Not even the exotic lure of a-a tiger on English shores could stop him from turning an incredulous stare on his cousin. “F-freedom? Pursuit of-of happiness? By Jove, Freddie – why, you sound practically like those former colonies of ours. You know well that-that marriage, like matters of state, is about – about family, and-and duty, and –”
Whatever he might have said next (none of it should have been new to Freddie, he thought repressively) was overridden by Sussex’s long-awaited answer.
Not engaged – “Yes, yes – it is, indeed, quite obvious there was no engagement – it is the matter of this spending time – and-and no dancing around this, sir –”
For a moment, his heart sank – something bitter at the back of his throat at the duke’s casual acknowledgment: I have been with her recently. Recently – how recently – with her how; he was torn between the desire to demand all the details, and simultaneously flinching from hearing any more (a picnic? in public? good God –)
He was already bowing, stiff and automatic at the congratulations; mind still trying to catch up – how did one respond to something like that?
“Your – hrm, current entanglements are – in love?” He stared, once again shocked into temporary silence at the revelation – less at the-the connexion between Freddie and the duke, but more that Sussex saw fit to so – so boldly declare it.
“I say,” he said slowly, looking between the two of them, “Why, you are serious about this – whatever it is between the two of you.” Then, eyes hardening – he drew himself up. “Sir, I would have you know – pursuit of-of happiness notwithstanding – should your pursuits cause my cousin any pain, why – he is not without those who would stand with him, mark my words!”
Freddie’s expression clouded over when Archie all but accused him of speaking a treasonous line of thought. The hypocrisy was palpable. He was only overlooking it this one time, because his cousin was in a right state. All worked up over a blackmail induced engagement. Oh, but it still stung. He would have words to say later, when they were back in the privacy of their townhome.
Provided he remembered. For once the duke began to speak, everything else in the world melted away. Even the insult of being likened to those who had forsaken their duty to King and country. He could only stand there, hands awkwardly by his sides - he felt like he ought to be doing something with them, but he could not for the life of him think of what - as a prickly feeling crept up the back of his neck.
That word was new. They had said everything but when they’d taken a swim in the Serpentine. Freddie’s grin stretched wide across his face while a giddiness rattled around within his chest. Should he say it also? No, that would be a bit much. Although -
“Archie, please.” He suspected his cousin would never understand. What made the duke happy, made him happy also. How was it that explaining one concept could be both so easy and so difficult? He looked directly at Graham.
“I would not refer to it as an entanglement either.”
Any pain would be his own burden to bear.
“Well you have your answer,” he said to his cousin, “The past is the past. Does this not please you, cousin? Perhaps we should all have a drink.”
It was a strange line of questioning. Not one Graham had the head for in his current state either. Rude and intrusive. None of the Captain’s business. Among other things.
Graham felt far too feverish to do much about it, which might have been to the benefit of Archie. Poor Freddie had somehow ended in the middle of whatever this was too-- yet when he spoke to Graham, the duke could not help but smile fondly.
His expression changed when addressing the Captain. “I find this line of questioning to be not only offensive, but much like an Inquisition. My personal life is my own business. However, I would just as soon hurt myself than to hurt Frederick. I also wish to not speak in front of him as if he isn’t here and cannot speak up for himself.”
“And should you not know in complete and thoroughly who you are to marry?” Well. They were speaking about Victoria. A woman of vast secrets and hidden eccentricities. But, still.
“Additionally,” he continued after a breath and a deep drink from his glass. “I shall say the same in the way of Miss Hale. She has become a dear friend of mine. If you intend to make such a solemn promise to her, as to be your wife, I do expect the promise to be kept and she live out the rest of her days happily fulfilled and sustained by you.”
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