Williams winced, as if it were a great trial to answer this. “She asked me to tell you that her feelings for you remain unchanged, and that she looks forward to renewing your connection.” His face transformed into a swift scowl at the end. “Which I trust willnotinclude any more theatrics.”
Silas stared at the crisp, white envelope in his hands.
Her feelings remain unchanged.Renewing our connection.Did that mean that she was prepared to pay him again if he performed on cue?
And if the going rate was sixty pounds for a kiss and double that for a declaration of love, might he not earn another hundred before the week was done?
Fighting not to betray any sign of his excitement, Silas opened the envelope and stared at the neat, ladylike cursive on the invitation inside.
It was full of all the sugary turns of phrase he’d been taught to employ to sound like a gentleman.Mr. and Mrs. Eleazar Williams kindly request the pleasure of Mr. Corbyn’s company at supper…etc., etc.
The stationery smelled like potpourri and trouble.
And opportunity.
“Do you really believe that your mother will allow me to court your sister?” It was the only conceivable reason why the woman should invite him to dine. Silas didn’t know what had provoked her sudden change of heart, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was his chance to start a new life for himself. He might be able to get Marian and James everything they needed, and all for an evening or two of playacting.
“It would seem so.” Williams’s tone was guarded.
“And you?”
His former friend watched him from behind narrowed eyelids. “Do you really need me to say it? Whatever passed between you two, I expect you not to hurt her.”
Hurt her?Silas had never wronged a woman in his life, though it might not look that way from where Williams stood. He would think Silas was toying with his sister if he came to supper without any intention of proposing—that he was behaving like a cad.
But Miss Williamsdidwant him to come, if he’d understood her message correctly. She needed him, even if no one else did.
No, not no one. Marian and James needed him too. And he could solve all their problems by the same act.
“Please tell your family I’d be delighted,” Silas said. He even managed a smile, if only because he was thinking of the difference this opportunity might make to his life. It felt almost like fate. At Williams’s warning look, he added, “No theatrics.”
He and Miss Williams had gone too far to worry about honesty now.
Nine
“Did you trim your fingernails?”
“Of course I did.” Silas’s tone was clipped. “I’m not an unwashed bumpkin.”
“And you’ve combed your hair?” Marian continued her inquisition, apparently unconvinced.
“Yes, yes.”
Had he thought he would appreciate living with family? Marian’s fussing had grown irritating as the hour of his supper with Miss Williams drew near.
“You should see about getting a new tailcoat.” Marian adjusted Silas’s white cravat and stood back to inspect the results. “This one is too snug in the shoulders for you.”
She was right, but Silas wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of admitting it.
“We don’t have funds to waste on a tailor.” He couldn’t seem to stop his hands from fidgeting, his fingers alighting on anything within reach. “Anyway, this will all be over before he has time to sew me a coat.”
It wasn’t as though he’d had much need for black formal attire before now. Silas had worn his naval uniform to most of the dinner engagements in his previous life. But the prospect of sitting down to dine with the Williams family while they picked apart his every flaw made him wish he had something better in his closet.
What had he been thinking when he’d agreed to this? Mrs. Williams hated him. The only two times they’d met, she’d either been beating him with something or trying to manhandle him off her property. And Mrs. Eli Williams probably wasn’t too happy about the scandal he’d caused at her card club. Her husband, the only person in the room whom he might once have counted a friend, was convinced Silas meant to take advantage of his little sister.
How was he supposed to win over these people?
“I don’t think I can do this,” Silas muttered. “I’m going to say something wrong.”
