Christopher pushed past him into the drawing room, letting out a deep sigh, and plopped down on the settee. “Phillip, I need your advice.”
“My advice?” Phillip asked, amused. “Are you having trouble deciding what to do with the twins again? I was hopeful you would be able to find a governess last night.”
Christopher shook his head. “If only that was the extent of my troubles.”
“I’m not surprised you’ve found yourself in a quagmire once more. It seems to attract you, wherever you go.”
“I’d appreciate it if you listen instead of making a lengthy commentary on my life.” Christopher held back from rolling his eyes.
“My apologies.” Phillip chuckled. “Go on, then.”
Christopher braced himself. Having to say it out loud made it appear that much more consequential.
“I have decided to…”
Phillip raised an impatient eyebrow. “Do you plan on admitting it anytime soon?”
“I am considering marriage,” Christopher blurted out.
That piqued Phillip’s curiosity immediately. “Marriage? I never thought I would live to hear the words. Who is the lucky girl?”
Christopher shifted uncomfortably in his place. “That I cannot reveal as of yet.”
“And why is it such a secret?”
“You are detracting from the issue. I have come to seek your advice on whether I should marry her or not,” Christopher huffed, irked.
“How am I meant to help you if you do not tell me who she is?” Phillip shot back. “Have you gone and proposed to a lady of the night? Is that why you are so hesitant to reveal her name?”
Christopher glared sourly at his friend. “She’s nothing of the sort. But we… do not know each other too well.”
“Has it been arranged by your family?” Phillip seemed surprised. “I did not expect you to succumb to an arranged marriage, of all people.”
“It is very much so arranged by myself,” Christopher assured him, though it was only partially true. Frances seemed to have fallen into his life out of nowhere.
“Then why don’t you know her? And what is the urgency in getting married?”
Christopher gritted his teeth. He should have known that Phillip was going to ask him too many questions—ones that he did not know how to respond to just yet.
“Do you need to knoweverything?”
“Fine,” Phillip relented. “I shall play by your rules. What kind of advice do you seek from me, given the limited information that you have provided?”
“Esther and yourself,” Christopher began. “The two of you got married without having known each other too well. Would you say that is a wise thing to do?”
“I do not know if it was wise.” Phillip smiled. “In our case, we struck it lucky. But I can see it going awry for other people.”
“Lovely. That is no help to me at all,” Christopher replied sarcastically.
“Only being honest with you. If you wish for better advice, you ought to give me more details.”
Christopher sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I cannot tell you her name.”
“Fine,” Phillip grumbled. “Let us call her Mystery Woman, shall we?”
Christopher pressed his lips together in a tight line. “Right so, Mystery Woman. She… she has been spending time with the boys, and they’ve grown quite fond of her.”
“And what about yourself?”
