Whiddon wentto his club for breakfast. It didn’t take long for Chester and Sterne to track him there.
“I’ve sent for Tensford,” Sterne said, taking a seat.
“Well, that was a waste. He won’t come.” Chester took another seat and signaled for a porter. “It’s not as if Whiddon is going to marry the chit.”
“You don’t know that,” Sterne objected. He cast a sideways glance in Whiddon’s direction. “I know that marriage is not precisely your favorite word.”
He raised a brow. “Come now, Sterne. Marriage is not a word. It’s a sentence.”
Sterne rolled his eyes.
“You left it wide open,” Whiddon told him.
“Yes, I did. I can’t fault you for walking through with that old joke.” His friend’s tone grew serious. “But have you truly considered the situation? You may well have to marry her.”
“Why should he have to?” Chester scoffed. “Who is to say that the girl didn’t plan the whole debacle, just to trap him? She shouldn’t be rewarded for such duplicity.”
“She didn’t plan anything. I don’t believe it.” Sterne looked nearly green with remorse. “In fact, I was the one who suggested that Whiddon should take her out in the boat. I am sorry,” he said directly to Whiddon. “I apologize for my part in it. But I don’t think you believe such a thing of Miss Mayne, either.”
“I don’t.” He calmly sliced a sausage.
“Her uncle may very well insist that you marry her and salvage her reputation,” Sterne said glumly.
“He hasn’t. He won’t. Pass the jam, if you please?”
“There! You see!” Chester said, triumphant. “If her uncle doesn’t press her case, why should Whiddon worry?”
“There are other considerations,” Sterne told him.
“What are they? Do you think Whiddon will care if a bunch of old hens cut him? Half of them do so already—and me along with him. He knowswe’llnever abandon him—and what more does he need?”
“Thank you, Chester,” Whiddon said sincerely. “I do know that none of you will toss me away, and it means everything to me.”
It was true. Their friendship was the most solid rock in the foundation of his life. It steadied and sustained him. For years it had given him comfort and confidence.
Just now, it was giving him one very good reason why hemightmarry Miss Mayne.
It was the thought that she didn’t have any such support system that swayed him. It hardly seemed fair. She was a very good sort of girl—likely superior to him in many ways—but she didn’t have anyone to fall back on.
She had her aunt. The small, selfish part of him argued the point. But the rest of him knew the aunt was not enough. She could not prevent the girl from sliding into a life of isolation and ignominy.
Only he could.
If he could get past his horror at the thought of marriage.
His stomach soured.
If only he hadn’t kissed her.
But, oh, what a kiss.
He set down a slice of toast and stood, making sure no crumbs had lodged in his neckcloth.
“Where are you going?” asked Chester.
“I’m not exactly sure. I suppose I’ll figure it out as I go.”
* * *
