A Breach of Promise (The Rules of Engagement #1)(8)

The elder woman patted her hand. “Then it’s no surprise you would feel as you do. But now you are here, Marcus shall soon make amends.”

“I’m afraid you misapprehend my purpose, Philomena. Though it pains me for your sake to say so, I no longer have any wish to marry Marcus. I have come to London only to request an end to our betrothal.”

“But my dear, you act in such haste!”

“Six years is hardly haste, ma’am,” Lydia remarked wryly.

“You should hear him out before coming to such an irrevocable decision. In truth, I take much blame upon myself for not prodding Marcus. Yet he was so single-minded to establish himself with the diplomatic service that I feared pressuring him to marry would only have caused resentment.”

“No doubt!” Lydia agreed. “He expressed as much the night of our engagement, but I was moonstruck. Marcus has never shown me more than polite indifference. I now realize that is not enough for me. In truth, I would almost rather he despised me than merely tolerated my existence.”

Lady Russell puckered her brow. “You would have a future husband despise you? How extraordinary!”

“Indeed, my lady! For antipathy is at least a form of passion! Even negative emotion can sometimes be turned around, but what can be done when no feeling exists at all? I will not wed a man only to live as indifferently as strangers.”

“My dear, given sufficient time…”

Lydia sighed. “For nearly six years I clung to that foolish hope, but time appears to have only been my enemy. He truly doesn’t want me. He never did.”

“But my dear, you do not know men,” Lady Russell consoled. “They are undeniably obtuse. The daft creatures never know what they want until it’s placed under their noses.” She smiled and clasped the young woman’s hand with a conspiratorial look. “You have now come to town, Lydia. Ergo, he will want you.”

“I fear it is not so simple as that. My feelings toward him are no longer engaged.”

“Is that truly so?” Lady Russell broke into a dubious smile. Although Lydia had spoken with conviction, she failed to meet the elder woman’s astute gaze. “Then my dear, it must be my son’s onus to reengage them.”

Lydia opened her mouth protest but Lady Russell had already risen to her feet with a brisk shake of her voluminous skirts. “Now then, let us get you settled in your rooms. Your betrothed shall be joining us later for supper.”

*



Certain that Lady Russell would waste no time, Marcus had fully anticipated his mother’s urgent message. Nevertheless, he couldn’t resist spending an hour or two at his club first, though he knew it an idle and childish protest against the inevitable.

“Ah, my youngest son condescends to visit his neglected mother at last,” Lady Russell scolded while tilting her head for the kiss Marcus planted on her cheek.

“Visit? I was under the distinct impression you’d issued a summons. Ouch!” he exclaimed as the smart flick of her fan connected with his wrist.

“Don’t be cheeky.” Ignoring his scowl, Lady Russell simply patted the seat on the silk-damask sofa. “Sit with me, Marcus. We must talk.”

“You mean, you must talk and I must listen,” he amended with a sardonic curve of his lips.

“Quite so, dearest,” she said. Marcus had no sooner flipped his coat skirts to sit before Lady Russell turned to fully face her son. “Marcus, you are a fool.”

Having long been his mother’s favorite, the remark came as something of a shock. “An auspicious beginning,” he remarked dryly. “And dismaying to my illusion that the world at large considers me a man of parts.”

“Wicked boy.” She pursed her lips. “You know very well I’m speaking of Lydia. Your betrothal was perfectly arranged years ago to the ideal girl. It confounds me how you have managed to botch it all up!”

“While I confess I’ve been remiss—”

“Remiss! The girl has not laid eyes on you but once since your betrothal party! You’ve been positively nonexistent! How could you be so careless and insensitive?”

“What was left for me to do, Mama? You had already quite taken the burden of finding a wife off my shoulders.”

“So this is just a petty rebellion against me?” Her mouth formed a well-practiced moue. “I had only your best interests at heart, Marcus. You are my youngest son with no fortune to speak of, and no properties to inherit. I found you a suitable girl from good family with a respectable dowry.”

“Placing my future happiness all in your own capable hands.”

She looked injured. “You were never under duress.”

He groaned. “I know, Mama. And I agreed to it, didn’t I?”

“Nevertheless, after I sowed the garden, you failed to tend it.”

“You already know I am resolved to make amends. ‘Tis why I have brought her here.”

“You seem to think this will be easily fixed, but I begin to doubt your success. How do you expect to go on with Lydia, to win her over?”

“Win? Why should I have to win what is already mine?”

“Was yours—for the losing. By sheer negligence you have alienated her affections, and now must work to win them back.”

Marcus laughed outright. “I daresay that shan’t be much of a challenge.”