Page 30 of Deceiving an Earl
“There is more to school than learning. There are connections to make and friendships that will serve him far into the future, if he cultivates them correctly.”
She looked down at her hands clutched in her lap, the knuckles white. “Yes, I know. I try to tell him that, but he rarely listens to me.”
Oliver was silent for a long while, until finally Ellen looked up at him. His brows were pulled together, two vertical lines creased between them, and his lips were turned down.
“The headmaster isn’t even sure that he can bring Philip back the next school year. Apparently, he’s disruptive enough that they would consider expelling him.”
Ellen winced.Oh, Philip. What have you done?
“This is serious, Ellen. Eton prides itself on forming even the most difficult students. To admit defeat is of great significance.”
“I don’t know what to do,” she whispered. “Maybe one of the other schools…”
“No other school can touch Eton’s reputation. The institution is known to educate most of the nobility.”
“I remember how excited Arthur had been to put Philip’s name on the waiting list the day after he was born.”
“Arthur was a product of Eton?”
“Of course.”
Oliver sighed and rubbed his forehead. After a lengthy pause, Ellen said, “Thank you for trying. I truly appreciate that you took the time to drive there and speak to the headmaster.”
“What will you do?”
“I’ll think of something. Maybe the break from school will clear his head and he will come to his senses.”
Oliver looked at her in pity. They both knew that was not going to happen. Philip was on a road to destruction that he had no interest in veering from.
“The headmaster…” Oliver stopped, paused, seemed to consider what he was going to say. “He said that if I vouch for the boy they will bring him back next school year.”
A flicker of hope had her sitting up straighter, but then her shoulders slumped. “But what can you do? I refuse to let you put your reputation on my son’s head.”
“I don’t know how I would even help him,” Oliver said. “But…I’m willing to try.”
“I can’t ask that of you.” As much as she wanted,needed, someone to help her with Philip, it could not be Oliver. Never Oliver.
He looked at her curiously. “It’s your only hope. If Philip stays on this path he will ruin his reputation. There will be no hope for a good marriage. No one will want to do business with him.”
“I don’t think it is all that dire.” But she knew it was. She’d had those same thoughts herself. Ellen stood and Oliver quickly stood as well. “I will find a way to set Philip straight. As a mother it’s my duty.”
And as a father it was Oliver’s duty to help. But their paths had been set long ago, and it was far too late for either of them to change now.
“Very well. I will respect your decision and hope for the best for you and Philip.”
When he left, Ellen slumped back on the couch and brushed away the tears that had started to drip down her cheeks. She was lost and afraid, and the one person who was willing to help her was the one person she could never allow to help her.
…
Ashland finally joined Oliver and O’Leary for a drink in O’Leary’s office, and it was almost like old times. Except Oliver didn’t feel the same. He felt different, like something had changed within him, although he couldn’t put his finger on exactly what that was.
Ashland spoke of his new life with an inflection in his voice that had been missing since his first wife had died of childbed fever, and Oliver was glad to see a glimmer of his old friend back. He couldn’t begrudge Ashland his happiness, and he refused to admit that he was jealous.
Until lately, he’d never felt that his life was empty or unfulfilled. If he was honest with himself, when he’d seen Ellen again, it had made him remember how fulfilled he had been in the short time they had been together. He was surprised to find that he missed that companionship. He’d had many women over the years and had cultivated a somewhat shaky reputation as a womanizer. And he’d thought he was having fun, living the bachelor life.
But now it felt so superficial.
“Armbruster? Where did your mind wander off to, mate?”
