George’s face turned pink. He coughed and reached for the wine bottle, checking himself halfway. “Do you mind?”
“Have I ever minded? What’s mine is yours. But pour us both a draught. I see we have some toasts to drink tonight.”
George grinned, though his hand shook a little on the bottle. Not a good sign if he was anticipating Jack’s disapproval. Theman just couldn’t help it. He fell for every pretty, smiling face, and never once looked behind it to see the grasping fingers poised to bleed him dry.
“It’s someone you know, actually,” George said, once both their glasses were brimful.
“That’s not generally a recommendation.”
“This is an exception.”
“Go on, then. Amaze me.”
George took a gulp of his wine. “M-Miss Fanshaw.”
Jack’s own glass paused halfway to his mouth. He put it slowly back down. “Miss Fanshaw?”
“Y-yes. You were right, you see,” George stammered, blushing furiously now, “about me developing a tendre for her. Indeed it’s more than that. I—”
“MissLucyFanshaw,” Jack repeated more loudly.
“Y-yes…”
“And you have a liking for her?”
George nodded, a gleam of sweat on his reddened face. He took another gulp of wine. “As I said, more than a mere liking, Jack.”
Jack watched him for a long moment. “How much more?”
“Well I… I’ve offered for her. And she’s accepted me.”
Jack kept staring at his friend, aware of nothing but an odd ringing sound in his ears. He stood up suddenly, making George flinch, but he moved in the opposite direction, back towards the fire.
“It’s sudden, I know,” George said quickly, “and perhaps we ought to have been better acquainted, but when you know, you know—don’t you?”
“When? When did this happen?”
“Just now. You’re the first to know.”
“So that is what you were doing when I left you there! And that is why she…” He thought back over their conversation in thecarriage. The way she’d reacted. A grim flush closed hot fingers around his throat.
“You yourself said we would suit, Jack, don’t you remember?”
“You’ve just met. You don’t know her at all.”
“But I know enough. And I look forward to getting to know her very much better.”
Jack’s hand tightened on the mantelpiece.
“You as good as gave us your blessing,” continued George brightly as Jack stared down into the fire. “Indeed, it was that which put the thought into my head. And then, once Lucy—you don’t mind if I call herLucy, do you? She asked me to, so very sweetly—”
“Mind!” cried Jack with a rather wild lift of his hand. “Why on earth would I ever mind?”
“She said it was what she far preferred to be called.”
“Did she now!”
“It’s good of you, Jack,” George prattled on. “I do declare that having your approval is the icing which makes this match all the more sweet. I knew you’d be happy for us. Your two closest friends, becoming as close as man and woman can be…”
