Page 75 of The Masked Baron
Kerrigan eyed him suspiciously. “Go ahead.”
“First,” Ellis said, leaning forward across his desk, “might I ask what your feelings are toward my sister?”
Kerrigan chuckled. “She is home a little more than a day, and you are already acting the role of the protective older brother.”
Ellis rolled his eyes. “You’re monopolizing Miss Durante’s attention and flirting with my sister on the side.”
Kerrigan hesitated. He picked at a chip on the arm of his chair. “I’m still trying to sort things out myself. You know how it was when we were younger.”
“You were never shy until my sister was around, and then you’d get tongue-tied and stumble all over yourself.”
Kerrigan slowly shook his head. “I was an idiot. I always regretted not telling Eliana how I felt then. I hoped and prayed for years you would succeed and I would get my chance. I finally came to terms that it would never happen. You can’t blame me for being confused with Eliana’s return.”
Ellis loved Kerrigan like a brother. It was hard to imagine ruining his happiness at the same time as securing his own. He felt a little guilty, but he had fully intended to punch Kerrigan in the nose as soon as he was out of view from the others.
“I can’t force you to care for someone or not care for someone. You have been a companion and family to me for so long, and I feel like a heel for pressing you like this. The problem is I cannot let you continue your attentions toward Miss Durante. Eliana, on the other hand, I fully encourage.”
Kerrigan dropped his feet to the ground. “Is it because of her family? With Mr. Crow out of the picture, your plan is perfect. No one need know of her father’s fall from Society, and we both know her blood is good, not that I care an ounce. And, need I remind you, neither do you.”
“No, it isn’t that.” Ellis took a deep breath. “It’s because I want to marry her myself.”
“I don’t believe it,” Kerrigan said, gawking at him. “Just weeks ago you were throwing us together every chance you had. You said yourself you aren’t a dictator of hearts. You can’t encourage one relationship and then demand I drop it and start another. We’re the closest of friends, but this is going a bit too far even for you. I hope this isn’t because you suddenly have a boost of confidence without that dratted mask. Does Miss Durante even have a say in this?”
Ellis ran his hand through his hair. This was a mess. “Of course she does. I admit I never thought myself worthy of her, mask or no mask, but she has had my heart for some time.”
Silence fell between them for a few moments. Ellis knew his friend was angry with him, and he could only imagine he would feel even more betrayed when he and Annie announced their engagement.
Kerrigan ground his teeth together and then blew out his pent-up breath. “I want to stay angry with you, but I cannot. You have pricked my conscience for loving two women at the same time.”
“I beg you to think in Eliana’s direction,” Ellis said. “I know she once cared for you a great deal, and I am confident the feelings renewed in your heart are for a reason.”
Kerrigan rolled his eyes. “Do you know something I don’t? Because she seems awfully on edge for someone interested in me.”
Ellis shrugged. “She can hardly stand to speak with me, so I can’t claim to guess her feelings on anything. But would you regret not acting on the possibility of something happening between the two of you?”
Kerrigan thought about it. “It’s been so long, and we have both changed a great deal. The idea of something might be more appealing than the reality.”
“And could you be all right with the idea of Annie and me?”
Kerrigan gave half a smile. “Annie, is it? And all this time I thought you cared for her as a sister.”
“I often treated her as one, so I am not surprised you thought it. But no, my feelings for her are anything but brotherly.”
“If there is love between the two of you, then I would have to be all right with it, wouldn’t I?”
Ellis eyed his friend, trying to gauge his true feelings. “Good, because I can’t stand to see you read poetry to my future wife.”
Kerrigan’s chuckle turned into an outright laugh. He slapped his knee with amusement. “It wasn’t working anyway.”
“I won’t try it myself, then,” Ellis added.
“No, but she does enjoy dancing.”
Ellis grimaced. “Poetry might be a wiser alternative for me.”
Kerrigan smiled, stood, and then slapped his friend across the back. “It’s good to see you looking forward for a change.”
Ellis put his hand on Kerrigan’s shoulder. “You have stood by me for a long time.”
