Timothy snarled. “Then do not speak.”
Luke held up one hand. “I would not dare.”
Titan looked from Luke to Timothy. He did not appear amused. “It will be a few moments. Please prepare your questions. I will retrieve you when they are ready.” He then did a precise about-face pivot and left the room.
A spike of alarm shot through Timothy. “Questions? Whatquestions?” He looked at Luke. “Do you remember her saying anything about questions yesterday? I thought the lady was supposed to be interviewing me.”
Luke put a hand on his forearm. “Relax. Your questions will grow out of what she asks you. Think of it as a conversation. You have talked to women many times before.”
“Yes. Well. None of them were Lady Elspeth Westridge.”
Luke’s sense of humor dissipated. “Tell me what is so special about this woman, other than she’s seen you drenched by the waters of the Fal Estuary. Even according to you, your encounter lasted less than ten minutes.”
Timothy looked down at his hands, annoyed that they felt cold and a bit trembly. He then sat heavily in the closest armchair, clutching his hands between his legs. “I am... I am not entirely sure. It may be that she was... is... Ella’s best friend.”
Luke sat in a nearby chair, stretching out his left leg, his voice low. “Please do not tell me you desire Gordon’s wife.”
Timothy looked up, surprised. “No!” He shook his head. “No. Ella is a unique and delightful woman, and Gordon is lucky to have been reunited with her. Their marriage is to be admired but not envied. It is more that she is proof that women like her truly exist. Fiery and intelligent, who do not truckle to every whim of Society.”
“You must have met many such women in America.”
Timothy gave a long sigh. “I did, but most shared one thing with most of the debutantes I met here. They wish to stay home.”
Luke scowled. “Most women are raised to run a household, no matter what their status.”
“Precisely. Few are interested in hopping a boat for parts unknown.”
Luke studied him a moment. “Do you think you will ever want to stay home, run your businesses from behind a desk.”
“Gordon has asked me the same thing a half dozen times. The answer is always no.”
“Gentlemen?”
Titan stood in the door of the lounge motioning for them to join him. They followed him through the gentlemen’s smoking room and briefly onto the main floor, which was a riot of voices, the rattle and knocks of the tables, and the music from the gallery at the far end. They entered Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s office, and Titan left, the closed door rendering a semblance of quiet.
Timothy stopped near Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s desk, surveying the room. The two cabriolet armchairs in front of her desk had been shifted to face each other. Lady Elspeth sat in the one farthest from the door, peering up at him, her hands clutched together in her lap. Her emerald eyes shone beneath the reddish-brown lashes, and random strands of her red curls trailed from beneath her bonnet. Thinner and a bit paler than he remembered, but still so lovely. His breath caught as he focused on her, his words tumbling out before he could stop them.
“You are as beautiful as I remember.”
“Oh, my.”
The words came from behind Lady Elspeth, and Timothy looked beyond her to a woman sitting against the far wall. She wore all black with a white collar, the uniform of a lady’s maid. He blinked, returning his gaze to Lady Elspeth, whose face had turned a radiant crimson.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon cleared her throat and pointed at the other armchair. “Lord Timothy, please sit.” She glanced at his brother. “Lord Luke, please sit there.” She pointed at a chair against the wall behind Timothy. As Luke settled, she sipped from a teacup near her right hand, then went on. “As discussed yesterday, this is one of three interviews Lady Elspeth is conducting today. At the end of the day, she will choose two gentlemen to participate in a series of tasks, which will be conducted tomorrow morning, beginning at ten. All parties, including those present, have contracted to and agreed upon the terms of this process. Do you have any questions or objections about the process at this point?”
Luke cleared his throat, but Mrs. Dove-Lyon held up her hand, palm facing him. “I was only addressing Lord Timothy. You are not allowed. You are here to observe only. You, of course, may discuss anything with your brother later.”
Luke shifted in his chair, and Timothy knew it galled his brother to be silenced. Timothy, however, found it amusing. “I have no objections,” he said.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon lowered her hand and nodded. “Lady Elspeth, you may begin.”
Lady Elspeth straightened a bit in her chair, and for the first time, Timothy noticed the fine lines around her eyes, the downward tug of her mouth.
She is exhausted.What had happened to her, what had forced her to take this path? To seek out this woman? He knew of her impending but dreaded betrothal, but was that all there was to it? He knew many women who married men not of their choosing at the behest of their families.
“Lord Timothy, I know you have traveled a great deal. Do you plan to travel more in the future?”
This was the question he had anticipated, and not only because everyone he had met since docking at Falmouth had asked the same thing. His mother, especially, had wanted him to say no. But in all honesty, he could not.
