A Lady Never Tells(131)
Clearly, Vivian’s view of Sabrina matched the description of her that Royce had painted. If they were right, then Sabrina had lied to Mary about marrying Lord Humphrey because her parents demanded it; it had been Sabrina’s own desire for wealth and status that had made her jilt Royce. But whatever Sabrina’s motives in breaking it off with Royce, the result had been the same: Royce’s heart had been broken, and he had decided never again to trust or to love. The letter Mary had read this afternoon had only emphasized that fact.
A few minutes later, when Vivian said her good-byes and rose to leave, Mary jumped up and walked with her to the front door. “Lady Vivian … might I have a word with you?”
Vivian turned to look at her, her vivid green eyes curious, but her polite tone revealed neither curiosity nor surprise. “Of course. Shall we sit down on one of the benches in front?”
Mary smiled gratefully, and they walked out the front door and down the steps to the small expanse of lawn before the driveway. Lady Vivian’s carriage stood waiting, the footman ready to open the door, but Vivian showed no sign of impatience. She made a brief gesture to the footman before she walked over to one of the stone benches that stood a few feet beyond the front door. When she and Mary were seated, she turned to Mary, politely waiting.
Mary felt suddenly awkward. “I’m sorry. I—no doubt I am being too forward. Miss Dalrymple usually says that I am.”
“Miss Dalrymple. Pffft.” Vivian made a dismissive gesture. “A small-minded woman; I cannot imagine what possessed Stewkesbury to hire her. Just tell me what you wish to say. If I find it too forward, I don’t have to respond.”
“That’s true.” Mary smiled. “The thing is … I am not accustomed to British gentlemen. I don’t know how to judge their words. Their actions.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Are we talking about Sir Royce?” Vivian asked.
“How did you know?” Mary’s eyes rounded in amazement. “Is it that obvious?” Her hands flew up to her cheeks, which were suddenly burning.
Vivian chuckled. “No, don’t worry. I would like to say I have a special eye for these things, but, well, it’s pretty clear that if you are having man trouble and two of the men here are your cousins, it is the one who is not who is probably the fellow in question.”
Mary laughed. “I suppose it is. Well, subtlety aside then … you know Sir Royce far better than I. And you know all about him and Lady Sabrina. Do you think—do you think that he could ever forget her?”
Vivian raised her brows a trifle. “Is he still pining for her? I would not have thought it.”
“He says he does not love her. And, indeed, I don’t think he yearns for her. It’s more … the opposite of that. He avoids her, and his words about her and what she did are harsh.”
“Mary, I know that you like Sabrina, but—”
“No, it’s not that I think he should not be angry at her. I see, I think, what she has been doing.”
Vivian looked at her, head tilted to the side. “Then why is it a problem that Royce dislikes her intensely? If you care for him, I would think you would be glad.”
“Because it is such a strong feeling. It is not love, but the opposite coin of love. It fills him up. It occupies his emotions. She remains the most important woman in the world to him, even if his feelings toward her are rancorous.”
“Ah, I see what you mean. You worry that he is obsessed with her, that he cannot love you as long as he remains full of feelings about Sabrina, even anger and dislike.”
“Yes.” Mary smiled with relief. “Exactly. He has asked me to marry him.”
“He has? That seems a strong indication that he is over Sabrina.”
“One would think. But he was careful to let me know that he would never love me or any woman. Our marriage would be one of mutual advantage. That is all.”
“I see.” Vivian was silent for a moment. “That is the sort of marriage many people I know have. My own parents married for that reason.”
“Were they happy?”
Vivian shrugged. “I don’t know. My mother died when I was a baby. My older brothers and my father don’t talk of such things. But from the gossip I have heard … no, I don’t think they were very happy.”
“My parents were. They loved each other a great deal. That is what I would like to have. But Royce keeps asking me to marry him, and it tempts me even though I know he does it only because he is a gentleman.”
“Indeed?”
“Yes.” Mary blushed, realizing that Vivian would guess at least in part what must have happened between her and Royce. “He is doing it because of my reputation, which is most kind of him, but I—I don’t want a marriage like that.”