Page 39 of Everything But the Earl
As Anthony walked to Lark’s house, just a short distance from hismother’s, he reflected on the empty threat. His mother couldn’t force him to marry. He’d already inherited the title. She didn’t have any leverage over him. He was the one in power here. And if he decided his cousin should become the next marquess, that was his decision, was it not?
He’d worked up a good, frothing anger by the time Lark let him in. Anthony stormed past Lark and into Lark’s parlor, a tastefully decorated room where he kept a good supply of brandy.
“And how was the dinner party?” Lark asked, closing the door behind him.
“Mother insists I marry by the end of next Season, but… she cannot force it, can she?”
Lark pressed his lips together for a long moment. Then he said, “You knew this was a possibility.”
“And I knew that as long as Grace Midwood remained unattached, I could postpone the decision.”
Lark sighed. He walked over to the cabinet and got out two glasses. “And you kept stringing that woman along, even though she’s beautiful and could have found someone she actually cared about instead of Owen.”
“Neither she nor Owen seemed too sad about it at the wedding.”
“Look, I support your project of postponing marriage as long as possible, but you must know that each of your actions has consequences and not just on yourself. Things had a…positive resolution where Grace Midwood is concerned, but if you choose to postpone marriage and the rumors that you and I both know are circulating get louder, the title you refuse to pass on becomes worthless anyway. If youdon’tmarry, you’ll be a pariah, and I know that is not what you want.”
Anthony grunted. “What I want is to be with you.”
Lark poured two glasses of brandy. “I know. But…we knew this wasn’t…that is, we can never go public because we’ll both be hanged and…I never expected…”
“We thought it was a quick affair,” Anthony said. Instead, they fell in love, but Anthony knew better than to voice something so flowery. “We didn’t intend to grow so fond of each other.”
“Yes. Quite. And we both knew that at some point we’d have to marry.”
“And end our affair.”
“Yes, of course.”
“But can you tell me,” Anthony said, walking over to Lark to accept a glass of brandy, “that if I found some biddable debutante next Season and married her, you’d be willing to let me go?”
“It would…involve some hardship. But what choice do I have? I could not…that is, you’d have to father children, and I can’t… Just picturing you with…”
“You’d die of jealousy.”
Lark let out a breath and his shoulders dropped. “I do not like this situation any more than you do, but I am also realistic. If we both are seen around town together and we both postpone marriage until our hair begins to go gray, people will talk.”
“Let them talk.”
“I do not think you fully appreciate how much a tarnished reputation will put you out with the rest of society. As it is, people think you’re…”
“A lovable scamp?”
Lark rolled his eyes. “People find you bothersome. Never serious. Carefree.”
“Is this why society does not like me or why you do not like me?”
“Anthony, this thing between us, it cannot be forever. We both have obligations.”
“And now you sound like my mother.”
Lark let out a frustrated grunt. “I wish it were different. I’d marry you tomorrow if I could. I certainly like you better than any womanI’ve ever courted. But this is not the world we live in. Two men cannot….”
“Lark.”
“We cannot be in love,” Lark said.
Anthony set his glass aside. “And yet we are.” He cupped Lark’s face and pressed their lips together. He felt Lark surrender.
