Page 76 of Never a Bride
She wanted to reassure him, to tell him she knew everything, but it was not her place. Such rights belonged to a wife, not the current object of his fancy. So she had to distract him, while inside her throat ached with unshed tears.
“Alex, I need to ask your forbearance.”
“Over what?”
“Maxwell and Blythe. I know you’ve claimed that you are finished courting her—”
“Inevercourted her.”
“—but please, give them this chance at happiness. They are perfect for each other. You’ve helped Maxwell, and forgive me for not telling you the full truth, but I thought you would feel I was pushing you out of Blythe’s life.”
Alex knew he stared foolishly down at her, his mouth open, but for once he was at a loss. He blurted, “But I thought you wanted Max for yourself.”
Her eyes went wide. “For myself? Maxwell is a dear friend, that is all. No, it isBlytheI am concerned for.”
Alex could neither understand nor explain his relief, and he had never thought to feel such confusion. “But…what about your dreams for yourself, Em? What aboutyourlife?”
Though she laughed, he saw the pain she always kept buried. And for the first time, a woman’s pain hurt him.
“Oh, Alex, surely you see that I have made peace with my life? I know my future, and I gladly accept it. I will be happy living with Blythe’s family. And I want her to be happy, to choose the sort of stable man who will complement her high spirits. We do well together, my sister and I. I can help raise her children, and be her companion in our old age. What more could I want?”
Alex saw that she had convinced herself that she meant it.
“Go back to your sister, then,” he said, smiling at her. “I will not interfere between her and Max.”
The light in her face could have blinded him. “Truly, Alex? Oh, thank you! You do not know how I have worried. I shall see you at the party, won’t I? We can play cards together, and I can see if you play just as well as you use your mouth.”
Her face flamed scarlet as she realized what she’d said.
“Oh! I meant how you talk, not how you—you—” She ran from the room.
Alex was left alone, staring after her, reflecting on a strange ache in his chest. His smile faded as he went to the window and looked unseeingly outside.
How had he not noticed it? Not only had Emmeline given up on her own life, she thought to live through her sister. All his kisses and passion had done nothing to make her see that she was a desirable woman, that any marriageable man would be happy to have her.
But it wouldn’t be someone like him. He certainly didn’t need to be with her—he didn’tneedany woman.
But Emmeline needed someone to show her that her life was not to be led in the service of her sister. He wouldn’t let her give up that easily.
~oOo~
When Emmeline returned to the card party, she fanned herself as she gazed about the room. Would she always make a fool of herself around Alex?
She was distracted by the sight of Maxwell and Blythe, still sitting at the spinet, but seeming to be in turmoil. Then she saw that Maxwell’s sleeve was caught on the shoulder trim of Blythe’s gown. Emmeline could have groaned. The dear man must have tried to follow Alex’s orders, and only succeeded at embarrassing himself further. This would certainly not help his confidence.
She had to make things right between them, before Maxwell was discouraged forever. She took a step forward, then felt a hand suddenly clasp her shoulder.
“No, Em, stay here.”
Alex stood at her back, his words gentle but firm.
“Let me go! Surely you see that all my plans could be ruined right here!” She looked frantically towards the spinet, but two men had stopped before her to talk, blocking her view.
She knew Alex leaned toward her, because his words were close to her ear. “It’s time to trust them. Your sister is a grown woman, Maxwell a man. You can’t live their lives for them—you can’t livethroughthem.”
The last was said so softly she almost thought she had imagined it. But surely he was wrong. How could she risk seeing Blythe unhappy—as unhappy as she’d been when she was forced to give up Clifford?
“But Alex—”
