Now both had lost their spouses. When Langley took Terese in to dinner that night at Clive’s, their interest in each other blossomed. Langley had called two or three times a week to take Terese for carriage rides. Terese had invited him to her recent garden party. Clive had been pleased when Terese agreed to come on this holiday with him and Bella. But he suspected she knew Langley would be in town, too.
“Terese sends her regards.” His sister had married an older man by order of their father, but she had found love with him and, unlike the earl, enjoyed the bliss of it. Yet her happiness had been short. Her husband died of an intestinal disease years ago. Terese had foundsolace in caring for Bella…and in monitoring Clive’s own despair after his wife’s death. She knew, as no others did, that he did not mourn Christine’s loss as greatly as he regretted that the two of them had never found any mutual satisfaction in their union.
“I will call upon Terese at the hotel,” Langley said. “Tomorrow, perhaps?”
“She will welcome that.”
Langley looked pensive. “You don’t mind, do you, that I call on her?”
“Dear heavens, no! Why would I?”
“I am so much older.”
“Doddering, are you?”
“I’m fifty-two, Carlisle. How old is Terese?”
“Thirty-seven. But how can age matter more than a meeting of minds? Or the comfort of shared outlooks?”How indeed!
Langley ran a hand through his silver-streaked hair. “Did I say those very words to you last week?”
Clive chuckled and took a look around to ensure he would not be overheard. “When you and I spoke about lust?”
Langley rolled his eyes and laughed. “Yes.”
“Bah! Call on my sister, Langley. She enjoys your company. She is a good woman, and she misses a good man in her life.”
“Thank you. May I take that as approval if I ask her for her hand?”
“My heartiest approval, sir. Tarry not a day, will you?”
“I should go see her tonight, then.”
“Do it. Join us for dinner, why don’t you?”
“I will.”
They took another turn around the path toward the door.
Langley asked, “What, then, bothers you?”
Clive extended a hand. The failure of his marriage shrouded his thinking. “Let’s walk about the garden, eh?”
“A woman.” Langley grinned.
“Am I transparent?”
“Evidently to me, yes.”
“To my sister, as well.”
Langley threw back his head to laugh. “Then I’d say you definitely have a romantic problem.”
“Please. I am too old for that.”
“Didn’t you just tell me age is no limit on love?”
Clive had to take his colleague to task—and did so with a smile. “You have me there.”
