Sandy scoffed with disgust, then rose to his feet. “Just so you’re aware, I could have eloped with her—without any warning. But I didn’t because it would have driven an irreparable wedge between the two of you. The discord would have killed her, so I couldn’t proceed. That’s how much I care about her. What can you say? How much do you care?”
He whipped away and marched for the door.
“I feel awful about this,” Jacob called to his retreating back.
“No, you don’t.”
“I hate that the world is like this. I wish it were different.”
Sandy halted and glared. “Save your lies and justifications for your sister. I’m not gullible enough to swallow them.”
He stormed out, and Jacob slumped down, sick at heart and filled with dread. How would he ever explain himself to Margaret?
“You bastard!”
As Margaret slammed into Jacob’s bedchamber, she hurled the derogatory term for what had to be the first time ever. He was in his sitting room, over in the corner and pouring himself a drink.
She hadn’t knocked, but had barged in, and she’d caught him dressing for supper, as if he’d blithely prance downstairs, and they’d have a cordial meal together. His hair was wet, his shirt off, and he had a towel draped over his shoulders.
“Hello, Margaret.” He sighed with what sounded like remorse. “I take it you’ve spoken to Sandy.”
“You pompous swine! You dog! You cur!”
“Would you calm down?”
“Why should I? I’ve been angry for twelve years, and every second of those years, I’ve had to bite down my fury. I’m finished bowing down to my Ralston relatives.”
“I won’t discuss this with you when you’re shouting at me.”
“Won’t you?” she mockingly retorted. “You poor baby! You’ve behaved like a conceited, contemptible ass, and I’m calling you out for it. Oh, the horror!”
He downed his drink in a quick gulp, then smacked the glass down on the tray. His eyes sparked with ire. “You couldn’t have bothered to apprise me of what was coming? You couldn’t have given me a hint? Why send Sandy to plead your case? You had to realize I’d be opposed. Why would you put me in such a hideous position?”
“Why would you refuse him? I could have sworn you and I were finally becoming friends. I could have sworn you’d want me to be happy.”
“Sandy could never make you happy.”
“Ooh, you idiot! You say that to my face? He’s the best man I know. Don’t you dare belittle him!”
“I’m not maligning his character.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“I’m just pointing out that disparate people shouldn’t wed. It never works.”
“Thank you for that stirring pot of wisdom, Brother, but here’s a tiny morsel you obviously haven’t considered: I was married—at my mother’s command—to a dolt from my own rank and station, and it produced the most nauseating union ever contracted. I was constantly criticized for my flaws. I was repeatedly shamed and disrespected. I was ridiculed for being stupid, useless, and lazy. Once in a great while, I was even slapped around for my own good.” She was delighted to see him wince. “Perhaps you could find me the same kind of despicable fiend to be my next spouse.”
“You’re deliberately failing to understand me. Sandy is a fine person, and I like him. I’ve always liked him, but he is an employee, which means he is totally inappropriate.”
“According to who?”
“To Mother—who I’m told already declined to allow it. Why should I feel differently?”
“You never gave two figs for Mother’s opinion on any topic, and she’s dead! Why would you care what she thought a decade ago?”
“In this instance, she was correct, and if you’d climb down off your high-horse, you’d realize that you share the same view.”
The comment stopped her in her tracks. “What are you talking about.”
“Did you—or did you not—recently lecture me about my flirtation with Joanna James?”
“So . . . ?”
“You were quite adamant that I shouldn’t involve myself with her because she was too far beneath me. And I was merely flirting! That’s it. Imagine my surprise when I discover that you’re not only flirting with the hired help, but you’re eager to wed one of them!”
“Miss James was a bit of . . . of . . . fluff who enticed you when she shouldn’t have. You were fascinated by her, so Father’s wicked tendencies burst out. You would never have married her, no matter how disgracefully you acted. Don’t pretend I was wrong about that.”
He rolled his eyes, as if she was being hysterical. “Could we not hurl these repugnant accusations? I’m nothing like Father, and I won’t listen to you insisting I am.”
She ignored him and kept on. “You were trifling with Miss James, curing your boredom at her expense, and in the process, you were perfectly willing to imperil your betrothal. But I have been falling in love with Sandy all over again. In fact, I’ve never fallen out of love with him.”
“Bully for you,” he snottily said.
“We’ve known Sandy forever. He’s loyal and dedicated, and he runs the place for you, but you’ve never figured that out. You pay Kit an exorbitant salary, but Sandy does all the work.”
“That’s starting to become clear to me.”
“Sandy is the reason you have money in your purse, yet you scoff and claim he’s worthless.”
“I never said that!” he fumed.
“Didn’t you? You strut around as if you and I are so magnificent, but you need to speak for yourself. Not me. I’m twenty-eight, and I’ve wound up a dispossessed widow who’s barren and penniless, but Sandy is willing to wed me anyway. He’s willing to supply me with a home and two boys to mother. What is my other option? Shall I never remarry? Shall I spend the rest of my life, wandering the halls in this bloody mansion with only Roxanne for company?”
“There will be other matrimonial choices.” He was so ludicrous! “There will be other men—suitable men—who will be glad to have you.”
“Suitable men!” she spat. “You actually presume there are men more suitable than Geoffrey Sanders?”
“You haven’t been in England that long. Why
