkerchief and waved grandly at the room as if she connected it to the Pearlers overall.
“Hermy, don’t you know how much he loves you?”
Hermy didn’t dare move.
“Greg is like a knight in shining armor, not just a chess piece jumping around the board, he’s navigating the social rules in their shades of grey with such mastery, he’s going in and out of Prinny’s closest entourage, he has a seat in parliament, a fleet connected to America, India, and he has connections in all the wealthiest and most powerful families in Europe.” Rachel’s eyes rolled. “He’s everywhere!”
“You mean I’d drag him down?”
“You’d lift him up, Hermy. Stop thinking of yourself like a fallen girl and consider yourself one who’s risen from the ashes. You’ll be the Countess who makes him an earl, not vice versa, and you can help him.”
