The Universal Mirror (35 page)

~~~

I
’m not sure which angered me more about Brian’s entrance, the wide grin he had at the sight of my justified irritation or the slight hint of brief agitation that crossed his face as he got closer. Then there is the rest of my irritation, directed at every man in the room. His father for asking mine for this engagement, my father for accepting without so much as asking me for my opinion first, and Brian for being devastatingly handsome, arrogant, overbearing, pompous, and rude. Mostly for being handsome; no man had a right to look that good, even when he was a mess.

The well-muscled, tall, shaggy black haired Sir Brian DeMacleo was infuriating in all that he did. He treated me as if I were some sort of insolent child. The worst part was the way he smiled gentlemanly as he chided me. And now he strides over and bows!

“Good evening Lady Morgan, Sir Robert.” I watched as he turned his attention to my father, “Your daughter is as lovely in her anger as ever.” My jaw only tightened in anger as my father merely chuckled!

“Sir Brian, it is a good thing you enjoy her anger, for she seems to have no other mood as of late.”

“Why, it is entirely my fault, and I do apologize my lady. Had I been keeping track of the hour, I would have been waiting to seat you.”

That’s right, apologize, I fumed. Letting the bitterness seep into my voice, “Your tardiness is not a habit, I hope, but from the last few occasions we have met I would say it is.” I paid little attention as my father scowled at me.

“Forgive me my lady, for I have been distracted as of late.”

“Truly. May I make a request? Seeing as we are to be, wed, let us cast aside the formalities.” It wasn’t a request, even to my ears it sounded the demand it was. I couldn’t stand anymore of his polite chiding. Not to mention I should be making demands.

“Morgan, it would be my pleasure to speak to you less formally.” Brian elaborated with exaggerated glee.

“Just what are you so smug about?” The demand slipped out before I could stop myself.

“Morgan, mind your manners!” Father hissed. Brian only chuckled.

“I’m not apologizing for a question.”

“Then let me answer it.” Brian began, but his father cut him off.

“We should be having a delicious roast with carrots and potatoes. I have no idea what is taking so long.”

I sat back in my chair and crossed my arms. Eventually our parents would have to see what an impossible match we were. Not to mention how difficult it would be for me to slip away and fulfill my duty. What was Father thinking?! The only thing even remotely pleasing about Brian was that he appeared to be just as miserable as I.

~~~

A
s Sir Robert and my father began a conversation, neither Morgan nor I were interested in, the food was served with its mouthwatering smell and savory gravy; it was nearly impossible to eat like a civilized man instead of the monster I was. I cared little for anything but the overly juicy and perfectly roasted meat, but of course father eyed me disapprovingly until I ate some of the carrots and potatoes. They, also, were tender and juicy, having soaked in the broth of the meat. The simple aroma was pure ecstasy.

Looking across the table I watched as Morgan delicately nibbled at a piece of bread smothered in butter. A footman pulled me from my obsession of watching her eat when he asked if I would like a refill on my wine. I hadn’t even noticed myself drinking the tart substance. Silently nodding, I turned back to my own food.

How on earth could anyone take so long to eat? I was nearly done, and yet Morgan was still nibbling her bread! She was still fuming and yet there she sat with a full plate of food! When I get angry I hardly take time to chew before swallowing! Then again, I mused, I don’t have to chew half the time. My, primitive, side swallows everything in a few bites and with little effort in chewing.

~~~

T
he way Brian continued to stare at me as I ate only increased my anger. I had completely lost my appetite due to my anger, curse the man! All I wanted to do was have this evening over with. I dearly hoped to loose him at the masquerade ball in a few days. Spending the entire evening with him mocking me instead of doing what I wanted on my own was not my idea of a good time.

He would never let me go off by myself either; he has too much fun torturing me. Admittedly, I did have fun fighting with him, there were just other things that were more entertaining and exciting. I was sure he would be surprised to find out just what those other things were, but I planed on doing everything in my power to keep it from him, just as I have kept it from everyone but my father, who still doesn’t know just how much a part of my life it is.

“Lady Morgan, is something wrong with the roast? I can have my cook make you something else if you wish.” Sir Alex DeMacleo’s request broke into my thoughts.

“No, thank you, I’m afraid I don’t seem to have much of an appetite at the moment.”

“It’s a shame, Morgan; the roast is perfect tonight, just tender and juicy enough.” Brian chimed in as he took a bite of his bread and smiled at me.

“Why, thank you for letting me know what I was missing.” I hoped that sounded half as curt as I’d meant it to. It was no fun unless he was fighting back.

“I have a question. Was that formality agreement just between the two of us or does my father get to call you Morgan as well? And while I’m thinking about it, does that agreement mean you want me to start calling your father papa?”

I felt the smile quirk my lips as I replied, “Why Brian, darling, I wish for us all to call each other what we wish, if you want to call my father papa or, even,
daddy,
that is between the two of you. And your father may call me by my name instead of giving a title in front of it.”

“Some how I don’t see myself calling your father daddy, it’s more of a childish girl thing, but if you wish to call my father daddy I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”

“I hardly think it’s a girl thing, I bet you call your father daddy all the time.”

“Not as often as you call yours daddy, ‘daddy, I don’t feel like eating, nibbling is
so
tiresome’.”

Narrowing my eyes I said, “Not as tiresome as swallowing without chewing your food, but then again, if my mouth were that big I may be able to cram more into it before it gets cooled all the way down.”

“Morgan!” “Brian!” Both our parents snapped at us to stop our bickering but I wasn’t shutting up that easily, and neither was Brian.

“Didn’t I tell you? Its my special talent to swallow my plate down quickly so that I can get to doing the things a man needs to do, where as a woman you can spend all day nibbling a piece of bread because you have nothing to do.”

Snorting, I sniped back, “Like locking yourself in your room all day is doing something. And just what makes you think that because I am a woman I do nothing? You have no idea what all I do. And for your information, you’re the reason I have no appetite. If you hadn’t made me so angry, I would be eating and not just nibbling a piece of bread!”

Suddenly, he burst out laughing, what the hell did he have to laugh about?! “Morgan, you are hands down the easiest person to pick a fight with I have ever come across in my life!  Not to mention how adorable you look when you throw a tantrum.”

“I’m glad you like to fight because I have a feeling our relationship will be nothing but.” I said with venom.

“Morgan, that’s enough! Mind yourself! I did not raise you to talk to a man like that.” Father burst in, finally drawling my attention.

“Brian, you should be ashamed of yourself! Morgan is a lady and should be treated as such.” Sir Alex’s tone was lower but just as severe.

“Now Alex, in all fairness Morgan was encouraging him.” Outrageously, Father defended the brute!

“Yes Robert, but Brian should not have started or continued it.”

I couldn’t believe my ears! Here they were, talking like old friends, and as if we were not even in the same room! This entire thing was a nightmare! Just when Brian and I started hashing it all out our parents stop us and suddenly become old friends! I sat back with a huffed and crossed my arms.

~~~

W
atching Morgan as our parents became friends I couldn’t help but sympathize with her look of disgust. How on Earth were the two of us supposed to get out of this arrangement if our parents found our dislike of each other a way to become better acquainted? Unless the two of us were to work together…

Just the thought of it made my mind cringe. Getting close to Morgan or even letting her get close to me could be a horrible mistake, but what choice did I have? I couldn’t just sit back and let this happen! I could talk to father and get him to realize what a mistake this would be, and I could get her to talk to her father about the same thing, heaven knows she was anything but spineless.

“Robert, would you care to join me in the sitting room for a cigar and brandy? I am sure the
kids
will not kill each other in our absence.”

“If you feel confident they will be fine without us then how can I decline?”

“Father! You are leaving me alone with a man! That is improper!”

“Morgan, I think we have nothing to worry about but the safety of
his
ears.”

“I do believe my ears will be fine.” This was just the opportunity I needed to talk to Morgan and make a plan to get this entire thing called off.

“What? Are you all insane?”

“My footman will be right in the next room. If, for some reason, my son decides to accost you just raise your voice and he will be at your assistance.”

“Truly, Morgan, he is to be your husband anyway.”

“But Father!”

“Enough.” Although it was soft spoken even I could tell Sir Robert had put his foot down on the matter.

“Yes Father.”

I patiently watched as our parents left the room before turning my attention to Morgan, who was again sulking. What was it with women and sulking when they didn’t get their way? Never mind that, damn the moon! Even now it was getting the best of me.

“Morgan, lets set aside our obvious distaste for each other, hmm?”

I watched as she rolled her eyes before saying, “Oh, don’t start that bullocks. You don’t want this any more than I do.”

Sitting back, ignoring the shock of her cursing and taking a sip of my wine, I smiled at her, “Exactly.”

To that she sat forward and allowed an adorable little crease to mark her forehead. It was a moment before she finally took the bate. “OK, you have my attention. Just what are you thinking?”

“I am thinking that we can work together toward the same goal, that is, if you truly don’t want this marriage, because I can reconsider the arrangement…” I hopped my bluff would not cost me.

“Just tell me what you mean already! Lord knows I don’t want this marriage.”

“If you could talk to your father and make him see how doomed this is…”

“I already have told him I do not wish to get married.”

“I believe I was talking. If we are going to work together then we must allow each other to talk before adding our own.”

“Don’t expect an apology out of me, just continue.”