“You are unusually silent this morning,” he said.
Marcus did not turn when he spoke.
“There is much to consider,” he said.
Alexander nodded, even though his friend could not see him.
“That is true,” he said. “But I suspect you are not thinking about the archaeological presentations.”
Marcus’s shoulders tensed.
“What else would there be?” he asked, sounding anything but nonchalant.
Alexander moved to stand beside him, folding his arms.
“Catherine has looked everywhere but at you this morning,” he said.
Marcus huffed.
“I noticed,” he said flatly. “What is this about, Alexander?”
Alexander lifted a shoulder.
“That is what I am attempting to discover,” he said. “But you might ask yourself why things stand thus today.”
Marcus visibly twitched.
“I believe I already know,” he said.
Alexander glanced at him.
“Then allow me to speak what you will not: you are avoiding her. For what reason, I cannot fathom—but you are.”
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
“I am giving her space,” Marcus said, his tone clipped.
Alexander shook his head firmly.
“No. You are afraid. You look at her as though she were the first good thing granted to you in years—and you behave as if you expect to lose her.”
Marcus exhaled.
“I do not know how to be the sort of man she deserves,” he said.
Alexander studied his friend. He did not know what had prompted such odd behaviour between Catherine and Marcus, and he was distinctly aware that Marcus had no intention of telling him. However, he knew about romance and growing to care about a woman, and he felt confident in the solution he had for Marcus.
“Start by not walking away from her now,” he said quietly.
Silence passed between them, and Alexander waited patiently for his friend to speak.
“I fear that I have pushed her into being the one to walk away,” he said.
Alexander shook his head.
“You cannot know that unless you talk to her,” Alexander returned.
Marcus sighed sadly.
