111 Marcy's Frustration

Watching the two of them made me sad. Marcy lit up around my brother in a way that she never did around anyone else even though she was always friendly. If I had to guess this is what she looked like when she truly liked someone as opposed to her feigned affection in the novel. Looking back I wondered how I ever thought she genuinely loved Al because the difference was staggering.

It wasn't meant to be. There was no way the earl or countess would accept them, especially after my defection in the spring. Their infatuation was doomed from the start. The poor things.

Al noticed my pensive expression and called me out on it in a whisper. "You're worrying about them, aren't you?"

I nodded. "This girl has no luck in romance. First she had to pretend to like you and now the person she actually likes is unattainable. I may not be happy with how her alternate self acted in the novel but she deserves better than this. Edmund too."