James stood, crossed to the door, and opened it. He arrived in the hallway just as his son started up the stairs. “Michael. A word, if you will?”
There was a noticeable pause. Only Atkins moved about, hanging up Michael’s greatcoat and organizing his hat and gloves. The steady ticks from the longcase clock seemed louder than usual.
A heavy sigh sounded and then Michael stepped off the bottom step and approached his father. “Ten minutes. Then I need to get ready.”
James nodded his agreement, ushered Michael into his study, and followed him into the room. The door closed. “Care for a drink?”
“No thank you.”
James crossed to the sideboard and poured himself a brandy. “Please have a seat.”
Michael glanced at one of the two chairs facing James’s from across his wide desk. He hesitated, making his reluctance to settle in for a longer discussion known. Another sigh, and he sat. James took a sip of his drink, returned to his own seat, and faced the resentment in Michael’s eyes.
“I don’t like what’s happened between us,” James began. “We used to be close.”
“And then you betrayed me.”
The unexpected charge caused James to flinch. “How?”
“I came to you in good faith, certain you would at the very least try and help me find a way in which to marry the woman I love. Instead you imposed your will, denied me my happiness, and have since threatened to ruin her reputation. Frankly, it is a miracle I am speaking to you at all right now.”
This was, James had to admit, a fair point. Had his father acted similarly, he’d have been furious too. Although…
“You cannot deny that a union between you and Mrs. Petersen would be problematic.” When Michael merely glared at him, James added, “Her mother is the most scandalous woman in England. It would be absurd to suppose that becoming related to her through marriage wouldn’t have dire effects on you or your career.”
“Naturally, I have considered this, but I had hoped you, as my father and the most competent legal head in existence, would try and help me find a solution. Instead, you seem more concerned with your own grudge against Mrs. Lawson and how my marrying her daughter may affect you.”
James’s mouth dropped open. He’d never heard his son speak to him thus, with such conviction and force of emotion. Perhaps he should have become a barrister after all, for indeed, it was rare to see a man convey his point with more precision. Lord help him, he’d never been prouder, even if he were the one receiving a dressing down.
He gathered himself and tried not to smile. This was a serious matter. “It is true that I am no fan of Mrs. Lawson or her behavior. She treated her husband abominably and in so doing, she revealed herself to be a person of low moral standing – the sort of woman who is not to be trusted. Naturally, I am concerned by how your marrying her daughter would affect me. To have no apprehension would not only be ignorant but foolish. But it is my duty toward you and your future that forces me to do what I must to prevent the match.”
“You’ve always taught me not to rely too heavily on any argument with a flaw in its foundation, yet you are doing exactly that.” When James angled his head in question, Michael said, “You assume I will heed you because of the bond we have shared since my birth, because I have always respected your authority. But what if there is a stronger force at play than the duty I feel toward you? What if my love for Mrs. Petersen won’t just go away because you say it must?”
“Michael, you are but four and twenty years of age with a lifetime ahead of you.”
“Already two years older than you were when I was born.”
Damn.
James set his glass to his lips and took a deep swallow while eyeing his son. “I’ll never regret fathering you. How could I when you are the best thing that ever happened to me? But I did believe myself in love with your mother. And since I was certain she loved me in return, I rushed into marriage with a woman who—”
He cut himself off abruptly. James had never disparaged Clara to Michael, and he wasn’t about to start now for the sake of trying to win an argument.
“The point is,” he went on, “you don’t really know what love is at your age or at any age really until you have struggled through hardship with that person and seen each other at your weakest. All you have done with Mrs. Petersen, however, is go for walks, sip tea, and dance. So while you may enjoy her company and while you may claim to share similar interests, it isn’t love. More likely, it is lust, Michael, and that is something you can cure with another woman. It certainly isn’t enough to warrant marriage.”
Michael leaned forward. His posture was rigid, his eyes flashing with tightly contained anger. “Don’t make the error of diminishing the bond she and I have just because you’ve never known such powerful love yourself, Papa.”
“Michael. I loved your mother with all my heart.”
“Until you realized she didn’t love you. Frankly, it would not surprise me if you were jaded by your experience, but I will be damned if you let it influence me.” Michael winced and shook his head. He eased back into his seat and relaxed his posture. “Forgive me. I did not mean to insult you. I’m just so saddened and perplexed by the situation I find myself in.”
“I’m not offended by your outburst. You’re being honest with me and I respect that, Michael. Indeed, I welcome it since it’s much preferred to the silence you have been dealing me in recent weeks.”
Michael sighed. He closed his eyes briefly, then met James’s gaze once more. “I’ve met Mrs. Lawson, you know. She does not strike me as the viper you and the papers describe her to be. In fact, I rather like her, and considering the lovely daughter she has raised, I cannot help but wonder if perhaps the husband made up his allegations so he could simply be rid of her.”
“Anything’s possible I suppose. But if he wasn’t trying to defend his honor, then what would be his motive?” When Michael merely shrugged, James said, “Don’t forget the Pennington ball. You and I were both there. We witnessed the accusation Mr. Hewitt made against his wife and saw two of her lovers rush to her defense. In public. And that is without considering the trial or the fact that the lady herself has made no attempt at denying her guilt.”
“I suppose,” Michael muttered. “I just can’t shake the feeling that something is off about this whole thing.”
“It wouldn’t be strange for you to look for hope in every possible corner, but I fear that when it comes to your marrying Mrs. Petersen, there is none. Not unless you are prepared to walk away from your career and risk social ruin. Your life as you know it would in effect be over.”
Noting the indecision in Michael’s eyes, James added, “I think it might be good for us to get away from Town for a bit and spend some time in the country. I’ve been feeling a need for a change of scenery and fresh air myself lately. What do you say? We’ll visit my parents for a week or two and once we return, the world will surely look brighter.”
Michael didn’t appear the least bit convinced. It was clear he did not wish to leave London or, more precisely, the woman who resided here. But he must have realized that moping about would do him no good either. Eventually he shrugged. “All right.”