be locked in a loveless marriage to Halford. You’ve had enough sorrow in your life.”
Aurora looked down at her clenched hands to hide her reflections. She had loved Geoffrey deeply, but not in the way Jane supposed. Theirs had been a comfortable alliance rather than a grand passion. Geoffrey had been a gentle soul and one of the kindest men she had ever known, with a sharp mind he preferred to engage in scholarly pursuits.
His quiet, complacent nature was what had made the prospect of marriage to him so appealing, Aurora knew. She had cherished him for his temperament as much as anything—because he was so completely unlike her father. He would never try to rule her or dictate her every action or fly into rages at the slightest provocation, as her father did. As Geoffrey’s wife, she would be free to live her own life, to control her own future. Indeed, Geoffrey was perfectly content to follow her lead in all matters, so long as he could keep his nose buried in his books. She had grieved at his death, but she’d loved him more like a brother than lover.
Her throat tightened with guilt and regret that she hadn’t felt a greater passion for him, but she banished the bittersweet ache his memory always engendered and swallowed past her dry throat.
“Mr. Sabine,” she said finally, “wants more than a marriage in name only. If we wed, he will insist on…on consummating our union, so no one can question its legitimacy.”
That gave Jane pause, while Percy looked grave. He made none of the objections Aurora expected, however.
“Your father would indeed be unable to challenge the marriage then,” Percy asserted. “And everyone knows Halford’s preference for schoolroom misses. He will undoubtedly give up his pursuit of you if you’re truly a widow and no longer a virgin bride.”
Aurora couldn’t help flushing at such plain speaking, even though she should be accustomed to it by now. The frank honesty and openness in the Osborne household was uncommon but admittedly refreshing compared to the stifling mores under which she’d been raised.
Seeing her discomfiture, Jane frowned at her husband, but then nodded slowly in agreement. “Mr. Sabine is injured, Aurora. He is not likely to be much of a husband to you. And you would only have to submit once. Furthermore…pray forgive me for being immodest, my dear, but I daresay Mr. Sabine has enough expertise to make the experience not…unpleasant for you.”
It was Percy’s turn to frown, but Jane forestalled his comment by asking him about the nuptial arrangements. “You can’t possibly allow your cousin to be married in that dismal prison, Percy,” she said emphatically.
“I doubt Nicholas would be allowed to leave the fortress, but the Brimstone chapel is quite adequate. The ceremony could be held there tomorrow evening, which would allow enough time to secure a special license and arrange for a solicitor to write out a new will.”
When Aurora remained silent, Percy went to stand before her and take her hand. “You know, my dear, you don’t have to accept Sabine’s proposal, or Halford’s either, for that matter. You are welcome to make your home with us for as long as you wish. You needn’t return to England.”
“Thank you, Percy,” Aurora said quietly. “But my life is there, with my family, my friends.”
“Well, don’t let us browbeat you into making a decision you will regret.”
She smiled briefly. “I won’t.” This was too important a matter to allow herself to be pressured even by her loving, well-meaning relatives. “I am profoundly grateful for your concern—grateful to you both,” she said, including Jane in her glance. “But will you forgive me if I say I need some time alone to consider?”
“Of course we’ll forgive you,” Jane said warmly, giving her a gentle hug.
“Certainly,” Percy agreed. “But I’m afraid you will have to make up your mind quickly. Nicholas Sabine is running out of time.”
“I
Aurora looked down at her clenched hands to hide her reflections. She had loved Geoffrey deeply, but not in the way Jane supposed. Theirs had been a comfortable alliance rather than a grand passion. Geoffrey had been a gentle soul and one of the kindest men she had ever known, with a sharp mind he preferred to engage in scholarly pursuits.
His quiet, complacent nature was what had made the prospect of marriage to him so appealing, Aurora knew. She had cherished him for his temperament as much as anything—because he was so completely unlike her father. He would never try to rule her or dictate her every action or fly into rages at the slightest provocation, as her father did. As Geoffrey’s wife, she would be free to live her own life, to control her own future. Indeed, Geoffrey was perfectly content to follow her lead in all matters, so long as he could keep his nose buried in his books. She had grieved at his death, but she’d loved him more like a brother than lover.
Her throat tightened with guilt and regret that she hadn’t felt a greater passion for him, but she banished the bittersweet ache his memory always engendered and swallowed past her dry throat.
“Mr. Sabine,” she said finally, “wants more than a marriage in name only. If we wed, he will insist on…on consummating our union, so no one can question its legitimacy.”
That gave Jane pause, while Percy looked grave. He made none of the objections Aurora expected, however.
“Your father would indeed be unable to challenge the marriage then,” Percy asserted. “And everyone knows Halford’s preference for schoolroom misses. He will undoubtedly give up his pursuit of you if you’re truly a widow and no longer a virgin bride.”
Aurora couldn’t help flushing at such plain speaking, even though she should be accustomed to it by now. The frank honesty and openness in the Osborne household was uncommon but admittedly refreshing compared to the stifling mores under which she’d been raised.
Seeing her discomfiture, Jane frowned at her husband, but then nodded slowly in agreement. “Mr. Sabine is injured, Aurora. He is not likely to be much of a husband to you. And you would only have to submit once. Furthermore…pray forgive me for being immodest, my dear, but I daresay Mr. Sabine has enough expertise to make the experience not…unpleasant for you.”
It was Percy’s turn to frown, but Jane forestalled his comment by asking him about the nuptial arrangements. “You can’t possibly allow your cousin to be married in that dismal prison, Percy,” she said emphatically.
“I doubt Nicholas would be allowed to leave the fortress, but the Brimstone chapel is quite adequate. The ceremony could be held there tomorrow evening, which would allow enough time to secure a special license and arrange for a solicitor to write out a new will.”
When Aurora remained silent, Percy went to stand before her and take her hand. “You know, my dear, you don’t have to accept Sabine’s proposal, or Halford’s either, for that matter. You are welcome to make your home with us for as long as you wish. You needn’t return to England.”
“Thank you, Percy,” Aurora said quietly. “But my life is there, with my family, my friends.”
“Well, don’t let us browbeat you into making a decision you will regret.”
She smiled briefly. “I won’t.” This was too important a matter to allow herself to be pressured even by her loving, well-meaning relatives. “I am profoundly grateful for your concern—grateful to you both,” she said, including Jane in her glance. “But will you forgive me if I say I need some time alone to consider?”
“Of course we’ll forgive you,” Jane said warmly, giving her a gentle hug.
“Certainly,” Percy agreed. “But I’m afraid you will have to make up your mind quickly. Nicholas Sabine is running out of time.”
“I
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