way,â Brenton replied, âbut there are right and wrong issues in this matter. There are things that must be dealt with and issues that canât be ignored. I have a duty to those needs.â
Caitlan nodded. âAye, duty is a strict mistress.â
Jordana watched the exchange between the two, wondering if there wasnât something she was missing. Brentonâs prideful nature seemed to be determining his future, while Caitlanâs past seemed to be determining hers. That only left one question. What would determine the future for Jordana?
âSo tell me of G.W. Has he regained his strength?â Jordana finally asked.
âNo, and in some ways the family says he seems worse. The doctors arenât at all sure whatâs wrong.â
âI suppose Iâm to blame,â Jordana replied weakly.
âHow can you say that?â Brenton questioned.
âYa can hardly be to blame for the young masterâs illness.â
âHeâs probably dying of a broken heart,â Jordana said with a sigh. âI refused his offer of marriage, and now you tell me heâs sicker than he was. What am I supposed to think?â
âYaâve no business to be thinkinâ that way,â Caitlan said, patting Jordanaâs hand. âMen are a tough lot. Heâll soon be right as rain. Ya canât be grieving yarself for havinâ answered him honestly.â
âMaybe youâre right,â Jordana said softly, but inside she wasnât at all convinced.
9
It had been agreed upon that Jordana wouldnât come to the Vanderbilt house to socialize with Caitlan. And with G.W. refusing her notes and cards, Jordana was hard-pressed to find an acceptable reason to go calling.
She thought the issue of denying knowledge of Caitlan was poppycock. They all worried that the crossing of such an obvious line of division between the upper crust of New Yorkâs most influential people and the lowliest of Irish housemaids might cause more conflict than anyone was willing to allow. Everyone but Jordana thought it far better to pretend the distance existed than to toy with the rules of society.
But Jordana worried when Caitlan failed to show up one Friday in late June. By Saturday morning Jordana decided that whether Brenton agreed to the matter or not, she would take a carriage to the Vanderbilts and check up on Caitlan. She was relieved when she came to Brentonâs room only to find him hopelessly overwhelmed with his work.
Struggling to adjust the legs of a tripod that seemed to have lost all hope of control, Jordana stared at her brother silently for several moments before speaking.
âWhat will you do with your things while youâre off playing soldier?â she asked petulantly.
Brenton looked up and frowned. âI donât believe youâve ever been quite this angry at me.â He put the tripod aside and straightened. âBut if you must know, Iâve already arranged it with Mrs. Clairmont. Sheâs going to keep all of my things here, safe and sound.â
âI see.â Sighing, Jordana leaned against the door. âIâm not really angry. Iâm more hurt. You have always discussed things with me first. Now you saddle me with more months at Deighton, and because you are my guardian under Uncle Yorkâs guidance, I have no say.â
Brenton came to her and put his hands on her shoulders. âI did what I thought was right. For both of us.â He gave her the barest hint of a smile. âWonât you at least try to understand that?â
âI do understand. Iâm just afraid of what might happen.â
He nodded. âI am too. But Iâm also afraid of what might happen if I donât go.â
Jordana said nothing. She didnât want to spend the day arguing over what heâd decided. Sheâd hoped to make him see reason, but time was quickly slipping away from her because Brenton only had a short time
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