Page 46 of The Viscount's Diamond Bride
“And you believe that yours and Ursula’s matrimony is destined to follow the same course,” Jonathan continued flatly.
Graham bit his lip, glancing down into his brandy glass once more.
“Can you blame me for worrying?” he murmured. “I do not want my life to go the same way. I don’t deserve it, and nordoes Ursula. I believe that to remain on cordial terms, the safest wager is to remainfriends. Why clutter up a matrimony with… with…”
“With real emotion?” Jonathan finished, sounding amused. “Graham, why must you build up walls? What is wrong with falling in love?”
“Now, you are being quite hypocritical. You aren’t in love.”
Jonathan pursed his lips, draining his teacup. “Perhaps I have not found the right woman,” he countered. “Yet, at least. You are alreadywedded. If I were wedded, I should apply myself to falling in love with my wife. It seems wise. Did you leave her at home, by the way?”
Graham felt a twinge of guilt. He should at least have told Ursula that he was going out for the day, instead of letting her find out through the servants.
What is wrong with me? Why must I run away? Perhaps this is what my father did. Perhaps that is why Mother is so prickly about him. Perhaps they once had the opportunity for love, too.
I wonder what went wrong.
Instead, he drained his brandy glass and set it down with a click.
“I daresay you are correct, Jonathan. You generally are. For now, however, I should appreciate a day of conversation andrelaxation, if you don’t object. Have you time to attend our club?”
Jonathan sighed, and Graham got the sense that he had somehow disappointed his friend.
“Yes, if you would like. But Graham, I wish you would think about what I have said. Do not occupy yourself too much with the past – it has been and gone and we cannot change it – but concentrate on the future.Yourfuture.”
Graham smiled wanly. “I shall, do not worry. I shall.”
Chapter Sixteen
“I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other.” – Frankenstein,Mary Shelley
One of the benefits of being a wedded woman, it seemed, was inviting one’s friends over for tea without having to consult one’s mama.
Ursula intended to enjoythisbenefit to the full.
She and Charlotte sat on a wide, plush sofa in the big parlour the nicest room in the house, in Ursula’s opinion and sipped tea. Georgie wandered around the room, peering up at the moulding of the ceiling.
“Your house is beautiful, at least,” Charlotte said at last. “You don’tlookunhappy.”
“I’m not,” Ursula admitted. She had no intention of telling Charlotte about what had transpired between her and Graham, although really she could think of little else. “Although I had just received a message from my dear husband informing me that his mother will be staying with us for a short while.”
Charlotte replaced her cup on the saucer with a loud rattle.
“Goodgracious, Ursula, surely you jest?”
“If only that were true?” Ursula muttered. “No, apparently some repairs must be done to her house, and of course she must stay here. I am not pleased, but I suppose there’s nothing that can be done.”
“Well, take care, that’s all.”
Ursula’s skin prickled, and she threw a glance at her cousin. “What was that, Georgie?”
Was it her imagination, or did Charlotte throw a warning glance at Georgie? It didn’t matter, because her cousin did not seem to notice.
Georgie widened her eyes innocently. “Oh, you must have heard about the previous viscount’s first wife.”
“Georgie,” Charlotte warned aloud. “That’s enough.”
“No, Charlotte, I want to hear. What are you talking about, Georgie?”
