“No. I don’t. Because you won’t talk to me. Because you don’t tell me anything.”
As if Robert had any right to the deepest secrets of James’s heart! “As the head of this family—”
“You never even asked whether I wanted to get married! You never gave me a choice!” Robert’s voice was rising, heads turning their way.
James was taken aback for a moment. Of course he hadn’t asked Robert. Robert would only have refused, and James would have insisted anyway; there was no point and no honor in pretending to court Robert’s opinion when he wasn’t going to abide by it. This marriage was what was best for the family and for Robert himself, and it was not only James’s right but his solemn duty to see that it took place. As for Robert’s choices—
“You had choices!” James struggled to keep his own voic
